I agree that we need to teach kids about healthy eating habits, but do we have to make every event the healthiest? I hate the idea of kids not having birthday cupcakes or candy on Halloween. Like someone previously said it has to be about moderation. How about teaching kids to make healthy choices, but occasionally it's okay to have some sweets?

The healthier school food laws (for schools that get fed funds for such) address mainly fat contents and REAL sugars only. They, the govt, are concerned with obesity, and not 'health' in general, with their new law.

Artifical sweeteners and colors are not implicated in obseity (not that they are healthy), so the govt does not address those and the schools wont have to change one thing in that regard. They can still sell artifically sweetend/flavored waters (not sodas) and gataorade.

I agree, Shawn, tofu, no matter how you cook it, even with sweeteners and colors, tastes worse than cardbaord. At least, the govt did not impose tofu burgers on the kids. Might be a reason to homeshool if they went that far.

Healthy eating is great, but at the same time NO candy at Halloween? Doesn't sugar free candy have artificial sweeteners? I won't let my kids drink diet soda (they rarely have any soda anyways), eat diet jello or anything else with artificial sweeteners in it. I thought they were worse than real sugar?

Originally posted by mykidsmom:

As far as doing a large BBQ/ picnic have you thought about a pig roast? Very...excuse me....ugh I love hog roasts. Nothing beats the smell and the good hometown feel of a roast. And if your cook is good, they can also roast garden veggies to serve with! OH grilled corn on the cob, potatoes/carrots/squash etc roasted with the meat (separt but in the same heat) ooohhh mercy. SO good! Forgive me, I was back at the Iowa State Fair for a minute...happy happy happy!

Gotta have some collared greens, grits and hush puppies with that (It cant ALL be delicious AND good for you) Everyone needs moderation... Hope all these school systems dont go too far too the extreme.. and face it some of the foods that are good for you (not any mentioned above) taste like @$^%& or tofu.

Debbieomi -- baked chips have lots of 'Acrylamide' in them, more than do the fried variety (I am not sure if the latter have any of it or not).

Google that chemical, and maybe 'baked chips and acrylaminde' and see what infos you find. The CDC or FDA or CPSI websites might have some infos too. Or talk to your director of school food service....I have heard baked chips are far worse for the human being than the regular fried kind, not becuase of fat content, but because of the acrylamide that is formed during the baking proces.

Something to look into , if youve switched thinking 'baked is healthier than fried'. I think the jury is not out on that, given that the baked thing is so new and all we hear from is the marketers with vested interest.

MMMMM MMMMM good! What a wonderful idea! I will definitely be checking into a pig roast. It might be a bit pricey but we have tons of 4-H'ers around here and maybe I can get a deal from one of them. Or the county fair is the first of August, maybe the PTA needs to bid on one. The ideas are poppin' left and right now. Thanks!