Opinion: New school nutrition rules

Dear Editor:

As the parent of two children in the Canton elementary school system and as a professional health coach, I am extremely concerned by the attitude of members of the School Committee regarding the implementation of the new Department of Public Health rules regarding school snacks. I believe that the School Committee is missing a valuable opportunity to be wellness leaders in our community.

As many studies have shown, the rates of childhood obesity, diabetes, and other health issues are skyrocketing amongst children in this country — and Canton is not immune to these challenges. Additionally, there is overwhelming evidence, both scientific and anecdotal, showing that children who eat well perform better in school and are more able to control their behavior — both inside and outside the classroom.

The fact of the matter is that for many parents the question of school snacks has been a minefield. We want to send in the snacks for birthdays, holidays, etc., but need to balance our desire for our kids to be healthy with our children’s desire to “fit in.” On more than one occasion, I personally have had my kids come home reporting that they have consumed “cookies, Goldfish, one or two mini-cupcakes, and a juicebox (oh yeah, and a few grapes) at a school party.”

The amount of sugar and fat consumed on that one occasion is mind-blowing, as is the resulting “crash” that comes as all that sugar inevitably wears off. And given that there can be upwards of 15-20 occasions for birthday snacks and holiday parties in a single classroom in any given school year, the amount of “junk” consumed within the school year can be staggering. I can’t imagine that our teachers have an easy time getting solid curriculum work done after each of these occasions.

So rather than soft pedal the new rules by encouraging the wellness committee to “go easy on enforcement,” let’s support the wellness committee in their new mandate. Rather than lamenting the new rules as the state “food police” putting “a gun to (our) heads” — let’s embrace the opportunity given to us to teach our children that healthy, nutritious snacks can be fun, can be delicious, and can be “cool.” And rather than seeing the change as something to be condemned, let’s be leaders for the health and well-being of all the children in our school community.

Many thanks,

Karen Lempert

Get Yourself Balanced Health Coaching

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=15460

Posted by Canton Citizen on Aug 8 2012. Filed under From One Citizen to Another, Opinion. Both comments and pings are currently closed.