Sharon R. Akabas, Ph.D.
Associate Director, Institute of Human Nutrition
Director, MS in Nutrition Program, Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University
“This is a complex issue, discussed on the national level, with no simple solution. We know that food-related health issues result from smaller behaviors that build across time–a little too much over-eating, not enough physical activity–and when we intervene by removing one of the behaviors that contribute to the problem, we often do not get the expected outcome.
My recommendation is to avoid restrictions on junk food at school parties. People believe in free choice and bans like that can result in unanticipated pushback.
Parents are creative; instead of a ban, I’d rather see them encouraged to be positive models by serving healthy foods presented attractively, such as fruit centerpieces. Junk food should be offered in small-sized individual portions and not in large open containers.
When parents offer healthy foods in appealing ways, and they offer junk food in moderation, a strong message is delivered.”
Karen Curley
Nutritionist, Sparkill, NY
“I am not supporting excessive control, but I do think that administrative policy should limit the amount of junk food offered to kids at school sponsored events like birthday and holiday parties. I will never say never to junk food; if kids are prohibited from eating sweets, they may go looking for it on their own, and they might go crazy with it when they find it. That’s why limited access is advised.”
Susan Carnell, Ph.D.
Research Fellow, New York Obesity Research Center, St Luke’s Hospital and the Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University. Dr Carnell writes about nutrition on her blog, Bad Appetite.
Studies have also shown that kids with parents who adopt a strict policy of restricting junk, eat more of it when confronted with unlimited piles and given permission to cram in as much as they’d like.
So does this mean that restriction and keeping some foods as treats are doomed enterprises? Should we give kids free rein to eat what they like and hope they end up eating healthy of their own accord?
The answer is probably No. Children need guidance to make sensible choices in today’s junk-filled environment. But other research suggests that there are better ways to do it than rigid limitations.
For example, one study found that ‘covert’ control strategies – like taking your kids to restaurants with healthy choices, or avoiding keeping junk in the house – were linked with less intake of unhealthy snacks in kids.
Resistance is probably futile and may make matters worse to some degree. So it’s probably best to be flexible and allow a little junk. But festivals are also a great opportunity to sneak in some nutrients and sow the seeds of a few new healthy preferences. After all, most little boys are pretty skeptical when you ask them to try a lychee for the first time. But have you tried telling one it’s a monster’s eyeball or a horn-tailed dragon’s egg? I guarantee you they’ll be flying off the plates in no time.
Beverly Herman-Rivera, RD, CDE
Registered Dietitian/ Certified Diabetes Educator, Private Practice, Glen Rock, NJ
“Banning junk food from school parties will certainly have a positive impact on kids. Educators should be positive role models and in doing so, have the responsibility to “walk the walk.” If teachers teach good nutrition and healthy eating and then allow junk food in school, they are contradicting themselves.”
Marlene B. Schwartz, Ph.D.
Deputy Director, the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University
“In my entire career of treating obesity, eating disorders, and studying food policies around the country, nothing has gotten people so worked up and upset as the idea of “banning” cupcakes or junk food from school parties.
A discussion about cupcakes/junk food is really about something else – and what I think it is about is a fundamental belief system about the role of school policies in general. Some people believe that public schools should answer to the tax paying citizens who support them, and no policies should be made that aren’t acceptable to all of the citizens.
Other people believe that when children are in a school, the school serves as the “in loco parentis” so it has both the responsibility and rights of someone who is parenting a child. Personally, I am in the second camp.
The empirical research on children’s eating is very clear. Children eat what is most familiar. Children eat what is most easily available to them. Children eat more of a food when they are given a large serving of it, compared to when they are given a smaller serving of it. Children learn over time to prefer foods that are used as rewards. Children have an innate preference for salty, sweet, and high-fat foods. Children are influenced by marketing and peer modeling.
Teaching children how to eat treat foods is hardly a problem – there is no cupcake deficiency in our country. Left on their own, surrounded by foods high in sugar, salt, and fat, humans and animals will do the same thing – overeat those foods because they override our innate ability to feel satiated. That is why so many people say things like they “can’t eat just one potato chip” or “are addicted to chocolate.” It’s hard to self-regulate these foods, and exposing children to large amounts of them more often makes the problem worse, not better.
We also have research showing that up to 30% of children in our country are overweight (compared to 0.28% with anorexia nervosa). There is no evidence that American children are not getting enough cupcakes, candy, soda, chips, fries etc. In fact, there is abundant evidence that children are eating much too many servings of those “treat” foods, and not nearly as many as recommended as fruits and vegetables.
The challenge is teaching children how to eat healthy foods – and that’s 100 times harder if the apples are competing with the cookies on the table. Schools need to work with parents to provide as many opportunities as possible to promote the foods that are filled with nutrients.
The school must err on the side of safety and caution. If there are parents who do not want their children being fed extra foods at school, then that needs to become the default position. No child is going to suffer from a lack of party food, but there are many children in any school in this country who are at risk of eating too many discretionary calories, and it’s the school’s responsibility not to contribute to that problem.
We agree that parents need to teach children moderation. But every time someone else feeds your child dessert without you there, they are making your job harder for you. And if you are one of the 30% of parents who have an overweight child, they are downright being disrespectful to you. They don’t know what you have planned to feed your child that day. They don’t know if you’ve got a special dinner planned, or have already made dessert, or even if you had a lot of dessert yesterday so weren’t going to have any tonight.
Celebrations in school are fine, but there is no reason why they need to include food. In my opinion, parents who rely on junk food to make it a “party” are just too lazy to come up with a better way to entertain the children and recognize the special event that is being celebrated. It takes some creativity, but it absolutely can be done.
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