Lunch Tray readers often contact me for help in getting junk food out of their children’s classrooms, but few seem to know that as of next school year, districts will for the first time have to impose a nutritional standard for classroom food.
In today’s New York Times Well blog, I discuss how districts might respond to this new federal mandate. My hope is that the Times story will spread awareness of the new rule while there’s still time for parents to get involved in their own district’s standard-setting process.
To that end, if you find my article helpful or informative, will you please take a moment to share it on social media? If you’re on Twitter, you can just click below:School districts must now set a nutritional standard for classroom food: parties, rewards, etc. Click To Tweet
Thank you, all, and I look forward to reading any of your comments on the Times website! 🙂
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Lauren Feiner says
Hi, I just was informed about your blog today. I work with autistic toddlers, ages 2 and 3, in an early intervention setting using behavioral and socialization techniques. They are mostly low income kids, some bring their own snacks daily, and the school always has a lot of junk food to feed them, reward them, etc. Any thoughts on how to change these food items, when sensory issues for some autistic toddlers, and economic issues for others, are present? Thanks.
Bettina Elias Siegel says
Lauren: This is such an interesting question. I have no expertise at all in the area of special ed, but I do know that whenever we talk in my district about creating strong nutritional standards for classroom food, I’m always told, “But we have to carve out an exception for special ed!” So I’ve always just taken in on faith that candy and other junk food is somehow indispensable to these teachers. You’re the first person to make me rethink that proposition. I would love to get more info on this topic – I’m going to put out a query on TLT’s FB page and will circle back.