Dr and Mrs XXXX
The cafeteria reported to me that your child's lunch today included 4 chocolate bars, a bag of marshmallows, ritz crackers, and a pickle. Please see that XXX packs a proper lunch tomorrow
Signed
Supply teacher
Parents Signature Requested:
____(REQUEST DECLINED)____
The Dr was totally pissed off that he got this letter and said that "the letter was the judgmental tone it struck, leaving him in no doubt his parenting skills were under question."
SERIOUSLY!!! Grow the hell up!
I do realize that he has said that the letter was wrong and his child did have a healthy lunch, but DUDE Get over yourself.
I've never really had this sort of passion about most articles before but this one just urked me to no end.
Lets say this was your child's lunch. So getting that reminder could be a good thing. It's a way of the school saying "hey, things aren't going right today. Your Child needs some healthy lunch to get through the day better prepared and learning better."
Some parent's need that reminder. I've worked in the lunchroom. I've seen what the kids eat. Or more so what they don't eat. I've seen kids eat a dounut for their lunches.. at least 2 days in a row, until mom and dad had a chance to get to the grocery store for something else. I've seen the kid that has a slice of bread and nothing more. I've seen the kid with 4 chocolate bars and nothing else. I've also seen the kid that has a healthy lunch. The kid that has something from at least 3 food groups. I've seen those children who have a healthy lunch do so much better during the afternoon that those who don't.
It's hard to believe something so small like their lunch could make such a big difference. But it does! That's why we encouraged main dish first (sandwiches, soup, hotdogs, rice, meatballs, etc) before the "extras" (candy bars, mini chocolate bars, fruit gummies, etc.)
I can honestly tell you I send my kids with unhealthy food ALOT! But not the whole meal, just their "treat". Sometimes it's teddy grahams, or fruit gummies, or even mini chocolate bars (near Halloween). And Sometimes it is carrot sticks and dip, celery and cheese, or even extra leftovers.
Now to be fair, lets say the Dr. was right and the lunch actually included what he said "4 pieces of ham, a whole protein meat, she also had some pickles, which we admittedly cheat on pickles every once and a while as a vegetable, because some fights aren't worth having.... she also had 4 marshmallows in a Ziploc bag and then she had three very small pieces of chocolate, which she ate one for lunch and then she also gave her brother and another friend one at an after school program"
I guess a lot of this has to be my problem from being at our school and with our rules in place. You are not allowed to share food! We have a lot of allergies in our school and we don't want any of our students to have an allergic reaction because of shared food! So the fact that she shared chocolate (of any size really) is slightly irritating!
But that your child was sent with meat, pickles, chocolate and marshmallows... SERIOUSLY? You think this is a healthy lunch? I guess if you reeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyy stretch it you could get meat (protein), pickles (veggies), chocolate (dairy?) and marshmallows.... fun?
Get over yourself. So what. You gave your child an unhealthy lunch. Suck it up buttercup! And deal with it.
Then once you have done that... STOP CONTACTING THE NEWS!! This is so stupid... slow news day? or because you are a doctor? Whatever the reason, grow up.
TDSB's website says the following on 3 different links:
Nutrition and Healthy Eating
Eating breakfast impacts your ability to learn and focus in the classroom. By packing a healthy lunch you ensure that you can recharge and get through the day. Making the connection between what we eat and how it affects wellness is at the core healthy eating. Many of our schools offer nutrition programs. Contact your Principal to see if one is offered at your school.
Health and Active Living
Health includes everything from emotional and mental well-being to eating a balanced, nutritious diet to living an active lifestyle. When it comes to learning, good health is one of the most important factors for success in school.
Across the TDSB, individual schools, program areas and central departments support the physical health and mental well-being of students in all kinds of ways. But the role parents and families play is just as important, and we help by sharing tools you need to support healthy living at home.
Nutrition and Healthy Eating
Making the connection between what we eat and how it affects wellness is at the core healthy eating.
Eating breakfast impacts a student’s ability to learn and focus in the classroom. By packing a healthy lunch for your child, you ensure they can recharge and get through the day.
Many of our schools also offer nutrition programs. Contact your Principal to see if one is offered at your school.
Kindergarten Healthy and Active Living
Nutrition Programs
Making the connection between what we eat and how it affects wellness is at the core healthy eating.Eating breakfast impacts a student’s ability to learn and focus in the classroom. By packing a healthy lunch for your child, you ensure they can recharge and get through the day.
Many of our schools offer nutrition programs. Contact your Principal to see if one is offered at your school.
Model Schools for Inner Cities Health
While our school system doesn't say what your child has to bring exactly, it does say eating healthy is important!
So Doctor, if your child doesn't have a healthy lunch one day and you get a note home. Suck it up! Send her with an uber healthy lunch the next time. Next time, forget the news crew. Grow up. Please! If nothing else do it for those of us who spend our time watching your child and others to make sure they are eating healthy lunches and being safe.
News Article I referred to
