Dear Parents,
This was my 4 1/2 year old daughter’s second year playing soccer through the local YMCA league. As much as I have loved watching some of her first athletic endevours, there was a part of the experience that was disturbing. The whole snack thing.
Every week a child’s parents were assigned to bring snacks for the children to enjoy after their games. Whether the kids actually need snack after a 45 minute game that either started right after breakfast or ended right before lunch is another post for another day, but what really got me was the complete lack of quality of snacks contributed for these growing kids.
In the two years of Meghan’s soccer seasons, only two of the snacks provided were fresh, non-processed foods. And yes, both of those snacks were provided by me. The snacks my daughter was given by other parents ranged from a bag of Doritos to a pack of six Oreo cookies. And always with juice. Snack became Meghan’s favorite part of soccer.
Week after week the same thing kept going through my mind:
What ever happened to orange slices?
I mean, really. If you are a parent who grew up playing soccer or little league, you are likely old enough to have been given the same snack week after week post game. Fresh fruit. Forgive me for sounding old or passe, but I miss the good ol’ days.
What kind of message are we sending our kids if we are giving them junk food after their athletic events? How is that setting them up for a lifetime of healthy choices?
Something is happening with children today. And it’s not good. One out of every three kids or teens in America today is overweight or obese. This rate is almost tripled from 1963 (source).
What is going on? I’m sure this trend can be attributed to a number of factors, but I can only speak to what I’ve seen and experienced myself. The older my daughter gets, the more I am around different children and their parents and can see their eating habits first hand.
Her post soccer game snacks are just one example, but the list could go on. It seems food is always associated with activities, whether it’s at a normal time to eat or not. Unfortunately, the food is never high-quality, nourishing food. It’s always processed junk.
So I’m here to say one thing: stop it. If I do happen to bring a homemade snack to an event, stop making me feel like an outcast or like I’ve shortchanged the kids. Stop feeding your kids, but especially my kids, empty calories, full of sugar, chemicals, and artificial food dyes for snacks. Just stop.
I can’t think of one good reason why you’d bring Oreos instead of orange slices for a post game snack. You don’t have to be a chef to cut up some orange slices and it only takes a few minutes. There’s no way that a few oranges are more expensive than the individually-packaged Oreos (in a quick search I discovered that a pack of 12 is $12.99 at Staples).
What’s that you say? Your kid won’t eat the orange slices? Then your kid must not need a snack after the soccer game. Oreos or other junk foods don’t have to be an option.
If you are already on my side, don’t be afraid to speak up. It’s okay to go against the grain. Trust me, I know it’s hard. But our kids are worth it.
Forgive me if I come off as holier-than-thou in this letter. I’m certainly less than perfect when feeding my kids and yes, I have succumbed to the convenience that processed foods offer here and there. But as parents, we need to work together here. It’s that much harder for me when my daughter is bombarded with unhealthy snacks on a weekly basis.
We are the parents here. We are in charge of our children and we get to decide what we feed them. It’s a huge responsibility. Don’t take it lightly. Please, can we just start with snacks? When snacks are necessary, let’s make them fresh food. Leave the processed stuff on the grocery store shelves and give our children what they deserve. Food that nourishes them and helps them develop to the best of their genetic potential, not food that simply fills their belly with empty calories.
Are you with me?
Sincerely,
Maryea
you’re so right, my daughter is only 10 months old, but i know that my husband andI want to have her in some organized sports so I’m worried about waht she’s going to bed when that happens. I can only hope we’re some of those lucky ones that plays with like minded parents. here’s hoping.
I am SOOOO with you! I’m of course totally with you on the healthy snacks, but also with you on the fact that there is NO NEED FOR SNACKS! Our kids are being brought up to expect a snack every time they get in the car, watch TV, go for a bike ride, spend an hour at school..etc…etc…Kids need THREE GOOD MEALS a day. Snacks (and I mean healthy snacks) should NOT be scheduled into every single life event. Most people should be able to go a few hours without eating. I am sharing your letter. I love it!
Thanks for sharing Nicole. I totally agree about snacks not being needed. What’s the deal with having to have snacks with every. single. activity. It’s ridiculous.
When my daughter was in kindergarten each student was required to bring in a snack once a month. Personally I’d prefer to have just sent a healthy snack for my child daily. Now that she’s in 4th grade…snacks at school are less likely, except party day’s and birthday’s. Our School still allows homemade snacks…the do post info if a child has an allergy. One year we had a potential peanut allergy and a chocolate allergy…a kid that was to eat no “extra” sugar…the teacher kept special snacks for these kids when the snack would cause them a problem. The last 2 years when I’ve helped with parties I’ve brought fruit…it’s amazing how much fruit was eaten by 25 kids! I was the leader of her 4-H club for the last few years and we met for 2 hours beginning at 5:30. Since for most that is either right at or near dinner I always felt some type of snack should be offered. We had water available at all times, someone usually brought either capri suns or lemonade (not necessarily the best options but better than soda), and we mostly had fruit or veggies as our snacks in snack sized portions. There were exceptions and those were posted for parents to know about ahead of time.
I couldn’t agree more. My 4.5 yr old’s favorite part of preschool this past year was snack time….for the same processed, unhealthy, sugary reason. Parents are in charge of snacks and it was always cupcakes or some sort of processed treat. It really frustrated me. I racked my brain trying to think if we had such snacks when I was little. The worst snack I could think of was ants on a log that was given us in preschool (banana smeared with peanut butter and raisins). My mother would never have given such an elaborate treat, yet I thought it was heaven. A far cry to what is given now. Oey Vey.
I actually went to Meghan’s head preschool teacher to petition for better snacks. They served things like crackers and pretzels and always with juice. She was very open and receptive to change and after that snack was mostly fresh fruit or homemade, healthy snacks brought by parents. I coordinated a snack schedule and parents who were willing to follow the guidelines signed up to bring in snacks throughout the year to fill in the gaps since it was more work for the school to provide fresh food. They also eliminated juice and served only water with snack, unless it was a party. So don’t be afraid to at least try to change things–some schools will be more open to it than others but you never know!
Thank you! This is so true! At my church, the kids get a snack at Sunday School (10:00 am) AND during the kids service (11:30 am). We eat breakfast at 9:00 am and lunch at 12:30 pm. IF my child needs a snack in that brief time – debatable all by itself – I’d rather it were healthy. As it is, they serve generic Oreos and off-brand Kool-aid.
Further complicating things is that my children both have serious food allergies and intolerances. Even the arts and crafts supplies they use are dangerous for my kids. I cannot convince anyone at church that the children can survive without food for 2.5 hours on a Sunday morning…we don’t go to church any more. I can’t ensure my childrens safety there and I can teach them about God without killing them. Apparently, our church can’t.
Anyway, I’m with you 100%. The snacking has to stop – or at least get healthier!!
Excellent post and I could not agree more. I just had to deal with the same issue this past year. My son was in preschool and the parents had bring snacks in for the class, at least once a month. We had to deal with all the junk brought in. I would bring apple slices or peeled clementines with cheese slices to accompany the fruit. I figured the purpose of the snack was to provide energy to be able to finish out the day. I think fruit and other healthy items are avoided since it takes time and effort to prepare.
We are definitely responsible for what our children consume.
Keep doing what you’re doing! I actually talked with Meghan’s preschool teacher and she let me be the snack coordinator, so I sent out guidelines that snack should only be fresh fruit or something unprocessed. It went over very well and many parents thanked me. You should give it a try!
I could not agree more! I am outraged with the amount of crap that is consistently passed out after games! I have three kids, and it is a constant battle. If only more parents were on board! I get so frustrated sometimes. Great post! So many people need the reminder that it is OUR responsibility as parents to give our kids WHOLE food to eat. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I couldn’t agree more! Playing sports is a healthy activity. The people who participate in these kinds of activities, if any people in our society, should be eating well. Instead, my son is given the worst food possible after the games. But it’s everywhere. We attend early childhood classes, and it’s nearly the same thing for snack time. Church (Sunday school)–maybe the worst of all. We have learned to teach him to say no-thank you, and we bring him something fun if he wants it. It takes courage to stand up to this stuff. It’s too bad children, who really don’t understand are in the cross hares. Thank you for writing about this–keep it up!
That’s a good idea to bring in something else to take the place of the unhealthy snack. I need to remember to do that more because I think Meghan would be just as happy with one of her favorite homemade snacks.
Preach it, girl. Nothing like watching my son play baseball then eat cookies and drink Gatorade. sigh.
I was also that mom but was blessed with a small town in southern Maine and most parents of a like mind. By the time the kids were in High School we had away game tailgate dinners with a generator, grill, homemade food and healthy snacks and drinks. we were all in agreement, No Fastfood stops for our kids after playing a fantastic game of soccer. They loved it.
We feed our grand daughter the same way and our kids still like real food and eat healthy.
I need to move to Maine! The only time in my life that I ate fast food was after sporting events in high school and college. 🙁 I absolutely love what you all did after games.
I hear ya. I think the whole bring a snack for everyone thing needs to just die for so many reasons. The list of what’s acceptable to bring in for sports/school snacks for the entire class is getting very very small. Nut free, gluten free, egg free, lactose/milk free, soy free. It’s just easier for each kid to bring in their own items. I totally get that kids can have severe allergies to nuts, and that for some gluten can put them in the bathroom for the rest of the day. Believe me, I have sympathy.. my 5 yr old was diagnosed with severe ulcerative colitis at 3. There are some things that will push her into a flare. I know i’m lucky though, that other moms have kids very sensitive to many things. My point is.. I know what’s ok for my kid and what’s not. I’m not going to expect the mom of little Kate to remember what’s ok for my wee one and try to purchase(home-made was no no as could not be “guaranteed” to have no cross contamination) foods that are ok. And fresh items like fruit had to be pre-washed, sliced and bagged individually- and still store bought. Yes, if that’s what we wanted to send in, we had to spend a fortune on store bought individual serving bags of cut up fruit! I throw my hands up and say “I GIVE!”
UGH–that is so frustrating!
Yes! Thank you so very much!
Not only for something like this, but daycare also. I’m working on having my family eat cleaner – and here is my 3 year old son’s school having a lot of processed crap for snack.
I could tell them no, I’d prefer he eats the fruit I bring in, but he doesn’t want that – he prefers that “stuff”.
I’m tempted to bring in a print out of your blog post & maybe open their eyes.
Thank you – as always – fantastic blog! <3
Yes, and it’s so hard to explain to a 3-year-old why they can’t have the yummy crunchy crackers or whatever. So frustrating. I think you should bring in a print out of my blog post. 😉
I could not agree more with everything you wrote! Amen! I am also “that” mom & I bring our orange slices, frozen grapes, homemade muffins proudly. I have taught my kids’ that those snacks are not “real food”, they are food-like products & we don’t fill our bodies w/junk like that b/c then we get sick. We politely refuse, but, it is difficult for my kids’ to do at times.
You are 100% correct. I don’t even have any kids & this subject gets me all fired up! It’s scary to think about what kids are eating, & I certainly won’t want mine to have junk pushed on them all the time.
I am that mom who brings orange slices! And grapes, and watermelon, and water… I do remember eating oranges a soccer our kindergarten year! I also help coach both of my boys’ soccer teams and we have decided that snacks are out. If your child can’t have a snack before or after an hour and a half of being active, then shame on you. It is not easy being a parent – especially one who works full-time outside the home – and it is even more difficult to make sure my kids eat well. But, guess what. I make the time to do it because my children’s health is more important to me, too.
Thanks for your posts and info! I enjoy reading it.
Maybe I need to become a coach! 🙂
Thank you for posting this! My son started soccer last fall and I was appalled when we walked to the first game and random parents from other teams were handing my children (who weren’t even playing!) donuts. It never stopped from there. I don’t understand why we have made athletics into a snack fest. If you look around at the parents and siblings that are there to cheer on their family members, they too have donuts, extra-large coffee drinks, etc. Oranges used to be passed out to replenish electrolytes and to hydrate kids. That’s it. What a mixed message we are telling our children. Be active, but make sure you eat junk food to reward yourself! Youth sports should be about teamwork, the love of the game and simply being active. Not about junk food. I am so happy to hear from other parents who feel the same way.
You are definitely not alone in thinking this way. I am “that mom”…all the time. lol I am the one who brings orange slices and homemade muffins to soccer games. Last year, I volunteered to be “snack coordinator” for one of my sons’ teams and sent out an carefully worded email reminding everyone of why we encourage our children to be active and included examples of acceptable healthy snacks. I also posted my concerns about snacks on our league’s FB page. I didn’t get a response, but the next season, I didn’t notice snacks being handed out to our team or any others. Maybe, I wasn’t the only one who spoke up. Or maybe it was a fluke and I’ll be disappointed when fall season starts. No matter, I’ll continue to do what I do, which is bringing our own acceptable snacks and teaching my kids to either politely refuse the junk or take it and dispose of it at home.
Keep doing what you’re doing! 🙂
Completely agree with you! Unfortunately, I was not young enough to remember orange slices after games. I remember having terribly unhealthy snacks, and if you didn’t bring what the other “cool girls” brought, then you were an outcast, too. It’s tough out there as a kid! But, I’m totally with you.
You’re making me feel so old! 😉
Thank you for this post. I am amazed at how many parents feed their children junk food under the guise and excuse of “oh my child will not eat that healthy stuff but he/she has to eat something”.
Amen!
If you haven’t seen it yet, check out Dr. Yoni Freedhoff’s blog / website:
Weightymatters.ca
He is an obesity doc who talks about the normalization of junk food, the food industry and lots of other interesting topics related to food.
I just watched the video that you sent me via email and I loved it! Thanks again for sharing; I will definitely be following Dr. Freedhoff.