Sandi Kaplan, Associate Director, Clinical Development & Support:

My kids started school today. Along with their school supplies, I arrived in their classrooms with bags full of gluten-free junk food – refined crackers, pretzels, cookies and cupcakes. Not a gram of fiber or a vitamin in sight!
Both of my kids have celiac disease. I am used to stocking their classrooms so their teachers can pull out gluten free options when there is a birthday celebration or one of the many other occasions when treats are provided.

Imagine my amazement when my son’s classroom teacher peeked into the bags and said: “We don’t need any of that. Our classroom is a junk food-free zone and we are working towards a junk food-free school”. She explained that all of the options that are provided in her classroom will be naturally gluten free because they are fruits, vegetables, plain yogurt and legumes like edamame and black beans. The kids cook often and make foods like fruit smoothies, salsas, a variety of salads, veggie dishes and bean dishes. They learn about nutrition and get excited about healthy food choices.

I asked her what happens on birthdays and other holidays. She explained that she believes that kids need to learn other ways of celebrating. Plenty of celebration with food happens outside of the classroom but she likes to teach kids that celebrating without food is just as fun. So they dance, play games, make music and cheer instead!

Her classroom has been junk food-free for five years and she hopes that the whole school will adopt this policy in the coming year or two. She handed out “healthy snack and lunch ideas” to parents as they dropped off kids and she has recipe books that parents can take home and use to expand their school lunch repertoire. She has experienced some resistance over the years but she has stood firm in her belief that kids that are fed well, learn well and behave well. And she mentioned with a twinkle in her eye that parents very quickly appreciate that effect at home too.

I left smiling. And holding my bags of gluten-free junk. Yes, my kids eat dessert sometimes and we took lots of trips to the local ice cream store this summer. But I also teach my kids how to eat healthfully, and what a great feeling to know that my efforts are being supported in my son's classroom.  My daughter’s teacher welcomed the cupcakes…but we’ll see what we can do to change her mind by the end of the school year, too!