What's with the Sugary Snacks?

I know what you mean. I believe that many do that because they are easy, kids like them, and they may see it as a "snack" means "junk food". Also, with all the allergies that may restrict what they can bring, it is easy to grab a prepackaged sugary snack.

I'll be interested to see if you can make a difference. It has been a losing battle for me, so I finally just gave up and I pack my boy's snacks each day as well as his lunch. Although I totally disagree with it, I do allow him to eat the junk other parents bring for the birthdays. I object to the whole birthday celebration at school. When my era was in school, birthdays were not even mentioned at school.

I think some of these mom were brought up this way. I mean not really knowing what a healthy snack is. I personally know that sometimes it's a not enough time and grab what you can afford. I like you try to do the healthier snack while remembering they are kids. My youngest is in 2nd grade and I have to send snack once a month. Over the years one of my kids teachers did ask that healthier snacks be sent but not everyone will go by the list.

You and I sound like we are on the same page Mom. We strive to only buy real food, no corn syrup, no hydrogenated oils, organic as much as possible and I try to feed my son healthy snacks.

I'm going to be blunt here and potentially mean, but there's a few reasons I think this stuff goes on: Ignorance, laziness, and habit. I constantly have to deal with extended family offering soda, candy, and other inappropriate items to my 2 year old! We haven't even dealt with school yet! I think many people just don't know, they don't read about what these things are and how this garbage affects your health, particularly that of small children. Or they think it's healthy because they don't know how to read a label and if it packages itself as healthy, but actually isn't, they don't know any better. Many people just don't care, they are stuck in their routine and they don't do anything to change it. A lot of mom's in my generation, I'm just shy of 30. (sorry, picking on people here again and I know I am generalizing) weren't taught to eat healthy or don't cook at home, or just don't have the resources to even begin to know how to do these things. So their kids suffer for it. I know this for a fact because I see it in friends who are SAHM and they don't even cook, they don't bother to buy healthy stuff for their kids, they just get the stuff marketed to kids and figure it must be okay.

I praise you for being proactive here. People are always stunned that my kid asks to eat things like yogurt and fish and fruit. So I use it as an opportunity to let them know that we encourage healthy living. If we give them the best stuff we can 90% of the time, at least when other people give them the garbage it's not the end of the world. And I'm not a food nazi either...we too enjoy a happy meal now and then or a batch of cookies.

My granddaughter's elementary school actually has a policy about snacks that excludes the sugary and junk food varieties. This year they've implemented a no food rule for birthday parties because of concern for nutrition and food allergies.

When she was in Kindergarten, first and second grade, parents were asked to contribute $5 at the beginning of the year for snacks and the teachers purchased the snacks.

Perhaps your daughter's preschool would be willing to do the same. Or to at least have a policy for what is acceptable. If the school included a list of suggestions perhaps that would help those is don't think outside the box.

It's funny, it's a universal issue. My son's preschool teacher actually thanked us for bringing healthy choices. She said she was sick of cookies and snack cakes. Talking to the mom's though, I don't think it's that they are uneducated or trying to sabotage healthy eating. When it's their turn to bring a snack it's "big deal" they want to bring a treat. Something exciting. Something they don't get at home. One of our parents brought chocolate covered chocolate donuts and huge chocolate milks. The first thing he said, standing in the hall is "We NEVER eat like this. She's( his daughter) so excited." And let's face it. It's easier to buy prepackages cookies or crackers rather than taking the fruit home, washing it and pre portioning it out.

Your Problem? My problem?....OUR problem....we live in the United States.

A lot of other countries do not live and eat like we do. Europe, for example. They consume wine, cheese...(gast!) BREAD!!! They eat their foodstuffs in proportions....AND...they eat WHOLE foods. It is not uncommon that many Europeans, and MANY foriengnors(Mexico and the like) eat what your body NEEDS....not what your tastebuds WANT. Why else are we the fattest country? Its funny, we watch all these food shows on TV...the Chefs ALWAYS refer to "Spanish, Indian, French, Tai, Chinese, Jamaican"...influences...how often to you see them say..."oh, this is a 'take' on the American Big Mac?"
We, as a country, are fatties...WHY? because we want, what we want, when we want it.....and super-sized to boot.

You are not alone for thinking this. Fortunately, we found preschools that didn't allow this - and actually have healthy organic snacks. Usually not sweet, no hydrogenated oils, no high fructose corn syrup. They also took care of the birthday treats, parents were asked to bring fruit or crackers to go with what they made.
Our problem now is the public elementary schools. Kids are encouraged to bring something for everyone at the holidays. My daughter got more candy at Halloween from school than from trick or treating. Christmas, Valentines Day, Easter. This year one class is selling"boo grams" that the kids can send to their friends. Cute idea, but each one comes with a caramel lollipop that has hydrogenated oils and hfcs.She already received 7 of them. The teacher has given out treats for completing units - seemingly harmless fruit rollups, filled with transfats. Fortunately my daughter (at 6) has learned not to eat anything given to her until we check the ingredients. But I feel badly for her, when everyone else gets the treat and she can't have it.
There is also a policy that nothing is brought for someone's birthday, but it doesn't stop some parents from standing at the class room door after school handing out bright blue, bad-for-you cupcakes.

You never know, there may be other parents at your school that feel the same way as you. You should go to the administration and tell them your concerns. 3-year-olds should not be getting that much sweets and it should be up to the parents to decide what sweets their own kids can eat. And hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup are just plain BAD for you.

Good luck and thanks for letting me vent :-)

Im just chimming in because I worked in a preschool. We only allowed those type of snacks on holidays (the day nearest the actual holiday), and once a month for all of the birthday's in that month. We did that because if we celebrated with cupcakes for every birthday, we would probably have cupcakes everyday. We also had a sheet of acceptable snacks, and the moms (or dads) would have to go off of that sheet when it was their turn. The biggest hit was ants on a log, which we made a cheese version for the kids with peanut allergies.
Maybe talk to the director? Good luck!

I agree with you 100%. I can tell you this though...I went through this with my daughter who is now 15. I always made sure she ate healthy at home and always packed her healthy foods for snacks at school. I believe in eating healthy and cook healthy foods. Of course, my daughter has gotten her share of junk food at school as well. However, now that she is older, she rarely eats junk food...my message has finally gotten through to her and she eats healthy now. In fact, she is on a council of kids at her school who are fighting to get healthier lunches at her school. Keep on feeding your kids right and teach them the importance of healthy living....eventually, they will understand. It all begins at home.

Keep up the good work:)

M.

The stuff they are taking is cheap,, meaning inexpensive,. you can purchase it at any store,, do not have to go to some special health food store and pay more money..
Also some parents cannot think outside of the box.

They purchase what they know their kids will easily eat. And they want to be the parent that took (what they consider) the best treat.

That being said.. I do agree that when ever it was my turn to take something for young kids, I really did put a lot of thought into it. I knew kids in groups are more likely to try something new and actually like it..
It is your choice, mention it to the day care with a list of actual products or items, or just continue to accept whatever people take.Like you said, your daughter eats healthy the rest of the time, so this is a once in a while deal..

I love that in our school parents are responsible for their own child's snack and thats it or the kids can participate in the schools fresh fruit and veggie snack program.
Edited: Our entire school preK-6 has a no junk food policy now with the exception of the 3 classroom parties they have and then its one junk food and one healthy snack that is served.

My younger son's previous school (private) had the same issues . . . cupcakes that were taller than my fist. Halloween parties that would rival something put on at Disney :P. It seemed like non-stop sugary treats. Sometimes it almost felt like a contest between the moms to see who could bring the most dazzling item.

When we pulled him out to homeschool it was one of the first benefits I noticed - better control over that issue. He has fairly severe gluten intolerance too, so diet is a key part of his education. It's hard to learn when you constantly feel sick.

I feel very similar to you - a little bit now & then is not the end of the world. But when it's every week . . . ay ay ay.

Do you have a PTO at your daughter's preschool? It may be one way to inform parents about healthy snack choices and work together with the school/teachers to come up with a suggested snack list.

I honestly think they just don't know.

You'd be surprised at how clueless people can be when it comes to nutrition. And, with clever marketing by food companies, people who are uneducated can be easily swayed into thinking something is healthy when it is absolute junk (100 calorie packs? Snackwells cookies? most 'light' frozen entrees? huge bagels? muffins?)

I'm with you though - everything in moderation but not everyday!

It's easy and not as messy as cut up fruit or "real" yogurt. And, pre-packaged items are preferred because of food tampering. You want to think the best of people, but you want to keep your kid safe too! There are some wackos out there. And I shudder to think that something homemade might have been made in a dirty kitchen (and I'm not talking a little dirty, I'm talking majorly dirty). I know that's my own thing - it skeeves me out that someone might not have washed their hands before handling my kid's food.

There are healthy pre-packaged options. I think another mom was spot on when she said people don't know any better or they automatically assume that since it's healthy, kids won't eat it.

I agree with the mom that said you should ask to change the snack rules or send in your child with their own snack every day.

Good luck!

LOL! I could have written this exact post! Actually, my kid's preschool isn't as bad as you described, but every week it's someone's bday and HUGE cupcakes that the kids lick the icing off and then throw away the rest is what everyone brings! My dd helped make the cupcakes for her bday and we made the small ones and I got lots of thank yous for that. Does your school have an approved snack list? That could help. We have a few severe allergies, and the list HAS to be followed. THere will always be a parent or two that only brings junk, but if the school took some time to let the parents know what an appropriate snack looked like for a class of 3 yr olds, maybe it would improve?

Ask your pre-school to change the snack rules. Even our kindergartner (public school) is not allowed to bring "treats" for snack time. I myself prefer to be the only one allowed to dole out "treats" vs have them available at school.

I can see why you're upset; your daughter is not get snacks at school, she's getting desserts! I don't know why these other moms are bringing in all of these sugary, high-calorie things. Perhaps they see these things as being normal snacks. Perhaps they want to make make all the kids happy and are unaware that they are not the only one with this "cool snack" idea. Perhaps they don't cook or bake so this is the easiest option for them. Perhaps they are unaware of the health risks associated with a high sugar diet -- obesity, diabetes, cancer -- or perhaps they don't care.

I'd have a talk with the school administrator about this. It really can't be any fun for the teachers and staff to have a bunch of preschool kids riding a sugar high all morning or afternoon. Perhaps they can type up a list of acceptable snacks and distribute it to all the parents. That's what I would do.

I'm glad that you are looking out for your daughter's health and looking at the bigger picture. It'll greatly benefit your daughter (and hopefully the other kids) in the long run.

Yes, I feel exactly the same way you do and also had the same problem when my son was in preschool. I mentioned it (on more than one occasion to the administrator) , and finally, they made some guidelines about what parents could bring in for snacks.

Talk with some of the other parents who seem to be like-minded, and then discuss this with the school administrator. Ask if there can be some firm school-wide guidelines about daily snacks. Cupcakes are okay once in a while for a birthday treat, but daily snacks should definitely be healthier options.

Things will never change for the better unless we parents present our issues and politely insist on reasonable alternatives for the benefit of our children!

Hope you are able to make some healthy changes for the kids!

J. F.

I agree, not acceptable. Especially when you start celebrating every birthday in the class. I think it takes pro-active parents to make the change. Talk to teachers and/or other parents to implement a change. Our school did. This is about education; what are we teaching our children when we are trying to teach them to make good choices for themselves. Totally agree!! Jen

I sooooo totally agree with you! My dd is only 22 months and tell you the truth, she rarely gets any snacks or treats. She is such a big eater that besides Cheerios, which is her staple morning snack, she rarely does get the snacks I do give her (animal crackers, pretzel sticks, and mini ritz crackers). For a while, her Grandma on her daddy's side, tried to give her "treats" every time she saw her. Stupid stuff like chocolate ice cream, fudge bars, cheetos (the hard ones), etc. I think it was her way to try to get my dd to like her. They haven't seen a lot of each other. Anyway, I am now off topic...LOL.
I too am not a food Nazi, and do occasionally let her eat these things. My dd was such a chunky baby and ate her meals so well, that treats/snacks weren't an issue. She LOVES real food/meals. She would choose a salad over junk food. Besides, I don't want her to have to worry about 'comfort eating' like many of us adults tend to do...me included.
Good post and don't change a thing!

I am soo with you. Cupcakes wouldn't be so bad except they come with an inch of colored frosting and that's all the kids want to eat. My DD is in K and this year will end up with two Hollowe'en parties at school - one in the morning and one in the afternoon, donuts and treats at both of them! I'm thinking she won't be eating much of her lunch that day - oh joy.

I'm with you DVMMOM!

yeah, I think of a lot of the things you described as dessert type food. My SIL gave my son a lollipop as big as his face and he was thrilled and I was floored!!! I just had to break off pieces here and there and then throw a bunch of it out. I am so not a food nazi, but at snack time on a basically empty stomach I would not want to give my kiddo a bunch of sugar instead of good carbs or protein. I think cheese sticks, or gold fish, or almost anything is better than a brownie for snack. If my lil dude does have these things, and he does!!, I make sure he has eaten real food first, otherwise no sugar. That's just me. Mine is not in pre-k or anything so I really don't have to balance with other moms. I would think that bringing cheese sticks and wheat thins is pretty easy?? My three year old loves that!!

I agree, but feel an equally important issue is the frequency of snacking. Why do kids need to eat every couple hours? When I was a kids, we ate 3 meals a day and sometimes (not every day) we had a snack between lunch and dinner. Sure, I got hungry once in a while when I was out playing and had to wait for dinner, but who cares?

My son goes to preschool -- he has breakfast before we leave the house. He has a snack at school when he gets there and then lunch before I pick him up. He's eaten 3x by noon! And heaven forbid he goes to a 2-hour playdate without having to break for a snack. Drives me nuts. Especially since I have a kid that will eat as much as I put in front of him. It's a challenge.

Sorry I couldn't offer advice!

Having dealt with this for a few years now I am simply at my wits end!

Look around the store...find a "healthy snack,"... that the majority of kids will enjoy...and is not an allergen (so depending on the class that year - rule out milk, nuts, gluten, sugar, whatever). ARRG!

I break out in hives every 15 school days because it is my kid's snack day, and I have to provide 16 nutritional treats the kids will not whine about.

Just how many times can you bring goldfish crackers and string cheese???

Options:
1. You look at the side of the package and even the "healthy treats" are junk ("fruit" snacks have more crud in them than a Butterfinger bar).
2. You feed them something healthy, and they HATE it.

Then...add in the fact that we attend school in a very, how do I delicately put it...progressively natural and predominantly health conscious area. So many of the non mainstream children are vegetarian or vegan, and attend the public school.

Every month I dread the treat calender, and dream of a day when I can send my child to school with a frosty cupcake or bag of chips just because I can. Until then, I will continue to spend about an hour+ each month trying to find a store bought, non allergen, healthy, non offensive item that everyone will enjoy, and won't get my first grader openly mocked or beaten up for providing.

I have no problem with health consciousness, it just gets very hard to please everyone. Options, variety, store bought, non-allergen - it is not easy to stray away from the aisles that provide a quick and easy option for some of us.

So, for those mom sneaking in the oreos...I salute you for having the courage.

I'd talk to the teacher in the class and see if you can establish some rules for snacks and things brought to school. Many schools have snack rules, especially about allergens, so adding sugar amounts to that list wouldn't be ridiculous. There are plenty of healthy things to bring, or things that are not "healthy", but yet not loaded with sugar either.

I totally agree with you!!!
My daughter is the only one who always brings in healthy snacks.... Why give a kid rice krispie treats at 10am?? My daughter isn't allowed to eat those, so her teacher will give her gold fish and let her read a book in their library.
I think there should many more mom's like us out there!!!

I really do not see the issue with one junkier snack a day. And on special days like valentines it is the norm to include a small treat with the card. The reason other moms are bringing in other types of snacks is because they do not make food such a huge issue, and figure that if meals are healthy, having a few Cheetos is really no big deal.

I feel the same way you do....it seems like many others don't. I wait in the lunch room with some preschoolers that stay for lunch and I'm always amazed at how many kids have candy bars, candy or cookies in their lunch box. IMO lunch should be just like what you have at home (I'm guessing they don't have candy and cookies everyday at home) and same as snacks.

I feel the same way. Last year my daughter was in a preschool class and the teacher had us rotate snack weeks. So when it was your week, you send snack for the class each session. I always sent fruit and string cheese, veggies and hummus, etc. But on other weeks, my daughter would come home and tell me how So-and-So's mom brought french fries, and the next day it would be pudding or even pancakes. Not exactly what I consider a snack. My younger daughter's class is more like your DD's--BYO. Today she is getting fruit and the pumpkin seeds we roasted together. When I volunteered in the classroom Monday, there were kids with candy and Doritos, pre-packaged mini muffins, fruit snacks, etc. And this after the teacher requested healthy snacks. Who in their right mind thinks any of that is good for you? Like you, my kids do get the occasional indulgence. But I know it won't be from me this week since they are making canned frosting-topped sugar cookies and Oreo, licorice, and frosting treats of some sort, respectively. Keep up the good fight at home--that at least helps them stay balanced! :)

My son's preschool had healthy snacks daily and only treats for birthdays and holiday parties. You should try to change the policy or find another daycare!

"some of the moms even told me thank you, they really appreciated what I did."

Sounds like you have some enlightened moms in there who feel the same way as you........it is an effort to not give in to the sugars, and some moms just don't take the time to do so. Pumpkin muffins....ooh, I am drooling ;) I want to be a toddler at your daughter's school just for that!

Uh, because cupcakes are what kids like. So big deal if she has one, two or three cupcakes a week. She's not going to develop a dependency to them.

I wonder if the moms who are bringing in these sweet treats have the same idea as you, only a special treat once in a while, and this is there once in a while. Like my son only has cake or candy on special occasions like birthdays and holidays. So the mom who is sending in the cupcakes is thinking this is the special occasion or the holiday treats are only on the holiday not everyday. My son's birthday was last week and he had a sweet dessert on his actually Bday and then had a cupcake at his party and is having treats in class on Friday and will get candy Trick or Treating on Sunday. So in 2 weeks he will have as much junk as he usually has in 2 months or more. But I don't want to make an issue out of food, so I will let him enjoy the treats and feed him extra healthy meals and snacks to try and balance it out.

That's kind of crazy! My son's preschool had snack rules. Only healthy things like cheese and crackers, muffins, yogurt, fruit and veggies were allowed for snacktime. The exception was for when it was someone's birthday. Maybe you could talk to your preschool and try to get them to set up some rules!