Tuesday
Oct132009
Hooked on the money, but is it good for the kids?
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 10:18AM in opinion A couple of weeks ago, my kid’s school sent home papers for collecting food labels, which in turn, the school hands over to the food companies to receive money for supplies. Sounds ideal, right?
Wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong.
I know the schools need money desperately, I truly do. And I’m all for helping out with that! But as I looked through the list of participating food corporations and the foods that had the collectible labels, I was shocked to see item after unhealthy item.
I’ll be the first one to say that my kids aren’t health nuts. They’re kids! They have been known to indulge in the occasional junk food.
But in this three page list of foods, which I will not name (because they know who they are), there was about one healthy snack listed. There were fried foods, bottles of high fructose corn syrup disguised as juice, sugary snacks--just page after page of foods we don’t buy. One of the companies does do a lot of work to aid in hunger in this country, so I can sort of give them a pass--at least they’re doing some good.
I just couldn’t believe that these funds to help our children’s education are being held hostage by these companies pushing their unhealthy food on our kids! They should step up to the plate and donate the money anyway! Or hold contests where kids have to learn about healthier eating and design posters to be used in ad campaigns. Just something other than “Hey kids, have your parents buy these junk foods, collect the labels, and THEN we’ll give your school money for books and supplies.”
Not to mention that the kids are tossed into this contest to see who can bring in the most labels! Sure, let’s make the kids whose parents don’t buy the junk food feel badly when the other kids win pizza parties and fun things.
I had to tell my kids they wouldn’t be bringing in any labels. They understood, but still, they feel left out when they see other kids participating. And I hate seeing my kids feel that way. But when will things change for the kids in this country if their schools and parents are being told to buy these things, that it’ll benefit the kids? We all know it won’t!
And yeah, I know--fundraisers are a pain in the ass. They just are, it’s a fact of life. We need to find other ways to get funds for school supplies. Ways that don’t include shoving junk food down the throats of our kids.
It took all I had not to sit down and write a nastygram to the school office. I actually started one! Then I realized that they work their asses off to provide our kids with an education. Many teachers buy class supplies out of their own pockets because of lack of school funds. So are they at fault? I’m not entirely sure. They do their best, and try to get help wherever they can. I do blame these big corporations, though. It’s as bad as the government and media pushing miracle drugs for what ails you. The side effects of these miracle cures are often worse than the illness itself! They hand you a “cure” and your deadly side effects with a smile and a happy Stepford-type person in a commercial.
It’s the same with these food label collections. Buy all of this fun food and guess what? It’s fun going down, but the side effects will get you later.
Elle | Print Article | Share Article | Email Article | 35 Comments tagged collecting labels, junk food, school funds, schools
Reader Comments (35)
Great post! I have major issues with schools promoting and serving "junk" to children. It is terrible. I know they need the money, but I know there are other ways to find it. I could go on and on, but I will spare you:) I don't have kids yet, but when we do I hope some things change or I will be the weird, evil mother who won't let her kids support such fundraisers, etc. I would rather give them my money and buy my and make my kids healthy meals:)
Thank you, Maria! I completely agree. I'd rather hand over a chunk of money than to be asked to buy these things.
you know elle most parents don't even read as much as you do, but rather try and give the most so their kids will win or they will be dubbed as the most generous parent or sadly, they have no time and want to just give a ton to shut people up. sad I know. nicely written and a very important topic.
Thank you, Dawn!
This really is a mess. But it doesn't surprise me at all when you think of what kids get fed as "school lunches" - horrible, horrible stuff. We need to really start at the grassroots with a farm to table campaign for school lunches. But this fundraiser is all the worse, making kinds whose parents know better feel left out. :-(
Your kids are really cool for understanding!
I smell an amazing business opportunity for someone. Healthy fund raisers! I say forget the sugary and fattening snacks. Really earn it. Run laps, clean up neighborhoods, donate time in turn for donations. Maybe even sponsorships. I suppose this is easy for someone to say who doesn't have any children, but I did have someone knocking on my door weekly asking me to buy everything under the sun to support their "quests". The only one I ever supported was the one where the child was active.
Jenn, yes! It seems like the whole food in school thing is at a standstill--I don't understand. Why is it so difficult to make the change?
Heather--that is a wonderful idea! I absolutely love the way you're thinking.
This just shows how badly our schools need better funding.
This was a great post - we don't yet have kids (one on the way!) but I know I'd feel the same way you did.
Kat--they absolutely do. they shouldn't have to stoop to peddling junk food to the kids.
Amy--thank you! So good to see you, and congratulations! :)
Couldn't agree more! I remember when I think it was Pillsbury came out with small dolls and the hair smelled like some of their fruity junk foods. I have one of the blueberry dolls which smells similar to blueberry poptarts. Same deal as the label scam...conditioning children to junk food.
Michelle--yes, absolutely. they try to make it flashy and fun, and it works!
Good for you. I fail to understand why they need a third party to be involved - especially mega corps. Does someone get kickbacks? Why don't they publish a list and ask people to donate supplies or recycled computers? In any event, you did good - and managed to instill values at the same time.
El, thank you. It's not easy--I struggle every day with the junk food issues, as most parents do. And I'm sure there must be kickbacks somewhere in there. I'd be happy to pick up supplies weekly--a couple things at a time--and hand them over!
Great post Elle. We obviously don't have issues like these here in India, no food coupons etc. I do feel for your kids. I would have done just what you did, and am sure my kids wouldn't have been happy either. Yes it's a classic case of enjoy now & repent later!
Great post Elle. We obviously don't have issues like these here in India, no food coupons etc. I do feel for your kids. I would have done just what you did, and am sure my kids wouldn't have been happy either. Yes it's a classic case of enjoy now & repent later!
Frustrating, I know. I'm a teacher.
Bringing in the labels from folks that buy that stuff anyway, is one thing.
Having a contest to see who brings in the most, is another.
We do contests for lots of things to motivate the kids to do stuff, because most of the time they could care less. It's too much trouble sometimes, for these little munchkins to think about things, so they need motivation.
But I do think that sometimes maybe we don't think about it enough.
Who knows.
WOW Elle! Very informative post. You're so right. Schools are in desperate neded of funds that they look to whatever outlet they can & I too find it hard to fault them. It is a sad tactic though when our littlest ones come home begging and pleading because they want to be able to have THE "pizza party" & endless other prizes that come along with fundraisers. Hard to explain that to a 6 year old. Thanks for sharing!
Deeba--it is hard. And I do let my kids indulge sometimes. Used to be more, but we're learning and working on it together. But they get bombarded with it from every angle.
Elenka--i can see how it must be very frustrating for you! I certainly don't blame the schools. Finding the extra funds for supplies can't be a very easy task. Thanks for adding to the discussion!
Paula--it does leave a bad taste in my mouth (pun intended) that the kids are motivated to get the junky food, instead of something like Heather suggested in her comment. How about motivating them to get moving?
Don't suppose the school could divert the $ to purchasing whole foods from better sources? At least they're be a nice ironic twist to the whole thing. I'll put my thinking cap on, too; as Heather says, there's a business opportunity here for someone. In fact, I might have one, let me percolate it a bit and let's chat?
Carrie, it would be great if they could do that! But from what I'm hearing on Facebook, the money the schools actually receive isn't even that much, unfortunately. But it sure does open a whole can of worms! I love the discussion!
My understanding is that that the schools don't even make that much from this - it is a complete scam on the part of the companies involved, encouraging parents to buy unhealthy products in the name of supposed "support". gah...
Bottom Line? All they really need are donations! Bottom Line more than half of America's kids eat convenience foods due to lack of time and working parents. You are correct on all accounts to take a stand for what is best for your kids and hopefully you and some other voices can change the way some or most kids eat these days. The school lunches are awful as well. What happened to the lunch rooms where they really cooked real food anyway?
AmyRuth
Donalyn--someone was just telling me the same thing on Facebook. It's a disgrace!
AmyRuth--i agree. I think we could make up what they get from the labels. I *think* because I'm not quite sure how much they get. My kids used to have home cooked meals in the school caf, until the school got in on the federal lunch plan. It went downhill after that.
I 100% agree with what you say and what you are doing. As a schoolgirl, I never participated in these sorts of fundraisers. Either we didn't buy the foods, or if it involved door-to-door sales my grandmother thought it a sordid practice. I can't say I missed it then, and I certainly don't feel like I am a deprived adult now, either. A new approach is needed!
PS - I love your header!
Seriously...wouldn't it be easier for each parent to give $10-$20 instead of having these contests? It's hard enough to win the battle against junk and non-nutritional foods without having our educators pushing junk food purchases like crack. Children go to school to learn. How can they learn a thing when their bodies are hyped up on processed foods. Last time I checked doritos didn't help grow new brain cells.
Sorry Elle, it just makes me cranky. Especially when I see the double standards in programs like these. I think you are doing the right thing by not participating.
If I had kids there is no way they would have been participating in something like this. I grew up thinking apples were dessert and if you were extra nice you got peanut butter to dip it in.
I am shocked everyday by the amount of adults I see in our cafeteria shoving their face full of crap and their excuse is I don't have time to cook...uh....you got in your car drove 10 minutes, ordered from a flipping clown, waited forever, drove back, set out plates, and ate food and you can't find 20 minutes to throw something together? Poor people.
woo saaa jeff woo saa jeff.
Ok off my soapbox and good for you!
Elle, You go girl! That is a fantastic post and it is great to read all the comments. It is horrendous!!! The scary thing is that most people don't give the big picture a second thought, maybe even the first thought is missing. I am so glad that my kid's school fundraiser is a jog-a-thon. The kids have a blast and so do the parents. There is no coercion to buy anything, just donate. It seems more honest.
Seriously diggin' your Halloween header! see you are crafty!
Gosh, that's tough! I totally understand both sides of the argument. It's not really the school's fault. But I kinda agree, they should know. Maybe there are other healthier programs they could be using instead...
Elle, your post drew me here. Being a mum of two young kids, i can perfectly understand your plight. It is really hard in this day and age for parents who are tryong to make healthy choices for their children to be bombarded on all sides by all those junk. And it is so not nice to see children feeling left out for being sensible.
So true! Big junk food companies find their way to make you buy their junk this way. We don't have food like that in our house either. But here is a great opportunity to talk to your kids about the right thing and the wrong, about nutrition and big business. Great job!
Amen, sister! To many decisions are made based on money, not what is best for our children! Just take a look at entertainment media.
I was just thinking the other day that I wished there was something I could do to help change the way our school system runs their food programs. This sort of "fund raising" makes me crazy and I am not even a parent. Elle, I am glad to see you stuck by what you believe in and did not run out to buy some Ho Hos so that your children would have labels - so many parents would have succumbed and done just that. Not only is there the valuable lesson to learn about where your food comes from & what you eat, but also the one of peer pressure and sticking by what you believe in. You taught your kids a valuable lesson here - maybe they can go teach their school one now!
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