My Daughter Said No To Dunkin Donuts, So What's The Problem?

Yesterday my Wife got off early and planned to surprise our daughter by picking her up from school. Upon doing so one of her teachers says to my Wife that there was an issue and immediately my Wife got that sinking feeling in her gut thinking of our Child's well being. My Wife worriedly asked "what happened" and the teacher replied that "our daughter had declined having Dunkin Donuts saying "that they are bad for you" the teacher also said "that our child was totally fine and unfazed by her choice of not having any Dunkin Donuts." It seems that the teacher is the one that had the problem with our daughter politely and honestly telling the truth. It was the perfect opportunity to praise our child and her student as to how amazing she is for making healthy choices. Our wonderful 7 yr old daughter is not deprived of the occasional treat and she knows that there are healthier choices for her that are preservative free and/or use organic ingredients Yet our lil' darling still remains happy, sweet, smart and unfazed.  

We would never dare to tell others how to live their lives or judge them as we just want the best for our child.  This extends well past her childhood as we do not want our daughter to have health problems as an adult due our carelessness during her adolescent years. 

The school has sent home flyers regarding a support group for obese children and their families. So why is our daughter's teacher trying to make us feel like freaks just for being a health conscious family, wassup with that? 

New york public schools should follow the example of school here and abroad that have a no sugar policy even in lunch brought from home.  School should encourage a healthy mind and body attitude. 

Some Michigan schools even ban cupcakes to fight obesity via Detroit News(yahoo news):

Ryan Thompson celebrated his seventh birthday last year with homemade cupcakes that he handed out to his classmates in Alma.

But when he turns 8 on Nov. 25, he won't be able to pass out the sweet treats since food is no longer allowed to be part of school celebrations.

Ryan's principal realizes the ban sounds harsh, but it's part of a broader Michigan project to combat childhood obesity, which has tripled nationally since 1980.

Instead of the cupcakes, Alma district students celebrating birthdays now get an extra 30 minutes in gym class — policies that could be coming soon to all Michigan schools.

"If you look at the fact we have 350 boys and girls in our school and 180 days of school, that means we have two students every day who are wandering around every day passing out cupcakes and snacks," said Tom Neuenfeldt , principal of Alma's Hillcrest Elementary School, about 50 miles north of Lansing.

Alma joins districts in Bellaire and Roscommon in getting $40,000 in federal stimulus funds to pilot Michigan

nutrition standards to fight childhood obesity, an epidemic linked to 20 chronic diseases

Sugar Ban in School

Yields Positive Results via CNN/Education World:

Ten years ago, Dr. Yvonne Sanders-Butler, the principal of Browns Mill Elementary School in Lithonia, Georgia, banned sugar in the school. Her motivation was both personal and professional.

“I nearly lost my life to a stroke 13 years ago,” said Sanders-Butler. “It was the result of a lifetime of loving sugar and overeating. 

“After that, I made a lifetime change and lost 60 pounds. It wasn’t about dieting, it was about maintaining a healthy lifestyle.“When I became principal here,” she continued, “I knew I had a responsibility to change the way my kids were eating. I believed poor nutrition impacted their academic performance and their behavior, and I knew good nutrition could improve those things.

”The results of the school-wide ban on sugar were dramatic. “In the first month of the ban, we noticed inappropriate behavior had dropped and students were more on-task,” Sanders-Butler said. “We had a 23 percent drop in discipline referrals. Teachers could do their job of teaching the students.” Counseling referrals for students having trouble getting along with other students also decreased.

Students’ reading scores improved by 15 percent, and Sanders-Butler believes the ban on sugar helped students better concentrate on their schoolwork.

TAKE AWAY THE SUGAR… ADD EXERCISE

Along with banning sugar, Sanders-Butler instituted a program in which students get 60 minutes a day of physical activity. And the school also provides a morning and afternoon fitness program for teachers. All teachers participate in a regular exercise program at least three or four times per week, but they can choose which form of exercise they prefer to do. There are structured a.m. and p.m. training sessions led by a fitness instructor at the school, so teachers have the option to participate in either of those. Teachers who prefer to work out independently can sign up to use treadmills or a step machine in the school gym. There are also walking teams for teachers, and some teachers exercise outside of school at gyms like Bally’s or in programs like Curves.

“All teachers participate in some part of our wellness program,” Sanders-Butler said. “Teachers feel good about exercising because it makes them more fit, so you don’t have to press them to participate. It’s just a part of our school’s culture.

“When teachers feel good, they expend their energy in positive ways, working effectively with their students.”