Sugar Free Schools?
- Thread starter LeaJnice
- Start date
I havent seen the video - but what's the general premise - schools getting rid of sugar? ALL sugar - including that found in fruit? or just sugar found in candy and pop/soda? if it's the latter - what's it matter?
I've seen several studies (and yes, I'm very aware that a study can be found to back up any claim) that says sugar does contribute to ADD and ADHD in children so why not remove it from schools
I've seen several studies (and yes, I'm very aware that a study can be found to back up any claim) that says sugar does contribute to ADD and ADHD in children so why not remove it from schools
ChristyP
New member
I wouldn't mind at all. I could pick up carrot sticks or cheeses sticks for a school snack just as easily as cupcakes.
I don't restrict my own children's sugar intake in our home. I don't label any food as good or bad to my children. I believe that is the fastest way to create food issues.
I'm not sure I'm a believer of the studies on sugar and ADD.. I'm not even sure I believe in ADD... but school is school you can't take your toys or your cell phones.. a kid should have no problem going without sweets for 6 hours.
I don't restrict my own children's sugar intake in our home. I don't label any food as good or bad to my children. I believe that is the fastest way to create food issues.
I'm not sure I'm a believer of the studies on sugar and ADD.. I'm not even sure I believe in ADD... but school is school you can't take your toys or your cell phones.. a kid should have no problem going without sweets for 6 hours.
LeaJnice
New member
From what is understand is at least at this school it starts with a mom bringing in cupcakes kids class and then walks back out. You'd think the mom would know it was a sugar free school as it has been for 10 years. At least at this school there is only bottled water in the vending machines(not even milk) Lots of veggies at lunch. No fries. The have active time in the morning before class starts. The all get up and move around, dance ect. apparently the principal is a child obesity activist. She lost a lot of weight years back to thats why they are a sugar free school.... I don't know if they can bring sweets into the school.....Im guessing not. The parents would it bother you if you wanted to treat your child to a cupcake on his birthday and the school wouldn't let him eat it?
I just wanted to see what others thought. As an overweight kid my whole life I know that the icecream sandwiches I would buy at lunch everyday couldn't of helped my weight problem.... Just thought it was intresting. Our schools still have crap at them so I am intrested...
squeak
New member
I'm at work so can't watch the video right now, but just reading the comments in this thread and thinking about it... I think that a sugar free school is certainly an interesting thought, but I'm not sure how effective it would be. Nutrition patterns/habits are learned at home not just at school.
wishes
Coffee Addict
Video just didnt work for me sorry, and reguarding the sugar free school, you cant allow a cupcake on everyones birthday because in a school of 500 children which is a medium sized school, you are going to have at least 1-2 cupcakes a day! Thats what you have breakfast and dinner for.
I get sick of my kids feeling left out and treated like dirt because i give them a healthy lunch every day and not junk food like the other kids get.
Ive seen children turn up with nothing substantial in their lunch box at all which is retarded. Just junk food, cookies, lollies, gimmick stuff, but no actual food.
I get sick of my kids feeling left out and treated like dirt because i give them a healthy lunch every day and not junk food like the other kids get.
Ive seen children turn up with nothing substantial in their lunch box at all which is retarded. Just junk food, cookies, lollies, gimmick stuff, but no actual food.
PaperAirPlanes
New member
But, you can't stop parents from packing whatever they want in a childs lunchbox. The schools would have to inspect every kid who brings their food and then people would complain that their parenting skills are being over stepped.
HOWEVER, I believe that in schools, when it comes to a kid buying lunch, the schools need to severly cut down or out their cookies/cakes/sugar snacks because some kids will only go through the lines to get that. Or at least impose a "one per kid" rule.
HOWEVER, I believe that in schools, when it comes to a kid buying lunch, the schools need to severly cut down or out their cookies/cakes/sugar snacks because some kids will only go through the lines to get that. Or at least impose a "one per kid" rule.
wishes
Coffee Addict
And in some schools they do that.
The schools my kids go to here are very strict about that. they only have healthy options, and the kids dont mind. Its great!
Sorry, it must be where I live but this sounds pretty close to what we experience in my sons school. Please, tell me people do not actually send sweets to school for their children???? Don't understand that at all.
My son has attended two schools and they both included a healthy lunch policy. The cafeteria had an extensive list of only low fat and healthy meals. No sweets or crap at all. The lunch boxes are controlled and monitored.
If you send bad food it is sent home and the teachers will provide something else or quite possibly you will be accumulating a debt to the cafeteria. Education includes your body and this is the right thing to do.
As for soda in schools. I have never, ever heard of that ever occurring here in Australia unless it was maybe a long time ago. I cannot believe that would be made available to children.
Again maybe it is where I live, but I just do not understand at all. I cannot understand that parents would even be ok with their children drinking stuff like that on a day to day basis.
My son has attended two schools and they both included a healthy lunch policy. The cafeteria had an extensive list of only low fat and healthy meals. No sweets or crap at all. The lunch boxes are controlled and monitored.
If you send bad food it is sent home and the teachers will provide something else or quite possibly you will be accumulating a debt to the cafeteria. Education includes your body and this is the right thing to do.
As for soda in schools. I have never, ever heard of that ever occurring here in Australia unless it was maybe a long time ago. I cannot believe that would be made available to children.
Again maybe it is where I live, but I just do not understand at all. I cannot understand that parents would even be ok with their children drinking stuff like that on a day to day basis.
Schwa
New member
As a general rule I tend to be against most any principle that limits individual freedoms or forces behaviors or ideologies on a group of people, but when it comes to children I'm willing to give a little on this perspective. 
That being said, I still don't like the terminology used to describe a "Sugar Free School." Perhaps this was just the news agency’s terminology, but there is a sizable difference between promoting a healthy, balanced diet in schools and making the sugar free statement. When I was a kid "sugar cereals" were officially banned from my household. So what do you think I wanted on every breakfast occasion when my parents were nowhere to be found? Yeah, sugar cereals!
Sugar is not the devil, and nor is fat of course - despite the reputation these two have received over the years. I’m all for offering healthy balanced meals in schools over a course of tater tots, salisbury steak, ice cream sandwiches, and a Pepsi, but I think the way the idea is framed for children is equally important to the manner in which the idea is implemented.
That being said, I still don't like the terminology used to describe a "Sugar Free School." Perhaps this was just the news agency’s terminology, but there is a sizable difference between promoting a healthy, balanced diet in schools and making the sugar free statement. When I was a kid "sugar cereals" were officially banned from my household. So what do you think I wanted on every breakfast occasion when my parents were nowhere to be found? Yeah, sugar cereals!
Sugar is not the devil, and nor is fat of course - despite the reputation these two have received over the years. I’m all for offering healthy balanced meals in schools over a course of tater tots, salisbury steak, ice cream sandwiches, and a Pepsi, but I think the way the idea is framed for children is equally important to the manner in which the idea is implemented.
LeaJnice
New member
As a general rule I tend to be against most any principle that limits individual freedoms or forces behaviors or ideologies on a group of people, but when it comes to children I'm willing to give a little on this perspective.
That being said, I still don't like the terminology used to describe a "Sugar Free School." Perhaps this was just the news agency’s terminology, but there is a sizable difference between promoting a healthy, balanced diet in schools and making the sugar free statement. When I was a kid "sugar cereals" were officially banned from my household. So what do you think I wanted on every breakfast occasion when my parents were nowhere to be found? Yeah, sugar cereals!
Sugar is not the devil, and nor is fat of course - despite the reputation these two have received over the years. I’m all for offering healthy balanced meals in schools over a course of tater tots, salisbury steak, ice cream sandwiches, and a Pepsi, but I think the way the idea is framed for children is equally important to the manner in which the idea is implemented.
Good reply....
wishes
Coffee Addict
Its funny how people jump up and down going on about it being a nanny state etc.
But if thats whats needed, and people are stupid enough to feed their kids that shit, then thats what we have to do.
Any sane person a) wouldnt mind the policy, and b) would feed their kids normal healthy food in the first place
But if thats whats needed, and people are stupid enough to feed their kids that shit, then thats what we have to do.
Any sane person a) wouldnt mind the policy, and b) would feed their kids normal healthy food in the first place
jeffisbig
New member
I love these extreme approaches. They are detrimental.
EDUCATE students on MAKING healthy choices. Sugars can't be banned from the world. Students will get their sugars else where, and its going to increase their value of sugars and could end up making them eat more.
I think this approach has the same effect of some ancient medical practices. One third will stay the same. One third will get better. One third will get worse.
EDUCATE students on MAKING healthy choices. Sugars can't be banned from the world. Students will get their sugars else where, and its going to increase their value of sugars and could end up making them eat more.
I think this approach has the same effect of some ancient medical practices. One third will stay the same. One third will get better. One third will get worse.
ChefChiTown
New member
I don't have a problem with "sugar free" schools, but, I think there should be a definite set of rules that everybody knows. For example...
- The school itself doesn't serve anything with added sugar (no candy, soda, etc)
- If a student packs a lunch, that student is allowed to bring sugar to school
- If a student packs a lunch and brings sugar to school, that student is not allowed to share it with other students
...things like that.
Forcing kids to eat healthy is a GREAT idea, but a lot of schools that try and implement programs like this end up failing miserably.
- The school itself doesn't serve anything with added sugar (no candy, soda, etc)
- If a student packs a lunch, that student is allowed to bring sugar to school
- If a student packs a lunch and brings sugar to school, that student is not allowed to share it with other students
...things like that.
Forcing kids to eat healthy is a GREAT idea, but a lot of schools that try and implement programs like this end up failing miserably.