Schools to Monitor Sugary Treats: No more cupcakes?

As a parent, my "eat healthy" New Year’s resolution extends to my children. Cut out the juice for my 2-year-old, make my 7-year-old eat all her breakfast and coax my finicky 10-year-old to eat his veggies.


After a holiday season of non-stop sweets both in and out of school, I am now trying to tell my kids that cookies, cakes and candy are not meant to be eaten daily -- or hourly! Instead, these treats are for special occasions. Too much sugar is bad for their teeth, body and concentration, I tell my kids as they eye the vestiges of holiday feasting on the kitchen counter.

Just before the holiday break, Superintendent Susan Marks sent out a memo to parents about healthy eating. In it, she said obesity has become a “significant concern” for Norwalk students. “Data collected by the Norwalk Health Department shows that 39 percent of our students are overweight or obese, i.e., their Body Mass Index is at or above the 85th percentile,” she wrote. Yikes!

In her memo, Marks said that, from now on, holiday and school celebrations will be monitored carefully. The emphasis on birthday celebrations should be redirected from a food-focused activity to special activity or privilege, she said. “As an educational institution, our emphasis should shift from food to a focus on learning or the promotion of physical activity.”

At my niece’s preschool in Texas, sweets are prohibited at birthday celebrations. On her birthday, my sister brought in a pizza with four candles. I wonder if we are moving in that direction here in Norwalk?

Promoting healthy eating habits for kids has also been President Obama and the first lady's focus recently. Last month, the president signed a school lunch bill that aims, in part, to improve the quality of food sold in schools. While reporting on this story I learned that Connecticut has its own nutritional standards for school lunch, but that many local districts, such as Wilton, have not signed onto them because they might limit their ability to sell goodies at bake sales. Districts such as Norwalk that have agreed to the standards, have requested waivers for bake sales. However, cities across the country are curtailing bake sales. Can you imagine schools without bake sales? They go together like ... apple pie and ice cream.

How do we curb our kids' sugar consumption and encourage healthy eating habits in 2011? Do you have any tips? What role should the school play in promoting healthy eating habits? Would you be in favor of banning birthday cupcakes or limiting bake sales?