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SweetTooth
I'm a tired mommy!
Member since 12/05 20105 total posts
Name:
Lauren
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Re: the HORROR! No more birthday cupcakes in school!
Didn't we all have cupcakes, munchkins, whatever for birthdays in school? Why are things any different now?
Its not the cupcakes every once in a while, its the tv, video games, etc.
As for the allergies - parents should be given a list of what allergies are present in the class and be sure to avoid those foods when bringing in snacks.
As an aside - my favorite b-day treat when I was in school was when someone brought in flying saucers!!!
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Posted 9/17/07 7:18 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
Blu-ize
Plan B is Now Plan A
Member since 7/05 32475 total posts
Name:
Susan
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Re: the HORROR! No more birthday cupcakes in school!
My sister in law made cupcakes for years for her sons' birthdays at school. She would always make different ones to accommodate allergies.
She was very thoughtful but the teacher sent out a list compiled by the parents about the kids allergies. All parents had copies.
I don't know if this is going overboard but it still not the issue.
Walk home from school, join a team or a club and go ride your bike.
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| Posted 9/17/07 7:21 PM |
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JessInCA
live laugh love
Member since 8/06 5082 total posts
Name:
Jess
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Re: the HORROR! No more birthday cupcakes in school!
The district I taught in had a healthy food policy passed a year ago -
1. all food brought in for celebrations needs to be store-bought (because the parents apparently want to poison their child's classmates)
2. any class celebration that involves food has to be held after lunch (so the kids will have an appetite for the pizza, fried chicken, cheesy tacos, etc. given to them in the cafeteria)
3. class parties that involve junk food (store-bought cupcakes, pizza, etc.) are limited to once a month.
BUT there are no restrictions on what the children bring in their backpacks for lunch and snack. So they bring chips, soda, candy, and fast food from home to eat every day, and that's okay. 
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| Posted 9/17/07 7:26 PM |
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Spring Baby06
My two loves
Member since 5/05 3612 total posts
Name:
Jillian
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Re: the HORROR! No more birthday cupcakes in school!
I am a teacher in a NYC school and we are not allowed to have birthday parties with "junk food", as per my principal.
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| Posted 9/17/07 8:00 PM |
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browneyedgirl
family is all that matters
Member since 6/06 6513 total posts
Name:
browneyes
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Re: the HORROR! No more birthday cupcakes in school!
Posted by JessInCA
The district I taught in had a healthy food policy passed a year ago -
1. all food brought in for celebrations needs to be store-bought (because the parents apparently want to poison their child's classmates)
this is actually probably due to allergies. there's no doubt about ingredients when it's listed on a package. you don't know that ingredients when it's homemade. many districts have this policy
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| Posted 9/17/07 8:01 PM |
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charon54
My two boys!
Member since 5/05 7279 total posts
Name:
Rebecca
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Re: the HORROR! No more birthday cupcakes in school!
DH's coworker said her kids can't bring peanut butter to school anymore because there is a student in the school with severe allergies.
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| Posted 9/17/07 8:04 PM |
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JRG71
*****************
Member since 5/05 5025 total posts
Name:
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Re: the HORROR! No more birthday cupcakes in school!
Posted by nrthshgrl
Posted by JRG71
As a parent with a child with severe food allergies I'm glad. Not only for the safety of my child, but because she gets so upset when other's bring in snacks to daycare and she can't join in on the fun.
Yes but I think it's the parent's (bringing the cupcakes) responsibility to make sure to include that child in the celebration.
I sent Josephs' teacher a note asking if there were any allergies so I can be sure to accomodate that child.
I know in my daughter's daycare, we can only bring in store bought items and the teachers have a special snack for the child with the allergies.
You are one in a million. 
Usually what happens is I get notice that either a party is coming or someone brings something that Emma can't have. I leave a 6 pack of jello at daycare for those times.
I do understand that allergies are not the reason behind not having cupcakes in school - It just makes things so much easier on parents that have to worry 24/7 about what their child is being exposed to.
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| Posted 9/17/07 8:29 PM |
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JRG71
*****************
Member since 5/05 5025 total posts
Name:
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Re: the HORROR! No more birthday cupcakes in school!
Posted by CathyB
Posted by Ophelia
Posted by JRG71
As a parent with a child with severe food allergies I'm glad. Not only for the safety of my child, but because she gets so upset when other's bring in snacks to daycare and she can't join in on the fun.
this reasoning is only beneficial to your child though, which is not fair to everyone else.
all children should be accommodated, but lets face it, if you are allergic to something, you can't have it. a lesson that has to be learned eventually.
I don't believe that the whole should suffer for one.
make sure all children are safe-definitely. but that is as far as it should go. all students should know that Sally cannot have peanut butter and Sam gets sick if he eats shrimp etc.
all of this "banning" was unheard of when I was in school.
It was unheard of when we were kids b/c many food allergies, especially peanut weren't diagnosed properly. Additionally, peanut allergies are now considered an epidemic in the United States. To the point where researchers are close to having a vaccine.
A level 5 peanut allergy means that the child will stop breathing within 15 mintues of touching something that another child who ate a peanut butter sandwich touched without washing their hands first. It's not a matter of they can't have it, it's literally a matter of life and death.
Until you are given an epi-pen for your baby and told that if you need to use it get your child to a hospital within 30 mintues or they will die, I don't think someone can really understand why food allergies are so scary. I certainly didn't until we started going through it.
 - It's so scary!!
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| Posted 9/17/07 8:38 PM |
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JRG71
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Member since 5/05 5025 total posts
Name:
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Re: the HORROR! No more birthday cupcakes in school!
Posted by Ophelia
Posted by CathyB
Posted by Ophelia
Posted by JRG71
As a parent with a child with severe food allergies I'm glad. Not only for the safety of my child, but because she gets so upset when other's bring in snacks to daycare and she can't join in on the fun.
this reasoning is only beneficial to your child though, which is not fair to everyone else.
all children should be accommodated, but lets face it, if you are allergic to something, you can't have it. a lesson that has to be learned eventually.
I don't believe that the whole should suffer for one.
make sure all children are safe-definitely. but that is as far as it should go. all students should know that Sally cannot have peanut butter and Sam gets sick if he eats shrimp etc.
all of this "banning" was unheard of when I was in school.
It was unheard of when we were kids b/c many food allergies, especially peanut weren't diagnosed properly. Additionally, peanut allergies are now considered an epidemic in the United States. To the point where researchers are close to having a vaccine.
A level 5 peanut allergy means that the child will stop breathing within 15 mintues of touching something that another child who ate a peanut butter sandwich touched without washing their hands first. It's not a matter of they can't have it, it's literally a matter of life and death.
Until you are given an epi-pen for your baby and told that if you need to use it get your child to a hospital within 30 mintues or they will die, I don't think someone can really understand why food allergies are so scary. I certainly didn't until we started going through it.
I know exactly what a food allergy is and how dangerous it can be. (my brother is deathly allergic to all forms of shellfish as well as being severely asthmatic)
that "easy explanation" was for the child. if Sammy knows that Sally "can't have it" that is helpful.
and a LEVEL 5 peanut allergy is something else entirely. and if a child in MY child's class had one, I, as a parent, would NOT send my kid to school with a potentially deadly weapon in the form of a pb&j sandwich.
but as someone else said, it's NOT the reason behind the banning.
So then you can understand why as a parent with a child who has level 5 peanut and tree nut allergy (and to dairy and eggs) - as well as asthmatic - I would be "ok" with not having b-day cupcakes in the same classroom as my child. Even though it is just for her - It is life threatening. It is not always as easy as saying "Sammy knows Sally can't have it". An open bag of peanuts can kill her within minutes. A crumb from that b-day cupcake could send her into anaphalatic shock.
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| Posted 9/17/07 8:45 PM |
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ExpectingJoy
LIF Adolescent
Member since 5/05 751 total posts
Name:
Cari
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Re: the HORROR! No more birthday cupcakes in school!
My .02 is that it is THIS very mentality that is causing our children to have "unhealthy relationships with food" that plague them for their lives. I don't think a cupcake is the enemy and should be banned from school and treated the ways drugs and alcohol are.
I think treating a cupcake like contraband is very dangerous and will make a kid want to have it more and start to hoard this stuff when they are at a friends house or the snack truck stops in front of school. We need to go back to "everything in moderation".
I speak from experience. My mother kept our house pretty barren and healthy growing up. Around our teenage years, we got around the junk though and couldn't control ourselves. Didn't know that we could have one cookie and put the rest back, because the lesson to us was that we should take the whole bag because you never knew when it was coming again! My sister and I battled weight problems my whole life. With my own daughter, I just let her have when she wants and 99% of the time she chooses fruit! I downplay it to show it is no big deal.
Message edited 9/17/2007 8:51:22 PM.
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| Posted 9/17/07 8:50 PM |
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heidla
Me and the guys
Member since 5/05 4024 total posts
Name:
Heidi
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Re: the HORROR! No more birthday cupcakes in school!
With all that is wrong in our public schools the fact that banning cupcakes is at the top of someone's list annoys me. Cupcakes at school alone don't make kids obese!!! Parents buying junk and feeding their children high fat diets make them obese.
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| Posted 9/17/07 10:16 PM |
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Shorty
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Member since 5/05 30390 total posts
Name:
really
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Re: the HORROR! No more birthday cupcakes in school!
mmmmm cupcakes
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| Posted 9/17/07 11:17 PM |
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Re: the HORROR! No more birthday cupcakes in school!
Ummm - spend some time in a school cafeteria, and you will see where the problem lies... So you take that one cupcake away, they will still eat the crap that the schools give them - like french fries, and other fried crap...
You know - I was recently in a middle school caf. observing a student. Of course, I remembered I didnt eat all day, and was starving... I just wanted fruit...
the fruit was in a different place than the crap, not really in view - you really had to LOOK for it... but the chips, juice, cookies, and other crap was easily accessible!
How am I going to get the candle into the carrot stick???
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| Posted 9/18/07 6:03 AM |
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GenLCSW
Baby # 3 is here!!!
Member since 7/05 21138 total posts
Name:
Genna
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Re: the HORROR! No more birthday cupcakes in school!
Thats ridiculous 
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| Posted 9/18/07 8:23 AM |
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Wendy
Wheeee!
Member since 5/05 13736 total posts
Name:
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Re: the HORROR! No more birthday cupcakes in school!
Posted by SweetTooth
Didn't we all have cupcakes, munchkins, whatever for birthdays in school? Why are things any different now?
Maybe I'm just old but I don't remember EVER having cakes/cupcakes for anyone's birthdays in class when I was a kid 
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| Posted 9/18/07 9:06 AM |
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pinkandblue
Our family is complete, maybe
Member since 9/05 32436 total posts
Name:
Stephanie
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Re: the HORROR! No more birthday cupcakes in school!
Posted by charon54
DH's coworker said her kids can't bring peanut butter to school anymore because there is a student in the school with severe allergies.
This I can understand.....
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| Posted 9/18/07 9:08 AM |
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rojerono
Happiest.
Member since 8/06 13803 total posts
Name:
Jeannie
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Re: the HORROR! No more birthday cupcakes in school!
I just wanted to ring in on the cupcake thing...
I was a bit upset last year that I wasn't able to bring cupcakes for my sons birthday - but they are just cake. It really isn't that big of a deal. I am surprised at how many people are so upset over this. The idea is to celebrate the child's birthday without the focus being on the FOOD. It is about finding ways to make your kid feel special and celebrated beyond a dozen cupcakes. I really don't see the harm there. And it makes you get creative. Last year I sent in an edible arrangement of fruits and little loot bags with penny toys. The kids loved it, my son was thrilled and he didn't once miss the cupcakes.
Posted by Ophelia
I think a better way to curb obesity would be for teachers to look inside their kids lunch boxes and snack bags, and instruct PARENTS on what is a healthy every day snack.
This I STRONGLY disagree with. I do not want ANYONE looking in my child's lunch bag or snack sack and trying to determine a pattern in his eating habits. Most of the time my kid requests healthy snacks and his lunch reflects that. But whatever I give him is MY choice. I am his parent. I would be LIVID if a teacher called me to task for choosing to send my child in with chocolate chip cookies instead of an apple.
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| Posted 9/18/07 10:19 AM |
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Chica
Cuteness!
Member since 10/06 3013 total posts
Name:
Erica
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Re: the HORROR! No more birthday cupcakes in school!
That's so sad. I always looked forward to those birthday cupcakes as a kid. I can't wait to bake them for my children. These rules are getting ridiculous.
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| Posted 9/18/07 10:34 AM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name:
remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Re: the HORROR! No more birthday cupcakes in school!
Posted by rojerono
Posted by Ophelia
I think a better way to curb obesity would be for teachers to look inside their kids lunch boxes and snack bags, and instruct PARENTS on what is a healthy every day snack.
This I STRONGLY disagree with. I do not want ANYONE looking in my child's lunch bag or snack sack and trying to determine a pattern in his eating habits. Most of the time my kid requests healthy snacks and his lunch reflects that. But whatever I give him is MY choice. I am his parent. I would be LIVID if a teacher called me to task for choosing to send my child in with chocolate chip cookies instead of an apple.
so then why the ban in the first place.
IF the emphasis is really on kids "health" and "nutrition" and the schools feel so strongly about obesity issues, why NOT take a parent to task that is CONTINUOUSLY feeding the child "poorly". It's the same with keeping up on the homework/reading.
teachers and parents should be UNITED in doing right.
parents do not hesitate to take teachers to task when they feel the child is not being properly taken care of in the classroom, what is the difference here?
I am not saying that I agree with this one way or another. I am just running with an idea here.
I do however feel that a teacher (or any other adult entrusted with the partial care of a child's life) can and should bring something up to a parent if it appears to be a pattern of practice, if it seems to be harming the child, either educationally or otherwise. that, IMO, is why they are there.
I think Jeannie that you would agree that just b/c a "parent" makes a choice, doesn't mean it's the right one. Even if YOU do, not every other one does. A teacher would be remiss, again
IMO , not to call you on it (IF, again, this rule is regarding the health and nutritional habits of the child)
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| Posted 9/18/07 11:00 AM |
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lvdolphins
My Loves!
Member since 5/05 46292 total posts
Name:
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Re: the HORROR! No more birthday cupcakes in school!
Absolutley Ridiculous!
In elementary school, my mother would always send a note in to the teacher asking if it was ok to bring the Carvel mini sundaes (there are like 4 or 6 cups in a box). My classmates Always loved my Birthday..LOL
Its just insane and sad.
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| Posted 9/18/07 11:59 AM |
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dgirl
LIF Adult
Member since 5/07 1079 total posts
Name:
Danielle
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Re: the HORROR! No more birthday cupcakes in school!
I don't know....
It's annoying to me as an adult that so much of socialization is focused around eating and drinking. I welcome trying to get kids into other ways of celebrating and having a good time at an early age.
I'm not a parent, but I don't think I would have a big problem with it. I love the idea of little gift bags with penny toys that was posted above.
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| Posted 9/18/07 12:16 PM |
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KrisT
Two Boys for Me!!
Member since 1/07 5213 total posts
Name:
Kristin
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Re: the HORROR! No more birthday cupcakes in school!
Posted by ExpectingJoy
My .02 is that it is THIS very mentality that is causing our children to have "unhealthy relationships with food" that plague them for their lives. I don't think a cupcake is the enemy and should be banned from school and treated the ways drugs and alcohol are.
I think treating a cupcake like contraband is very dangerous and will make a kid want to have it more and start to hoard this stuff when they are at a friends house or the snack truck stops in front of school. We need to go back to "everything in moderation".
I speak from experience. My mother kept our house pretty barren and healthy growing up. Around our teenage years, we got around the junk though and couldn't control ourselves. Didn't know that we could have one cookie and put the rest back, because the lesson to us was that we should take the whole bag because you never knew when it was coming again! My sister and I battled weight problems my whole life. With my own daughter, I just let her have when she wants and 99% of the time she chooses fruit! I downplay it to show it is no big deal.
I think you raise some very valid points and I agree with what you said. I don't think cupcakes need to be seen as "bad" or "forbidden." Rather, they are special treats to be eaten in moderation!
I was raised with very good eating habits - everything in moderation. Yes, we did have "junk" food in our house, but we also had plenty of fruits and vegetables. Were we allowed to have cookies as an afternoon snack or with our lunch? Sure, but we were only allowed to have 2 and we had to eat them at the table. We were not allowed to take a bag of chips, cookies, etc. to our room. We also always had a "healthy snack" (fruits or veggies") in our lunch along with a "treat" - small bag of chips, 2 cookies, etc. We were allowed to drink soda (the horror
 ), but only at parties or if we had pizza, etc. My mom cooked most nights and made lots of healthy meals - nothing really processed or from a box. But you know what, we occasionally had fast food!
I am now an adult and have never had a real weight problem. I have (at least what I think) are healthy eating habits and a healthy relationship with food. I think more kids need to raised like this.
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| Posted 9/18/07 12:27 PM |
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rojerono
Happiest.
Member since 8/06 13803 total posts
Name:
Jeannie
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Re: the HORROR! No more birthday cupcakes in school!
Posted by Ophelia
so then why the ban in the first place.
IF the emphasis is really on kids "health" and "nutrition" and the schools feel so strongly about obesity issues, why NOT take a parent to task that is CONTINUOUSLY feeding the child "poorly". It's the same with keeping up on the homework/reading.
teachers and parents should be UNITED in doing right.
parents do not hesitate to take teachers to task when they feel the child is not being properly taken care of in the classroom, what is the difference here?
I am not saying that I agree with this one way or another. I am just running with an idea here.
I do however feel that a teacher (or any other adult entrusted with the partial care of a child's life) can and should bring something up to a parent if it appears to be a pattern of practice, if it seems to be harming the child, either educationally or otherwise. that, IMO, is why they are there.
I think Jeannie that you would agree that just b/c a "parent" makes a choice, doesn't mean it's the right one. Even if YOU do, not every other one does. A teacher would be remiss, again
IMO , not to call you on it (IF, again, this rule is regarding the health and nutritional habits of the child)
Heh. Parents are people. They make the same amount of crappy decisions as anyone else. 
I do understand where you are coming from and I think the difference is so subtle for me that I may not even be able to express it clearly. To be totally honest it may not even be a rational line of thought since it is coming from instinct and how I feel as a parent rather than any kind of logical or linear process. But here goes nothing!
I give the teacher a certain amount of leeway to make rules for their classrooms as a whole. I expect my child to abide by these rules as long as they are within reason. I encourage my kids to talk to me about school and class and to tell me if they have challenges or if they think something is unfair. We talk things out and if I agree with them, I chat with the teacher. This is a partnership between a parent and a teacher. If the teacher or district decides that classroom wide there will be no cupcakes - I am okay with that. Again - it's just cake. As long as the birthday is celebrated and the child feels special, I don't think it needs to be about the food. I would also be okay with cupcakes being allowed too.
But the idea of being isolated and called on the carpet for a snack that I choose is treading dangerously close to interfering in my personal parenting decisions. What I put in my kids lunch does not effect anyone other than my child. And as long as my child is happy, healthy and well adjusted - I do not see the harm in choosing a crappy snack as a treat every now and then.
Having said that - we get the usual flyers and notices about healthy foods and heart friendly snacks. I don't mind that my child is taught the difference between processed and bad for your body foods and healthy fuel in school. I appreciate the school menus with the 'healthy snack recipes' that come home. All of this is fine because this is not singling out a snack or a child for what they are doing.
If there is a consistency or a pattern to bad eating - it will likely become evident in the child. They will probably be heavier or less energetic. These signs will almost always lead to a child that shows signs of withdrawal or unhappiness. When a child's eating habits contribute to a lack of socialization or poor performance in school - the educators SHOULD call the parents in to discuss a course of action that might improve the health and well being of the child. But checking the lunches of every child, every day sounds like policing to me. And I don't want it.
Again - that might not make much sense - because like I said I am totally going on my gut rather than any real rationale.. but there you have it!
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| Posted 9/18/07 1:07 PM |
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CaMacho
Sisters :)
Member since 7/06 15112 total posts
Name:
Jess
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Re: the HORROR! No more birthday cupcakes in school!
I don't have kids, but i'm really sad to hear this...
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| Posted 9/18/07 1:15 PM |
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jmf423
:)
Member since 5/05 6372 total posts
Name:
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Re: the HORROR! No more birthday cupcakes in school!
Posted by -DonnaMarie-
eh, I don't think its so bad either. But I guess I am getting used to this idea now having a child that just started preschool. I also think even though they say they are targeting obesity issues, that it does in fact have alot to do with the prevalence of food allergies.
My sons preschool is a peanut free school. And they also follow a "nutrition theme".
This is from the handbook:
Birthdays -
Celebrations will go along with our nutrition theme. We are confident it can be fun and "good for us". Use your imagination. Ask your teacher for more suggestions. Guidelines- something not messy since most classes will have snack in their rooms and reasonably nutritious. NO PEANUT products.
Birthday Suggestions
Mini muffins
ice cream cups
fresh fruit
cheese crackers
oatmeal cookies
carrots, cucumbers etc
jelly sandwich wedges
finger jello (from fruit juice)
Snacks:
goldfish
pretzels
animal crackers
graham crackers
We can still look forward to having cupcakes at home with family and friends 
I find this whole idea crazy.....but aside from that I find it interesting that on the acceptable list of foods is ice cream....but they can't have cupcakes???
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| Posted 9/18/07 3:07 PM |
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