What? No Cake!

make fruit salad with orange juice and cardomon (small pinch) and honey. Then place these in plastic cups. This can be delicious and also healthy. Sweeten with honey or maple syrup or even Xylitol which is safe for diabetics.

Or, you can go to a healthfood store and they make low sugar cakes that are really good.

Deb

My daughters do not like cake so I bring the little ice cream cups that you can buy at the store - they usually have them with the chocolate or strawberry swirls or just plain chocolate or vanilla ice cream - the teachers at their school like the change up from the cake - however if the school is looking for the more healthy less sugar treat - this is probably not the answer....

I believe we all need to teach our children about eating healthy, but there are times for that. I personally took cup cakes and the individual ice cream cups for my daughter's birthday. I simply wrote a note to her teacher and asked when a good time would be. She had me arrive just before recess and I handed out the cup cakes and ice cream, children deciding if they wanted one or both and that was that. My daughter was happy for the 15 minutes of fame and the kids enjoyed their home made snack. I have never had a problem with taking in home made items before. Everytime there is a function I make cookies, dip, cup cakes etc and they are all home made. So I don't believe there is a policy in place, not in Leon County anyway. Good Luck to you and I hope that little Isaiah has a great birthday!!!!

K.,
As a PTA President, I so much want to celebrate my childs birhtday party at school as well. The teachers have more important things to do with their time then pass out cup cakes for a birthday - Like teach your child what they need to know!!!!!!!!! They have parties during the year for holidays. ALso it is a Florida LAW that you can not make food (cupcakes) and bring them into school. What if another child gets sick? Or what if you have a dirty house. Only you will know that. The parents can actually sue you and the school. How many birthdays parties does your child need really!!!!!

Pinellas County, has implemented a healthy food initiative. No low-nutritional content foods allowed at all. The school lunches are very healthy with no fried foods and no cookies or cakes. I think it's wonderful. Kids are not tempted to eat their cookies and toss the rest and there's no trading for other people's snacks either. Plus after school, I get to be the good guy by giving a treat at home if I want.

I would love to be able to bake healthy treats, but home-made food is not allowed. I know my kitchen is clean, but you never know about other people. And the school can't take the liability of having someone sending bad stuff to their kids' class.

My son's school suggested ordering a pizza for classroom birthday parties. I think whole grain muffins would be allowed too, and they look enough like cupcakes that kids might be happy with that.

What about like a carrot cake with a light icing? I know that it is still cake but I think (not sure) that it is a little healthier than just a regular cake and a lot of kids like carrot cake.

M. N.

You could try a fruit "pizza". All it is is sugar cookie dough (you can buu the canned kind). Roll it out into a huge cookie bake it according to the directions. When it cools you can use flavored cream cheese and then put your son's favorite fruit or fruit that everyone might like. It is a healthier alternative and tastes wonderful. It's actually like a big fruit cookie.

YOU SHOLD DO WHAT IT IS YOU WANT TO DO BUT IF YOU JUST WANT TO TRY AND PLEASE THE SCHOOL(WHICH THEY R NEVER HAPPY NO MATTER WHAT U DO)THEN TRY TAKING SOME COOKIES GET A CARS COOKIE CUTTER AND MAKE SOME P'NUT BUTTER COOKIES OR SUGAR COOKIES THEY R BOTH EASY FOR SHAPING

I thought you weren't allowed to bring homemade baked goods to school for parties anymore? Regardless, maybe you could just do goodie bags, they have them with the CAR theme if that's what your son wants. Maybe put a granola bar, small box of rasins, little trinkets? I don't know, it would be different and not the same old cupcakes, although I don't know about anyone else, but I remember as a kid you could never have enough cake, cupcakes, or cookies. :) Shoot forget the cake, just give them a cup full of icing ...just kidding!! If you want to do the cupcakes with the CAR picks, then do that. It's your son's birthday, not thiers! Do they sell CAR cookies at your local bakery? That could be another possibility. If you have a CD burner on your computer, you could burn your son's favorite music on to a CD and put a cool label on them. Give one to each kid. I did that once and it was a great hit. I am sure there are lots of options out there. Hunt around on the internet a little if you don't want to go with the cupcakes. GOOD LUCK!! It's so hard to be a mom sometimes, always trying to do the righ thing.

Send cupcakes, remember when you were a kid and someone had a birthday? Cupcakes and juice were such a treat! I really don't have any issues with cornsyrup or sugar, so keep that in mind. I agree with you that homemade is scarier than store bought, but when did we stop letting little kids enjoy little kid things????? Good luck, it's a tough time to be a mom these days!

either that or if you want to have a b-day party for him send in invitations to all the kids in the class, its what they did in both my daughters class, if u do it that way it allows the whole class to be there and not the stress of time tables and they can run and play if not then i would do the goodie bag, i know my 6 yr olds teacher made her a b-day hat and brought in snacks that she and the class could eat, my daughter doesn't like sweet stuff so this worked great.

I know you have alot of opinions on here. I agree that the whole out "party" should happen at home...but all kids (especially little ones)like to recognize their birthday--all day-- so how about a compromise? Go to Oriental Trading (online) and get some nice toys or something that your son can pass out? It doesnt take up too much time, his day is special, and everyone is happy. Let him wear a "its my b-day" pin, hat, or button..:)
Another note on the cupcakes--there are alot of kids out there (including my own) who are allergic to things like gluten (wheat), Casein (Dairy), and Soy...these things are in everything from food to washable markers, to play-doh and crayons....Bringing a non-food item includes everyone, no-one feels left out, and EVERYONE has a good time...:)

Hi K. -

Congratulations on your son's upcoming birthday. I'm congratulating you since people never to seem to remember that mothers are a big part of their kids' birthdays! :)

If you do choose to bring fruit kabobs, bring a couple of tubs of Cool Whip and melted dipping chocolate - by the way, dark chocolate is very healthy when consumed in moderation.

I wasn't aware that schools are getting so strict with home brought food items for parties. I can understand limiting the amount of available sweets in on-campus vending machines and in the cafeteria lines, but for special events like parties??? Sounds a bit extreme to me. As far as the safety issue regarding home-cooked/baked foods, with the recent E. Coli bagged spinach recall, store-bought items are not always safe either!

We got a cookie cake for my son's birthday when he turned 4 and all the kids loved it. I know it's not that healthy but it's a birthday, who eats healthy stuff for their birthday?

For you child's birthday I would do what you and your child want. I can understand the school's position on not wanting cakes because there are a lot of over weight children now a days and it is about time the school started to care about what they are feeding our children. There are healthy alternate ways to make cakes that taste good too, one is to use apple sauce instead of oil etc. You can also try some healthy snacks that the kids might really enjoy. A web search might provide some good examples and I would try them at home first to see if your son likes them first. I know my daughter loves carmel apples more then cake, and it is healthier. You need to try to think of the other children as well but it is your son's birhtday and if he really wants cake then I would make it for him, and try to make it a little healthier.

Just a quick note, i know the reason some ppl may think that the reason u cant bring cakes and stuff to school is because of the healthy issue, but i know at my daughter's school its bc when some kids birthdays are around their families will not have the money to send in cakes and what not and that's why they dont allow cakes is to not have the ohter children feel bad. Anyway just my two cents.

Well I still agree with the explanation to why, But did it ever accure to anyone, the same folks that says NO are they same one that says PLEASE bring ______ of our outtings or celebration gathering we are having. or end of the year goin away,Holiday Party. In school bake sales..
Hummm they get a little testy to those of us that dont bring for those Occations. {{Catch 22}}

I woudl suggest like the other mom stated, make a little gag bag with unsexed items & or McDonnald's coupon for an ice cream or fries or sandwhich,and as they leave for the day, have your child pass them out. Buy ICE CREAM TICKETS for the entire class for lunch time. Then they can pick what they want after they finish eatting {have the teacher while getting ready to make a quick B-day announcement TODAY IS ____ B-day & HIS PARENTS HAVE GIVEN ME ICE CREAM TICKETs to Celebrate hi b-day.. HAPpY BIRTHDAY & THANK YOU______. Even so that day you could join him for a Special lunch date. I did this it worked great.
Good Luck.

I agree with ChrisV, it's not about what you bring. I think it's silly to celebrate your child's birthday in school. That is what you do at home with friends and family. If every child (out of like 800 in some schools) in the school wanted to have cupcakes and candy and take time out of the day for a "party" then when would school be accomplished, kids would ask who's brithday is today so we can have CAKE! When I was in Elem school I don't remember a SINGLE birthday party at school. And for one I would have been upset knowing that my birthday wouldn't have been acknowledged because my parents wouldn't have done it and certainly not with 3 children in school. What's the big deal just celebrate it at home like everyone else does. Not trying to be rude, I just think it's a self centered type of thing to do in that setting. Look at MY kid. Just MHO.

i tthink you sould ask the teacher what time the kids go to recess may be there worried that te'll have to deal with hiper kids so if you do the party before recess the kids can play it off and maybe the teacher wont mind to much i think cupcakes are simple and great for birthdays.

I always prefer the more healthy treats. When you look at the breakfast and lunch they feed the children, I don't like to add to it by bringing cake and such as.

The kids actually do like fruits and such as because it's different. Anybody can do cake....be creative....

K.,

What school does your son go too? I know where my son goes to school they will not let us make anything. Everything has to be store bought. We can bring in cookies and stuff. I think the reason why you can't make anything is becasue you don't know the health issues (if any) of the kids. So, they want to play it safe. The suggestions mention are great. Good luck.

If I were in this situation I would be speaking to the people at the school about this. It is NOT right that one person can bring something in but when it comes up again this person is asked not to??? Of course some people don't listen to what is reccomended and bring things anyway. In which case they should be told that the treat, etc is NOT going to be given and have them take it back. IF they let one person do it then they need to let the rest. I like the idea of having "good" foods for things like this better. I have been in child care and know first hand how HARD it is when you have a classroom full of kids on a major sugar high. You think it's bad enough when you're home with only YOUR children and they are on this kind of trip, put yourself in the teachers situation. If you want to bring in a "treat" why don't you get together little 'goodie' bags for your son to bring. Have him choose from pre-approved choices and then he gets to still be in on the treats too. Right now with all the school supplies being clearenced out at places you may be surprised at what kind of things the kids would like that you could get real cheap. If it needs to be food I would go with something healthy. Especially since Halloween is not too far away they'll have enough junk coming up soon. Ask maybe about yogurt or something as well, get the big containers and it will be a lot cheaper than all the fruit for the kabobs. Surprising how much children really do like yogurt too. Think it kind of reminds them of icecream. Or ex, last year for one of the class parties I made up sugar free jello (in a large cake style pan) and put in a little fruit and put pics and writting with whip cream on top. The kids (and the teachers) loved it.