Cupcake comeback?
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A recent poll by Insideschools.org found parents overwhelmingly against the bake sale restrictions imposed by the chancellor. Insideschools’ readers were not alone in their disapproval.
The outcry by parents and kids against the Department of Education’s ban on bake sales seems to have convinced the DOE to amend Chancellor’s Regulation A-812. Under proposed changes, parent organizations would be able to hold one bake sale per month at any time of day, and sell “non-approved” food during that sale. To many, that means cupcakes. Sales are not allowed in the cafeteria.
For students, looking for revenue to support their clubs and teams, the regulation relaxes the time constraints. Kids could sell approved foods outside the cafeteria at any time of day and for as many days as they wish. Still no cupcakes there, in fact no homemade goodies at all. Students would be limited to selling only those serving-size, packaged snacks that are on an approved list.
The regulations governing the sale of foods and snacks is part of a larger Wellness Policy which includes ways to improve kids’ physical fitness. Both the Wellness Policy and Chancellor’s Regulation are open for public comment until Feb. 22.
The changes are up for approval at the Feb.24 meeting of the Panel for Educational Policy to beheld at MS 131, 100 Hester Street in Manhattan. You can read about the changes and send your input to Wellness@schools.nyc.gov. Call or email SchoolFoodPolicy@schools.nyc.gov or 212-374-0208 with questions.
Let us know what you think. Do you approve of bringing back the bake sales?
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I’m disappointed that the Chancellor didn’t stick to his guns. I really object to my child being fed these huge helpings of sugar by a profit-seeking PTA. They could really make money hand over fist if they were allowed to sell alcohol and tobacco at our schools, but we don’t allow that. Why should we allow this?
Comment by elementary parent — February 2, 2010 @ 10:17 pm
Bring back the bake sales and the revenue. Parents should make healthy choices for their kids and teach them moderation.
Comment by knitty2200 — February 2, 2010 @ 11:32 pm
The time has come for PAs to think of other ways to raise money. We owe it to our children.
“In the past ten years, obesity levels have doubled in the United States. More than half of adult New Yorkers are overweight or obese, and nearly half of all New York City elementary schoolchildren are not at a healthy weight. Obesity can begin very early in life. In fact, in New York City, 1 in 5 kindergarten children is obese.
“Being overweight is not about looks. Many serious health problems are related to being overweight or obese, such as asthma, depression, diabetes and heart disease.”
http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/scah/scah-obesity.shtml
http://www.square1art.com/ is a great school fundraiser that does not use sweets. Sell school pens and pencils and other trinkets.
Healthy snacks, such as fruit juice smoothies (fruit and low fat milk), humus & carrots and fresh fruit salads can be sold if food is a must.
We are educating our children in many ways. This has to include their taste buds and lessons for healthy eating for life.
Comment by Naomi Smith — February 3, 2010 @ 6:37 am
I really have to agree with comment number 1. The chancellor should have stuck to his guns on this one.
Comment by FD-R — February 3, 2010 @ 10:34 am
If your kid is overweight, that weight problem undoubtedly was present long before he or she partook of a school bake sale cupcake. Bake sales should be limited, but not banned. Kids should not be denied treats, just taught how to eat them in moderation.
Why make the PTA the bad guy (and in fact not all school bake sales are PTA-sponsored)? The PTA or student group is trying to raise money for the school. Many schools are really dependent on this money and would be much the worse without this parent involvement.
Comment by Margot — February 3, 2010 @ 11:38 am
Bring bake the bake sales! The schools need the money. And if parents can’t teach their kids to make reasonable food choices, then they already have a problem that bakes sales will neither compound nor remedy.
Or, better yet, let that concerned parent come up with an alternative. Put together little bags of snack mix, or go buy fruit at a warehouse store and resell it. It’s not like anyone is forcing bake sales, per se.
We all need to work as a team. Bake sales are a quick, easy source of much needed money.
Comment by PTA mom — February 3, 2010 @ 11:38 am
This is actually an issue on funding. While the legislation is one way that may allow for the healthier consumption of food and have an impact in student’s obesity patterns, schools have turned to bake sales due to funding issues; lack of.
The schools that engage in bake sales are overwhelmingly underfunded. We should be paying attentio to the allocation of funding to these schools. In the past we have fundraised for After school programming. The funding has allowed us to conduct overnight science trips, hire music and art consultants, hire counselors and so on. While there may be some schools that misuse the funds, it is not the case with all schools.
Let’s pay attention to the real matter. Our schools are nder funded and defunded, crowded and offer very little for what is now know as special interest, that should be a part of the regular school.
Comment by Luna — February 3, 2010 @ 12:14 pm
AND..FYI..Not EVERY parent who is against cupcakes in school has a kid with weight issues. Statements suggesting that parents are FOR cupcake bans in schools because they have children with weight issues or who can’t make healthy choices, are inaccurate assumptions.
We have smart people running PTA’s (right?). The committee can come up with other fun trinkets to sell and raise money. Get the PTA team together and figure this out!
What can you sell at school instead of cupcakes and charge what you would for cupcakes??
Comment by FD-R — February 3, 2010 @ 1:44 pm
Bake sales are not forced upon our kids. In fact, we have to give them money to purchase the goods. If you don’t want to subject your child to sugar then don’t give them any money to purchase the cupcakes. I understand if the Chancellor wants to limit the cupcake sales but it should not be banned. What’s next, banning the sale of pencils as some will view them as a weapon? We can go “on and on” about what is appropriate for our children but teaching starts at home. I agree with the parent who says it’s about the funding or lack thereof.
Comment by Beth — February 4, 2010 @ 9:11 am
I think sugar is a drug. With all the things we have to enjoy-sell-natural ingredients including unsweetened goodies. Why doesn’t everyone stop to see how stupid it sounds to argue FOR SUGAR and every other fattening food out there. Moderation Hah!! You make me laugh. The only reason it is in moderation (if it really is) is because you are not allowing the child to make her own decisions, most children if they could would not be eating in moderation, most children, even us adults right now do not know how to eat in moderation, just look around you, these poor people who have weight problems, can you speak to them about moderation, some of their parents probably gave them dessert and fat in moderation, but once allowed to make these decisions on our own, we usually do not carry the same lesson because our brains want more of the sweets and fats. This world is not just about making any choices you want to make, but learning how to make the right ones. This does not mean we have to put bad food in front of our kids, so they can learn how to eat bad food and sugar and whatever else and then let them decide how to handle this when they become adults. Complaining to us when they are adults that they just can’t seem to get off the wait and mothers still telling themselves it is just baby fat, because they can’t see beyond their precious and admit maybe just maybe they could have made better choices no matter how hard or different or not sweet or not fattening it is. You also make me laugh when you compare a pencil, being a weapon to cupcakes and fatty foods. NOT!!!!!! My son has been raised from birth having fruit only as snacks and now he doesn’t even like the naturally sweetened things over fruit, but this was because I stuck with it and didn’t give in. I will bake with bananas and applesauce and fruit–He loves it and I am proud to have a child who loves that kind of baking over the crap you guys feed your kids. Think about it!!!!
Comment by Katherine — February 4, 2010 @ 11:31 am
This problem should not just be handled at home. A lot of people are clueless and care less what their children eat as long as it taste good!! Thoughtless and they are not serving their children right. Give birth, let them eat how they want and however if ever they suffer later or not, we’ll just see and sit around and find out. NOT!!!!!
Comment by Katherine — February 4, 2010 @ 11:36 am
Let the kids make their own decisions, as long as the parents love cupcakes too. God forbid if I had to serve my kids healthy food (completely healthy food alllllllll the time) We the parents god oh god would have to eat healthy food too. Well let’s not make that happen, we don’t want to give up anything for the children. Let the children handle the food situation on their own when they get older and get made fun of and have people looking at them and feeling self conscious or just some skinny kid who gets diabetes or just our children having heart attacks (even at a decent weight). Who cares right????????
Comment by Katherine — February 4, 2010 @ 11:39 am
I forgot MODERATION RIGHT???????? It’s not about moderation, it’s about mommy and daddy do not want to give up this stuff for themselves and say it is bad for you, we do not eat this ^%#^. But since we love it, let the kids eat it tooo RIGHT?????? Maybe if we are lucky the next generation will be better….As long as it’s not in the generation that makes ME give up my cupcakes…
Comment by Katherine — February 4, 2010 @ 11:42 am
Well at our school we ask that parents bake not buy. And add attach ingredients to what they bake. Some of our kids in the school are allergic to eggs, wheat and nuts; while others are vegans. Also, we ask parents not to ice the cupcakes so that is definately cutting alot of sugar. So If you do things the right way then bake sales can be productive. We have seen a decrease of donations for our bake sales but I am happy that I can pronounce what is on the list of ingredients and ALL our children, allergies or not, can enjoy a cupcake.
Comment by Melissa — February 4, 2010 @ 2:30 pm
Umm I don’t think anyone asked this important question but…Do the folks selling the cupcakes in schools have a food handler’s license/certificate from the Health Department??? How can we know for sure how the food was handled and isn’t that a concern for anyone else other than me? God forbid a child gets sick, who do you sue…the school or the food preparer? Is anyone concerend about the safety of the food in other ways than sugar??? Also, what about a clause for food allergies? Those kids get left out of participating.
Not all questions have been answered about this.
Comment by Concerned Parent — February 4, 2010 @ 3:27 pm
At our school everything must be individually wrapped, so the school and the seller cannot be blamed, only the baker. Personally, I also prefer my children to eat home-baked rather than packaged!
Comment by A Parent — February 4, 2010 @ 6:59 pm
If the worst thing your child can encounter at school is a CUPCAKE–then you really have nothing to worry about.
Comment by PSBK PARENT — February 5, 2010 @ 9:37 am
Is there actually a person out there who thinks that the PTA gets great joy in running bake sales; especially given the flack surrounding them? Believe me, we don’t. We are, however, constantly trying to make up for a lack of funding for many basic necessities that our school has come to rely on. If tomorrow, the DOE gave us the money that it ACTUALLY COSTS to run an effective school, bake sales would be a non issue. So would magazine and wrapping paper sales, and water bottles and T-shirts and Auctions and Game & Movie nights and Direct Appeals and everything else that the PTA must do to raise MUCH NEEDED funds. We could stick to the job of mothering and fathering our own children and attending to the “educational” rather than “financial” needs of schools. This having been said, I do think that the bake sale has gotten very bad press. I do not believe in plying our children with processed sugars, colored dyes and tons of fat, conversely, I do believe that moderation is important in ALL things and that a “baked goody” here and there will not lead to the demise of the “healthy child”. Finally, I have looked at the Chancellor’s “approved” list of foods and must respectfully question whether the foods on this list are Oh! so healthy, or whether instead, there is something else at play.
Comment by Claudia — February 9, 2010 @ 11:21 am
Knitty is right. And I’d rather bake sales than having brands or companies like Scholastic disguise marketing programs on school grounds as “fairs.” I don’t like my kids being marketed to at school. Long live cupcakes!
Comment by Sharon Bially — February 11, 2010 @ 1:33 pm
What about cupcakes that taste great made with wonderful ingredients like bananas and applesauce, strawberries and no dairy just whole wheat, corn or spelt flour of some sort. Tried these kind of cupcakes and they are good for you, wholesome and you can get any cupcake with any flour you want so it doesn’t have to even contain gluten to be yummy. You can sell great cupcakes at bake sales without allowing regular conventional unhealthy sugar, dairy or gluten cupcakes.
Comment by Katherine — February 15, 2010 @ 1:47 pm
I would buy alot of cupcakes if they were healthy. I do not buy any now. I like book sales better.
Comment by Katherine — February 15, 2010 @ 1:48 pm
No to moderation!
Comment by Katherine — February 15, 2010 @ 1:49 pm
I agree with the first comment (STICK TO YOUR GUNS!)… for those parents surveyed AND against the regulation, do you represent the majority of NYC public school families? Those 70% who qualify for free/ reduce-priced meals and live in places where healthy food choices might not exist. Think about the foundations and lessons schools are supposed to instill in children - and think again about this revised A-812. You can sell other items and raise money without jeopardizing the health of children.
Comment by Jerry — February 23, 2010 @ 8:37 pm
Apologies for cross posting.
Dear School Food Advocates,
There is a proposal to weaken existing regulations on Competitive Foods in NYC schools (Chancellor’ s Reg A-812). These regulations outline which foods – outside of federal school meals - can be sold in schools, and how and when.
The proposed changes will:
1) allow students to sell foods throughout the school day including during mealtimes (currently disallowed), and
2) allow unapproved foods to be sold once a month.
Tomorrow Wednesday, Feb 24th, the Panel on Education Policy will vote on the proposed change. In all likelihood, the proposal will pass. However, the Chancellor may change the regulations at any time in the future. I urge you not to be discouraged by the politics of the Panel, the city, or this process. Instead, please make your voice heard.
HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO
1. Attend the Panel meeting at 6pm on Wednesday, February 24th at the High School of Fashion Industries 225 West 24th Street between 7th and 8th ave.
2. Share your opinion on the proposal during the public comment period. Speaker sign-up will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the door. Each speaker will be allowed two minutes to speak during the public comment portions of the meeting.
3. If you prefer not to speak, please come to support those who are.
4. If you cannot attend, please send written comments to Eric Goldstein, Office of SchoolFood at SchoolFoodPolicy@ schools.nyc. gov
5. Spread the word to ask parents, teachers, students, and anyone with an interest in this vote to attend the meeting.
I hope you will join me to support a healthy school food environment for NYC school children.
Thanks,
Kristen
Kristen Mancinelli, MS, RD
Manager, Policy and Government Relations
City Harvest, Inc.
575 8th Avenue , 4th Flr.
New York , NY 10018
Phone: 917-351-8706
Fax: 917-351-8720
http://www.cityharvest. org
Comment by NYC SAfH — February 23, 2010 @ 9:15 pm
This is an issue about nutrition. Its not about cupcakes or bake sales. Our priority during mealtime is to not have snacks sold during those time periods. Kids today have enough distractions around food and should have to be face the dilemma of deciding whether to eat lunch or have a granola bar. Approved fundraising should be allowed to take place, but not during mealtime. We have to send the right message.
Please join us tomorrow at tomorrow evening’s hearing.
Javier-NYC Strategic Alliance for Health
Comment by javi — February 23, 2010 @ 11:18 pm
As if getting rid of bake sales is REALLY going to solve the problem of obesity. If the chancellor really cares about obesity and health, how about having more time (and space) allocated to gym or at least a longer recess? Kids should be getting 60 minutes of exercise a day, and that’s just not happening. Kids who are obese are not unhealthy because of the occasional bake sale in a school, they’re unhealthy because they don’t move enough and don’t eat well at home either. And I agree with the parent “Claudia” that if our schools were given the financial support they needed, then we would not be scrambling for money with bake sales and other such things.
Comment by agk — February 24, 2010 @ 10:57 am
Looking at the food our children are getting at the school lunch the cupcakes are probably the most healthy choice comparing to the overfried french fries, frozen hamburgers, pizza, etc. And how many kids will go right to some local grocery store after school and buy same cupcakes, soda, chips? Those money could be used for programs funding but instead are being spent outside of school.
Comment by Anonymous — February 24, 2010 @ 2:01 pm
I think you all are missing the point, which is that the DOE says it’s okay to sell as much as you want of the ‘approved’ foods. Have you looked at the list? It’s full of processed cr*p, like pop tarts and chips (that the PTA would have to purchase). I’d rather have my child eat a (donated) homemade cupcake with real ingredients than foods that have a shelf life of eternity and are filled with preservatives. This is all about the DOE receiving $ from approved vendors. Of course this all would be moot if the DOE just ponied up the funds NYC public schools need.
Comment by Sarah — February 24, 2010 @ 3:48 pm
If you encourage your child to eat properly, get exercise and understand moderation you should not be scared of a cupcake or two. #26 and #27 have it right. Problems for children with food can come from parents being overbearing and not giving the child choices. What about pizza - some say it is a poor choice, others find it a bread, vegetable and cheese choice.
Comment by Parent of an eating machine — February 24, 2010 @ 3:56 pm
Katherine, I think thou dost protest too much. Also, your fruit only approach is just as problematic and dangerous as the “junk ingredient” approach. I feel sorry for your son as he probably has a dietary imbalance among other things at this point. All you’ve done, literally, it to take an alledged extreme position (that everybody is eating nothing by this stuff) and matching it with a different extreme.
Comment by Greg Co — February 24, 2010 @ 4:25 pm
I think the second commenter has it right: if PTAs want to fundraise, sell cute, cool stuff. Our school makes over $700 every two weeks selling cool, cheap school supplies, costume jewelry, soft toys and more. The items cost .50 and up. The parents want nonedible stuff. Start thinking outside the proverbial box!
Comment by pamela — February 24, 2010 @ 6:58 pm
I agree with Pamela, comment #31. When my kids attended school, I stopped promoting the candy sale efforts around 4th grade and encouraged the other more sustainable sale items like daily planners, greeting cards, wrapping paper that can be re-used etc.
I made attempts to introduce a fund-raising alternative to about a dozen schools last year. Seems they were all used to the okey-doke of selling candy, candy, candy, candy and artificially colored and artificially flavored cupcakes.
Even though my youngest is a H.S. senior, I’m avidly promoting fundraising alternatives to sweets.
I’m launching attempt #2 today and hoping for a more positive response than last year.
Comment by Stephanie — February 25, 2010 @ 3:00 am
#31, cool supplies, soft toys and costume jevelry will probably be sold to the girls in elementary school. How about middle and high school kids?
Comment by Anonymous — February 25, 2010 @ 1:04 pm
#33, you can do it themed. For instance, if the knick-knack stuff does not work normally, it might instead however work on say Valentine’s Day, and so on.
That said, for normal day to day stuff for older kids: Notebooks, flash drives, pens, etc. water. As well, something with the school’s logo etc.
Comment by Greg Co — February 27, 2010 @ 4:33 pm
To #30. It is not extreme to teach my son that eating refined sugar is bad for his health and fruit and unrefined sugars are a healthy way to snack. Just can’t give up sugar I see. This is exactly what I mean. It’s ok, I see people fight over sugar all the time, the smart ones don’t fight over sugar they make a change and give it up for healthier alternatives and when it comes to our children we teach the same and my son is healthier and smarter because of it, I hope he teaches his children the same and so on. Schools would make a decent amount of money off trinkets or home made crafts. Many people would buy these things to make money for the schools.
Comment by Katherine — March 1, 2010 @ 2:05 pm