Welcome, I'm glad you're here. Each post I make will be a question, to get the conversation going. So let's get started!!!

Should kids eat cupcakes?

The reason I ask this question is because my granddaughter's 7th birthday is coming up. I wanted to send cupcakes to her classroom. Remember that, on your birthday, Mom would bring cupcakes and punch for the whole class? Guess what her teacher told me, NO CUPCAKES.  She gave me a list of items I'm allowed to send:

Sugar free pudding           Popcorn

Fruit roll ups                       Fruit snack chews

Granola bars                      Fruit bars

Chex mix                             Crackers                    Pretzels

I'm making goodie bags with a small box of crayons, 2 balloons, a granola bar and an invitation to our birthday party.I'll tell you what, that birthday party is gonna have CAKE!!!

The thing is, everybody's getting so strict about what kids eat. It's mentioned frequently on TV and magazines, that kids now days are overweight. Maby it's just me, but I don't remember seeing very many "chubby" kids when I was in grade school. But back then (way back in the old days), we didn't have cable, or game systems, or a computer. When we got home from school we played tag, hide and seek, and kick ball. We had contests to see who could jump rope the longest, who could jump on the pogo stick the longest and who could do the most push ups.

Now days, all kids want to do is play their game systems, watch TV and set at the computer. That's the main reason there are too many chubby kids. It's not neccessarily what they eat, it's what they do, or don't do.

I can understand trying to feed kids healthy food and less suger, but come on, no cupcakes in class on their birthday. I think that's taking away something important. Let them be kids, and send 'em outside after school.

When my granddaughter gets home from school (she lives with me), she changes out of her school uniform and heads out the door. She rides her bike, swings, plays on our big sand pile and just enjoys herself. I can barely get her in the house at supper time. What's for supper? Who cares!!! It'll be something good and it won't be leaves (spinich leaves, lettuce leaves, cabbage leaves). I don't want to eat leaves, I want to eat food. And dessert will most likely have sugar in it. YUM

I do have a little tip though... I throw frozen strawberries, watermellon, apple, bananna, orange juice, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and ice in the blender, hit the switch and pour us a drink. It tastes good and it's good for you. I think I'll put this mixture in the punch bowl at the party. They'll never know they're having broccili.

Nice blog! Like the deco (mmm... coffee). I understand the frustration of not being able to send cupcakes for birthdays, but I also see it from the teacher's point of view. If you've got a room full of 20-30 2nd graders who just got jacked-up on sugar-laden cupcakes, the rest of your day is going to go straight to h*ll-in-a-handbasket. Also, frankly, there are now so many kids with Type 2 diabetes (it's projected to be 1 in 3 by the time they're adults) that a large number of the kids probably can't eat the cupcakes in the first place. I remember a few days ago my 4 year old came home from preschool and some parents had sent PUSH-POPS for snack! Honestly! How can kids be expected to function when they get pure sugar for a snack? At a birthday party, yeah, get the sugar on, but not at school. Just my $.02. :)

It is a shame that life has been dwindled down to what can you eat. At least you could send goodie bags... I am not allowed to send ANYTHING for my daughters birthday. And they frown on inviting only one or two classmates to a party. They say it is not fair to the rest of the class. I dont know about other people, but i would like my daughter to have a memorable birthday with a close friend or two (which I can afford) compared to not having one at all because I can afford to have the whole class over! The trails of life these days! I feel your pain! I wish i could get my daughter outside more often. She doesnt like to go! What is the secret? Its a shame because i sepnd alot of time out in the yard doing yard work and we have people over and sit around out doors... and she didnt even start being able to go on the computer until this year (she will be nine next month) and i only did that so that she could email with my family because it is long distance and helps her work on her spelling and communication. We only allow her so much time as well, but even if you are outside, she doesnt want to be! Have a great day! :)