Shawn,then we both agree.

Any school that trys to tell a parent what he or she can send their child in to school with, is, as my lawyer says, a lawsuit just waitin to happen.

But about the party food stuff (food that is SHARED with other kids), I am more concerned with unknown and uncontrolled for food storage and handling by parents than I am about fat and sugar content.

I am glad to hear some schools ban HOME BAKED ANYTHING. Its good sound, healthy policy. Think salmonella, e coli, hep A.

In fact, I dont give a **** if they offered only junk at parties. My kids know how to make choices and thats what a parents life is all about anywya, teaching kids to make the right choices.

Later it will be much more serious stuff than 'just' party foods. I wish it were just a matter of cupcakes or fresh cut fruit, we had to teach our kids about!Parenting would be a breeze!

I said I have no problem with the Fed Mandate about school lunches but schools are instituting lunch bans (items, fat contents, no cupcakes, Bday party foods and celebrations) THAT's what bothers me.

So far here in So Cal only the food served is covered, no soda and snack machines on school grounds.. these I have no problem with..

Other on the boards have posted instances of the above party, cupcakes, lunch item bans... Those are what I was referring to as ludricrous and facist.... If my child is getting their monthly nutrition/ vitamins etc - I can pack whatever I wish.. was my comment

My whole problem is stopping Bday celebration food, bake sales, Dads and Donuts/ Moms with Muffins is suddenly gonna make children NOt be obese, just makes me laugh (its... I cant explain or write the post without sounding like a saltysailor)

I do agree with no candy rewards and understand the law/mandate ny problem is if the others happen (they have just not, yet in my state)

[ 07-14-2006, 06:14 PM: Message edited by: Shawn ]

By the way, Shawn.....where did you learn ....

"when its mandated what I can send my child 2 school with" ??

We parents(at a public elem)have not been given any insturctions as to what we can or cant send our kids to school with, its business as usual for the brown bag stuff......but every school and district, has made their own interpretation of the fed law.

IF your principal or BOE has mandated changes to what PARENTS can SEND their child to school with, and attributed that change to that 'food law',,,, I would be the first to march into their offices and protest. That is NOT in the law. I have read it 10 times over. No way are they trying to tell parents what to bring or not bring, in the lunch bag. Its not in the law. We can still send em in with a hapy meal everty day if we choose, and a can of non diet coke.

I am the FIRST person in my school to protest andhy infringement of civil rights or first amendment rights, and I have not found fault with the LAW, but yes, each school is quirky and we parents have to remain vigilant that they dont try tricks they have no right to try.

But its not only what schools can serve, a lot of states are instituting the no 'Party foods' rule, or it can only be 8% milk cartons, restrictions on lunch from home is my beef.

I have no problem with fed and state mandates on what a school serves nutritionally, my children love their schools food, unfortunately its going too far.

Parents should be held accountable for having children (welfare or not) and their health, anything other than what a school can serve is infringing on my right to serve my child healthy and fun foods


As for premiums, althoug I cant compalain mine is almost fabulous (premiums are market driven and will only change a bit even if everyone is health- the industry gets away with it because not enough is done about [gouging, bad healthcare/HMO magmnt, fraud, paying 4.4 billion for illegal immg healthcare, breaks to multi-million $ corp and govt's, hosp charging $100 for .10 needle, insurance/healthcare has not one standardized form (over 1ooo different onces) the baby boomers (just the sheer quanitity of 'em),and citizens without insurance]

the cigarette smokers, obese isnt true and are only a small percentage of the rising cost.

[ 07-14-2006, 06:01 PM: Message edited by: Shawn ]

I'm also from Texas and we've been dealing with this for a 2 or 3 years now. It was definitely a big change at first. But we did adjust and there were also some rule changes. As someone already said, we now have 3 exempt days that the school can define for parties, celebrations, etc.

Your first job is to FULLY understand the rules - and there are usually lots of misunderstandings at first. Find out what hours the rules apply, to whom they apply, and what (if any) exceptions there are.

At the elementary level, for us it did kill off bakesales, Muffins w Mom, Donuts with Dad, birthday cupcakes, and food/candy as a reward in classes.

At the middle school level, we also saw most fo the vending machines removed and other fallout when the school lost that extra source of income.

Shawn, I agree you have the right to pack anything for your child you want. We all have that right. The govt is not trying to tell us what to pack, only what the school can OFFER or SERVE. Big nuance.

I dont think your kids will suffer from less fatening foods and lowred sugar content ones -- they are only banning foods with sugar as FIRST ingredient and over 35% fat containing foods.

But yu have the right to your points, i do understand you(my kids are no obese too).

Personally I am really SICK AND TIRED of paying astronomical health care premiums for all the ills of others out there, and many illnesses are caused by obesity, especially cardiovasuclar and diabetes,,,,and its good for everyone when the nation takes on teh fight against fat, which is waht they are trying to do with the food police policy; its good even for the families of kids taht are thin as a bean. It will make YOUR kids premiums stay in check, down the line (hopefully!)