Today's guest post is from Kristen Schlag, who among many other things, is a caring and concerned Virginian mom.
A few weeks ago I invited her to guest post here on the blog after she emailed me to tell me of her frustration when her autistic son came home sporting that sticker up above. Here's her take on the utility of the, "parental no", as well as a clear cut example of why regardless of the dollars they put in, Big Food has no place in our schools.
It was a typical crazy day. I had spent three hours downtown waiting for car repairs to be done (that’s not easy with a three-year-old). I knew I needed to go to the grocery store and if I didn’t do it before the older kids got home from school it probably was not going to happen. To make a long story short: the car didn’t get done at all, my husband had to pick us up and the kids got home from school right after we did.[Kristen Schlag is a mother of three who lives with her family in Virginia USA. Her goal is to raise children who view food as a healthy fuel and wonderful indulgence; it's all about proportion, not perfection.]
That is when my son got off the bus with a bright orange sticker on his shirt:
“Tonight is Papa John’s Pizza Night”
Gabriel is in second grade and he’s autistic. The first thought that ran through my mind: the school is using my seven-year-old autistic son as an unpaid corporate sponsor.
I asked Gabriel what the sticker was for, he told me we are supposed to order pizza tonight from Papa John’s for “Spirit Night”. I explained to him that, while pizza is very tasty, it isn’t very healthy for our bodies and Mommy and Daddy will decide what we have for dinner. Autistic children thrive on routine and take expectations very seriously. It is hard for him to learn that he can’t have his favorite food when another adult gave him the expectation. Predictably enough, he was very upset.
When I went through his and his sister’s school folders later I found a flyer in both advertising the Papa John’s fundraiser, a letter from the PTA stressing how important these fast food fundraisers are and the school calendar for October with a reminder about a Chick-Fil-A “Spirit Night” on the 18th.
I try to feed my kids good food, I really do. It’s not enough that the school gives them things like chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese for lunch every day. They offer some fruits and veggies too, but if you were a kid what would you fill up on first? The school offers them the choice of chocolate milk every day as well.
The food companies like to say if my kids become overweight it’s my fault; parents just need to learn how to say no. I say no constantly! Everyday! We don’t watch commercial television; we rent videos instead because of the constant barrage of ads. We explain to our children what is and isn’t healthy and why; we offer fruits and veggies at meals and snacks. We aren’t perfect, but we shouldn’t have to be. These fast-food outlets are using the fact that schools are underfunded to prey on children. It’s not fair that helping raise money for our school also contributes to making kids sick.
Don’t get me wrong; I love pizza. I think my kids should have pizza sometimes and I probably give it to them more than I should, but nobody should be telling my children to ask me to buy them unhealthy foods, and nobody should be putting a sticker on my son at school advertising their salty, fat-laden foods.
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This shouldn't happen. I also object when other people give my kids "treats." Junk food is only a treat if it is occasional. Between holidays, birthday parties, good behaviour in certain classes and stores (e.g., Kent's lollipops at the cash register), participating in a soccer tournament, trips to their grandparents, etc., they are regularly handed candy and other food that's bad for then. If I don't want them eating it I have to swoop in and be the bad guy. I'd like the opportunity to give my kids treats now and again, but they already have too many. Like you, I'm not perfect but I do make feeding my children good food a priority and wish there was more collective support.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post Kristen. Well said. As a RD and mom of 3 special needs boys (two with autism), I share your struggles around expectations given to my ASD boys by adults who simply do not know any better (but should). That scenario is just cruel to them.
ReplyDeleteTreats or junk food have become normalized and no one seems to understand the lifelong effects of normalizing poor nutrition.
Wonderful post! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome post - very, very well said, Kristen!!
ReplyDeleteD
This is the issue, isn't it. I have already written THREE letters to my 4-year-old's school: Chik-Fil-A, Pizza Hut and Chuck E Cheez have all had "spirit nights" so far. It is only mid-October! I write a letter each and every time and will continue to do so. My son, adopted from foster care, sadly must be in this school to access the special education services he needs. I consider it a travesty. I have decided that my next step is to write a letter expressly forbidding them from putting the sticker on. We'll see what happens from there.
ReplyDeletePlease tell me this sticker thing does not happen in Canada. Please.
ReplyDeleteIt is reprehensible.
Thank you everyone for your kind words.
ReplyDeleteTalk about mixed messages from the school environment! I addressed this very issue in a post resulting from my frustration with actions from a local school district:
ReplyDeletehttp://dropitandeat.blogspot.com/2011/07/war-on-obesity-preventing-collateral.html
I'm in Australia, and this is the first time I've heard of a fundraiser like this. (Why is it called 'Spirit Night'?) Here, big chain supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths run sports vouchers for schools campaigns, but schools don't tell you where to shop for your family!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it illegal to use children as walking billboards? Especially if they are too young to understand what the stickers placed on their little bodies indicate?
Like Alison, I am often the 'bad guy' who swoops in to grab the lollies that are offered (without requesting my permission) to my children. However, I don't think of myself as a bad guy at all. I think of myself as a supermum, with the knowledge and strength to protect my kids from eating trash, even in the face of social pressure. I couldn't give a toss whether shopkeepers, other parents at kids parties or even my Nana think that I'm depriving my children of some precious childhood experience. I know that I'm teaching them how to avoid mindlessly poisoning themselves.
@ Growing Raw -- It's to show your "school spirit" a term that refers to showing support for your school.
DeleteAssuming this happened at a public school, it's outrageous.
ReplyDeleteTo add insult to injury, look at the people who own these fast food companies, the millions they make in profit from your purchases, and the organizations to which they donate part of their millions. (E .g. Chick-Fil-A owner supports anti-gay hate groups) Also look at how they pay and treat their employees. (E.g. Papa John's reducing hours to avoid providing health care)
Neither of these companies gets any of my money, and if a teacher or staff member from a public school were to put one of their corporate stickers on my child, there would be hell to pay.