State (Texas) Places Restrictions on Foods of Minimum Nutritional Value

Public School Newsletter ^ | 9-2-2003 | School Newlsetter

[deziner]

I apologize for the lack of a link. This is from my daughter's newsletter she received from school today.

"The distribution of certain candies and soft drinks in elementary schools will no longer be allowed in Texas public schools, according to new policies announced by the Texas Department of Agriculture. The department recently announced the changes in response to efforts by the USDA and the Surgeon General to prevent and decrease obesity in children.

Under the new guidelines, food of minimum nutritional value (FMNV) can no longer be given to children by staff members, parents or other children during the school day. Specific food identified by the US Department of Agriculture as having minimum nutritional value include hard candies, jelly candies such as Gummy Bears, carbonated soft drinks, chewing gum, frozen ices or "sicles," spun candy such as cotton candy, licorice, marshmallow candies and caramel popcorn.

The new policy applies to giveaway incentives, cafeteria sales, field trips and class parties. It does not apply to lunches or snacks that individual students bring to school as long as they are for personal use. The guidelines also do not apply to activities outside of the school day.

The policy does allow for most common class party items such as chocolate, baked goods, juices and sport drinks. Parents should check with their teacher or principal before bringing food items into school.

Similar guidelines for middle school and high school restrict certain foods from being served or sold during lunch periods but do not place the same restrictions throughout the day."

Ok - ok - so hard candies make you fat, but chocolate and cookies are ok???? Who's the person who thought this one up? I don't know any kid who got fat on hard candy eaten at a school party. Give me a break!

[deziner]

And I thought we were safe from this type of nanny government junk here in Texas - bah!!!! I always send hard candy instead of chocolate for parties and with valentines because some kids are allergic to chocolate. *sigh* So glad the government knows what's best for us. /sarcasm

[CindyDawg]

If the State of Texas is so concerned about the nutrition of children I suggest they start by looking at what is being bought with Lone Star Cards.

[D. Brian Carter]

In related news, running on the playground has been banned, because "some children may fall down and get a boo-boo on their knee."

[deziner]

Very good point! I've seen plenty of junk food bought on those things.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Actually, hard candy is almost pure sugar, while chocolate contains a good deal of fat and protein. Eating hard candy or other nearly pure sugar candies, and drinking soda, cause a quick rise in blood sugar, followed about 20 minutes later by a surge in insulin which clears out the blood sugar, often to lower levels than before the sugary item was consumed. Result is a fatigued or cranky child. Foods containing significant amounts of fat and/or protein don't have this effect, since the protein and fat take longer to be processed into the bloodstream, thus evening out blood sugar levels.

[deziner]

Yes - that may very well be true - however, they are trying to decrease obesity, not fatigue or crankiness. But what really makes by blood boil is that the government shouldn't even be involved in this! Kids don't get fat from having a hard candy or gummy bears at a school party! They get fat from the crap they eat at home!

[John Valentine]

All of that is well and good, but where does a government, even as the State level get off thiniing that tihs is a matter for state control?

This is purely and completely a matter for parental judgement and guidance, on principle.

[myprecious]

I am a school bus driver in Texas. It was my tradition to give (bribe) my little darlings on Friday with a piece of candy if they were good all week. Well, actually I withheld the treat only a few times. Offenders would get the "eye" and a loan of the next week's treat. This was a great time to speak to each kid as they got off the bus and encourage them personally.

Now the stupid state reps have taken this away. I invite all of the weasels (including the ones that keep running away from their job) to ride on my bus. They can pick a day when that tin can is about 110 degrees amd the kids bave had a spelling test that day.

A little tootsie roll has never harmed a kid.

[yonif]

This sounds so socialist.

[yonif]

It's a "brave new world"

[deziner]

I know - it's really scary.

[Orange1998]

In our school I hear they unplug the coke machine only during lunch hour.

[Think free or die]

Having two kids in elementary school, I have mixed feelings about this issue. I don't like to see the government micro-managing school parties and little gifts on the school bus, and ultimately, I disagree with the Texas decision.

There is an important issue here that bears addressing, however. If you haven't been in an elementary school lately, you may not see just how much food is put before these kids outside of the cafeteria. It's not like it was when I was a youngster. We would occasionally have cupcakes for a birthday celebration, and for class parties, another batch of cupcakes, maybe ice cream, and rarely, soda. Now a class party takes place several times in the school year, and class treats typically include cupcakes, cookies, hard candy, fresh fruit, pretzels, chips, chocolate, soda, and sometimes sandwiches and potato salad (I kid you not). It's as though the menu is overloaded so that no family is left behind in contributing goodies to the kids. Leftovers are taken to the teachers' lounge or office to further fatten up the school staff. It's really nuts. To add to the feasting, there are pizza parties as reading incentives, and bags full of candy brought home from school at halloween. Valentines are no longer just cute little cards; usually they are cards or boxes with candy attached to them.

While I don't agree with the Texas ban, I think it is highly appropriate for the individual schools to take action. If a letter were sent home at the start of the school year to remind parents to avoid excess, these food blow-outs could probably be avoided. Most parents have a modicum of common sense, if only they are encouraged and party organizers avoid going totally overboard. In many cases, incentives can be small toys or other gifts. Kids love little superballs, keychains and other bits of colorful stuff, and they usually don't eat them.

[ShadowDancer]

But what really makes by blood boil is that the government shouldn't even be involved in this!

Um, these are government controlled schools.

[myprecious]

The Cola machines are still left in the teachers' lounge and admin areas. Most of the staduim scoreboards are spondered by the drink companies in exchange for exclusive rights in the district. Must not risk loss of those funds!

[CindyDawg]

How do you do it? I believe a supervisor needs to be on every bus to allow the driver to concentrate on driving. You see the little monkeys hanging out of windows, jumping seats and throwing things out all the time around here. I don't know how many fits I threw about this when my son was in public school. He was the monkey ring leader. I even offered to ride the bus and make them sit down. The superintendant of transportation got all territorial when I tried to gather parents to volunteer though.

[Clara Lou]

Why do you think schools offer PE to kids??? For their health, right? Why shouldn't the "government" keep school cafeterias and activity funds from making money off of selling kids sugar-- every kid's greatest weakness? Why should schools make money from giving your kid mouthfuls of cavities for you (or the government) to pay for? Come walk through a school cafeteria at breakfast. Watch kids pour pancake syrup over their doughnuts for breakfast, and then get up and go buy a coke for a breakfast drink. Then come outside after school is out and watch them line up at the soda machine or the snow cone truck. Watch the chess coach sell them hard candy, Twizzlers, and the like after school. Kids' bodies these days are made out of sugar! (For lunch, when they want a break from sugar, they feast on ranch-flavored chips, and other highly nutritious items.)

[Clara Lou]

Well, here's the deal about the Cola machines in the teacher's lounge-- like you, the teacher is an adult and can make decisions with consequences in mind. Kids don't. They just know what tastes good and then act on it.

[Physicist]

The policy does allow for most common class party items such as chocolate, baked goods, juices and sport drinks. Parents should check with their teacher or principal before bringing food items into school.

That's not so bad. Mrs. Physicist, an incorrigible cookie baker, was incensed to read our new school policies today (East Lansdowne Basic Elementary School, near Philadelphia, PA). The new policy reads as follows:

HEALTHY START TO NUTRITION
ELBS is adopting a healthy eating program. We have asked Food Service to provide only nutritious snacks at lunchtime. We have asked to keep sugar and food additives to a minimum. We are requesting that you do the same when and if you pack your child's lunch. Also, please no cupcakes or other such treats for birthday celebrations. You can send in treats such as fresh vegetables, fruits, cheese/crackers, etc.

Fresh vegetables on your birthday! Whee!