Snacks

After several weeks of complaining to one another at home about snacks, sugar, and school, here is an email that I sent to our class email list (responses posted tomorrow).

I am writing this note today to address something that my husband and I have been uncomfortable with for sometime: snacks. We are not militant healthy food fanatics, but we do try to limit the processed food and sugar intake of our children. We feel that in a school of excellence wherein most parents are educated, it is ironic that our children are receiving a daily dose of junk food. We see Oliver come home and have a sugar crash. We see everywhere we look from the Reader’s Digest, to nightly news that as a nation and even as a state we are amongst the least healthy societies in the world. And yet, we are bringing our kids junk food each and every day.

We have always taught Ollie that these foods are “sometimes” foods, certainly not foods we put into our bodies on a daily basis. My hope is that this note is received with agreement and understanding rather than feeling like it is a personal attack. Please understand, I in no way want to add to Mrs. Green's routine, and I understand that the kids need a break, a little snack, and some quiet reading time. I do not want Mrs. Brown or any of us to have to do more work, but it would seem like we could as parents begin to educate our children about how to make healthy choices.

We find at home that when we only offer healthy food, the kids make good choices. Our children are incredibly adaptable and routine oriented. If every day is junk food time, they come to expect it. But if every day at the same time, they get to choose a fruit, they become excited about that, too. We know that now our kids are developing habits that will last a lifetime and will be harder to break later like brushing teeth and washing hands. Why should healthy eating be any different?

I hate to be “that mom” and I am supportive and appreciative of everything each and every one of you do to make the class a wonderful learning environment for my son. I also think that nutrition and food are basic needs that deserve our attention and time. Nutrition is more important to us than math facts and spelling tests. It is fundamental and not an after- thought. I urge you to watch a special that I viewed recently on NPT called Children’s Health Crisis. Are any of you concerned about this issue? Are there ways we can teach our kids about healthy choices in the classroom as well as at home? What are your thoughts on this matter? We could send water, juice, nuts, fruit, pretzels, homemade popcorn, granola bars, dried fruit..Anything to send our kids the message about making healthy choices.

Thank you for your time, and I am open to discussion, agreement, or even disagreement about this matter.