No Food Birthdays at School

Yes, it is true. A school I work with just started NO FOOD BIRTHDAYS and the staff said it is going great! The teachers and administration drove this initiative and collectively agreed to implement this rule school wide.

Last year we tried to make changes across the district encouraging teachers and parents to bring in healthier birthday treats. We saw and continue to see great progress. Parents have gotten creative with fruit by making fruit salad in an ice cream cone, fruit kebabs and fruit mosaics. 

 

However, the staff at one of the schools said that by the end of the year, the unhealthy foods just keep coming back and by then it is harder to enforce.  They also mentioned that there is a lot of disagreement between children, parents, teachers and administrators about what is considered healthy and unhealthy. The increase in the number of food allergies is also a concern. It was easier for them to implement a “NO FOOD BIRTHDAYS” rule.  Of course every student is acknowledged on their special day, but instead of cupcakes with transfat frosting, students get to go out 5 minutes early for recess. Some children have donated a book, game or PE equipment for the classroom in honor of their birthday.  

If a parent really wants to bring in a non-food item for the students, teachers say yes but they don’t encourage it. One teacher told me “if a parent really wants to bring in a toy for each child, they can, but I actually try to discourage them from doing it. I don’t want the parents to spend that extra money and we all have so many pencils, silly bands, erasers and bouncy balls!” The teachers were also quick to recognize that students often have several birthday celebrations with friends, parents, grandparents, and a sports team or scouting group so there are plenty of other opportunities to celebrate with food.  

Teachers still have the occasional class party to celebrate a holiday but these only happen about 4 times a year and the treats are limited to one per party.

I get a lot of parents, teachers and administrators who tell me it can’t be done. I am delighted to share a success story of one school that collectively agreed on NO FOOD BIRTHDAYS. Instead of being upset, the teachers told me that parents are incredibly relieved and most importantly that the students are happy.

Perhaps other schools will be inspired to try to limit birthday celebrations with food.

Soccer Season - Post Game Snacks

As I have mentioned before, I feel very strongly that it is our responsibility as teachers, parents, and coaches to teach kids how to make healthy choices. By providing unhealthy snacks after athletic events, we are doing the opposite! And we are giving our children contradictory messages. We tell our children to run around, be healthy and active, eat your fruit and vegetables, and when you are done with your soccer game, baseball game, basketball game, race etc. it is okay to eat junk food...?

In this case I am not even speaking as a childhood obesity expert, though experts feel this is one of many contributing factors to the childhood obesity epidemic. I am speaking as a parent, athlete, coach, and teacher. Why do we want our athletic kids to fuel their bodies with junk? Not only does it affect their performance on the field, it affects their attitude, behavior and energy before, during and after the game...long after the game.

This is the third year in a row that all of the soccer teams that my 3 daughters play on have collectively agreed to have no treats after soccer games. Parents bring fruit at half time, and that is it. It has been great. No one, including the kids, complain. Parents are relieved and the kids are over it. Most kids are on their way to a playdate, birthday party or scouting event anyway...

We have gotten so used to the no post-game snacks that I was surprised when I saw the snacks of a teams that was playing right before us. Each child got a bag of chips, a rice krispy treat and a sugary orange drink. When I do comment on the abundance of unhealthy post-game snacks, a frequent parental response is "they are kids so they can eat whatever they want". Now that may or may not be true - it depends on your child , but skinny or overweight, it is not healthy for any child to be eating junk food before, during or after an athletic event.

The irony! Last week I gave a presentation at a couple of different school assemblies on the topic of "Making Healthy Choices". I taught the kids about Red, Yellow and Green light foods and sugary drinks. A couple of the children at the assembly were also on my soccer team so I asked them what color foods the other team was eating after their soccer game. Their response was "A lot of Red Lights!" 

As a parent, athlete, teacher and health educator, I feel tremendous responsibility to teach kids, all kids, how to make healthy choices. We know that eating healthy food and exercising regularly improves academic success, social and emotional health, sleep habits, and of course, athletic performance. Don't we want our kids to feel and perform their best, all the time?