And this is something even you folks without kids know about because in our culture, we must provide snacks everywhere for everything. It is just that kids magnify the snackiness. I've really wondered if anyone even eats at home at all anymore.It starts with preschool, I believe. Even if they are only there a few short hours, there are snacks to send in. A calendar of snacks to sign up for. Rules and regulations - no peanut butter, nothing homemade, no sugar.
Then, it continues into elementary school with a vengeance. It was always a magical coup if I could produce just the snack that would earn my child oohs and aahs from the other children while still falling within those ever increasing guidelines given by the teacher.
Sports teams add another whole dimension to the snacking. First, we were only on teams that provided snacks after games. Then, we were asked to also provide orange slices for halftime. Then, someone decided we needed snacks for practices.
Sunday school? Snacks were needed. Girl scout meetings? They cannot occur with the snacky goodness.It got to the point where I would be pushing my full to the top and things falling out grocery cart through Kroger only to realize that 75% of what I was buying was prepackaged juice boxes and snacks. To haul out of my house.
I must have complained about it ad nauseum because one night my husband had to leave to go to work and paused at the door. "It's my turn to bring the snacks", he yelled back in to me. Then, he laughed and scampered away.
However, as kids get older, the snack requirements do lessen. I haven't sent snacks to school in a couple of years. We only have snacks at scouts for special occasions. And I started speaking up about my dislike for feeding my kids all this junk every time they left the house. When I finally told the rest of the team parents that I didn't think our kids needed snacks for practices, the other parents looked at me with a mixture of gratitude and relief. Seems I may not be the only one tired of keeping the juice box industry afloat.
Now, the dips and chips I take with me to my Bunco evenings? Those aren't snacks. They are noshes. A completely different category altogether.
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80 comments:
You are so right about this. I do think all this snacking has gotten out of hand. And of course that chips and dip you take to bunco aren't snacks! :)
I know it's rediculous how kids can't play for an hour without a snack. According to other mommies, at least.
seriously!? when I was a kid (did I just say that?!) we only got snacks if we had the late lunch, and during softball we only got it during the games. Seriously, I hate to say it.. but no wonder kids are chubby..
LOL! I remember those days. But it's a new day now. You may be on to something. Instead of calling myself middle-aged, I think I'll start referring to myself as a snack-free person!!!!
Oh, I am NOT looking forward to the pre-packaged/store-bought SNACKFEST that will ensue here in a couple of years. UGH.
Now, NOSHES are a completely separate deal, I agree. ;-)
Noshes are completely different from snacks. Noshes are more like appetizers and are therefore an entire course. Totally not snackage.
Good for you for speaking up about the snack issue to the team parents. The snacks my nieces and nephews eat boggle my mind. Just cause it says fruit in the name doesn't mean it's healthy!
Well, I know I'm old(er) but I don't remember taking time out in first grade for snack time. Or even nap time. And that was a full day. In my little Idaho town, they didn't have kindergarten. *sigh*
This has made me desperate for snack time.
Ha! Those are noshes. Really, that's totally different. Same with my book club.
And yes, I'm totally feeling this already with a toddler and preschooler. Sometimes I add up the total spent on snacks to share for things in my head and almost pass out at the number. And it's going to get worse! ACK!
Wow, I had thought about it in that way, but yeah, I am sure bringing a lot of snacks to things!
I agree about the snacks! I used to feed my kids breakfast, go to the library for storytime, and come right home to give lunch. All the mommies had snacks and would give me the dirty eye because my kids were not snacking.
And now that my daughter is in tball there is a snack provided at the end everytime. I am so sick of those pouches of juice "drinks" that contain something like 2% juice! I don't want to give that to my daughter twice a week, but it is a requirement if she is to be in sports. Haven't people heard or real juice? Ugh!
Ok... sorry! :)
I can't believe that amount of snacks receive each day at school and at sporting events...It's crazy ridiculous!
i am so sick of snacks, too! we are becoming a pre-packaged society!
and my son, who is so skinny he could use some snacks, got an expander in his mouth and can't eat any.
Yes. It seems it's all snacks, all the time.
I have to send in a snack once a month for my daughter's kindergarten class because "they don't get lunch until 1:00." Why would they make the youngest kids eat so late?
So we have a registration fee, school fees, t-shirts to buy for Spirit Day, Cheer camps, a 'giving tree' (for extras for the classroom), parties to provide food for and now snacks once a month? I am tapped out and they wonder why we are on the reduced lunch program!
My son was mortified to learn that snacks weren't necessarily provided after every Sat game this season.
And now I am expected to bring in a snack for story time at the library. Are you kidding me?
I may just have written my own post on your blog. Sorry!
I agree. It is totally out of hand! Too funny what your husband said!
We do preschool snacks when it is our turn to be leader. Ends up being about 4 times per year at the most. I always send a treat for their holiday parties too...but it is not required or even mentioned that we can. I have never heard of snacks for sports stuff...that is ridonculous.
Is it wrong that those snack pictures made my stomach gurgle and my mouth water (and I don't even know what half of them are)? - G
Hahahaha! Yes, I'm glad the snack days are over also. BTW, on the way to the store to purchase all my bunco snacks for our annual weekend away. Don't mind buying those at all!
Our lives are much too similar. Have a good weekend.
Oh, noshes are indeed something else entirely - and completely necessary!
I'm so glad my son's school doesn't say no peanut butter or things like that. Granted, they will say, "Healthier choices are preferred," but I usually bring in brownies regardless because A) they are something I can make well without burning and B) because I imagine people get sick of veggies and fruit and want a little chocolate...
You're so right about that. My son's school says, 'healthy snacks' I do give him baby carrots, apple, banana, grapes also peanuts..which are his favorite snacks.
But sometimes he says' mommy everybody is eating chips, cookies. I want to eat chips too' :)
Wow-I never got snacks at practices---just games:) I still can't see a squeeze-it without thinking of those good old rec league days.
Hopefully, the snack craze will die down before I have children. Fingers crossed.
I am so with you on the snacks. Whatever happened to concessions stands and letting the parent buy their own junk if they want their kid to have it?
I wrote about this same phenomenon a couple months ago. And ever notice when the poor mom forgot when it was her turn for the kid's ballgame snacks???? The kids totally survived!! This fall my 13 yr old baseball's team said no snacks (I was team mom, yeah!) Another 13/14 yr old team had them after a game and my son commented how weird that looked.
Hmmph. As if moms don't have enough to do... :)
I totally agree
Back in the day when I was in school we didn't have snacks at all. Man I feel slighted! lol
Noshing is totally different from snacking. And the biggest difference? The pretty plates we put grown-up foods on.
why no home made snacks?
And I don't miss it either.
I've started signing up for the very first "bring the snacks" slot. That way I get it out of the way. And I can deliberately set the bar very low. Other parents seem to appreciate this.
With a 5 and 7 year old I am right in the middle of the snacks-to-everything category. It is no wonder that American children are obese. They think they are supposed to be eating all day long...and why not! Every time they turn around they are being handing a snack. And then the parents complain when their kids won't eat dinner.
Being a goat I eat all day long. Is this snacking? I don't know but I do know that I love my goat treat at night. I get apples. I love apples. Mmmmm, apples. And sometimes carrots. They are good too.
Sooooo glad to be done with the snacks! :] While I often hate it that my only child is 19 and grown, I don't miss the last-minute scrambling when it was my turn to provide the snacks!
All day grazing. We have parents get angry when we wont allow their kids to take food for morning and afternoon receses. WTF!
Those little pink marshmallows on a stick sure look cute even if they aren't on the approved snack list :) I am for sure putting those in my "birthday party idea" file! (which is sadly just in my head)
Snacking is crazy sometimes & it's not just the need for snacks ALL THE FLIPPING TIME! BUT the fact that there are some people make even snacks a competition. Really, it's not that deep.
I bring snacks with me to the grocery store for my 2 year old for criminey sakes!!!
Oh geez, I wouldn't even bother! Feed your damn kids before you go out people.
Seriously, no wonder kids are getting fatter...
I totally agree! When the only thing left to serve is marshmallows and carmel dip (an actual snack at my sons preschool) because there are so many allergies...well it's time to ditch, or re-think the whole snack thing!
My oh my...you nailed this one right one. It is crazy how much we think we need to feed kids. Feed your kids when you leave the house...that should take care of all the problems.
Snacks are a big item in our home. We love them.
I'm living in the snack-war right now. *Sigh* I can't wait for kiss it goodbye.
And all the packaging filling our landfills. Tons and tons. Oh, you brought back memories. I remember all the phases well.
Your husband is FUNNY!
much love
I'm in snack hell right now. Looking forward to the day when I don't have to worry about snack. At least there's only snack after games and not after practices...it's no wonder some kids don't eat their dinner.
I know that we never had it when we were children, all this mental energy poured into "what to feed the children." It was simple: 3 meals a day, end of story. Some smart guy thought of an industry and it seems the US bought into it....
you said it sister! i'm all snacked out!! all trinity ever wants is a snack!
And we wonder why they won't eat dinner that isn't vacuum packed into a crinkly bag.
Have you ever seen the episode of "Everybody Loves Raymond" about the snacks? A classic!
I'm remembering the school parties when I was a kid. Big, homemade Sugar cookies globbed with frosting and sprinkles. The packaged stuff can't compete, can it?!
Hey Debbie - you won a prize over at my blog. The Hawaii goodie box. You need to send me your email address.
As I read this, I was remembering all those snacks we used to buy for the kids ... yes, so glad not doing that. But get me those pita chips from Costco!!!!
So much dissent over snacking! REading the comments were (only half) as entertaining as your post! :) My son is 2 years old now, and I too find myself sucked into packing him enough to "last" till the next meal.
Let me go to a corner and repent first........
My god your cake pops are incredible. So incredible I am JEALOUS hehehe nice work :)
Of course, bunco will wear a girl out after all!
This is so FUNNY.
Even the word SNACK bothers me.
Rant coming...
About 5 years ago I realized that the middle school students ate lunch way too late without a SNACK.
So, I discussed with the other teachers the idea of giving them a five minute SNACK break at 10:00 so they won't be so hungry etc. by 12:30..able to concentrate better etc.
The SNACK time is nuts.
They bring in yogurt, granola bars, gatorade, ORANGES? (can you peel and eat an orange in 5 minutes?) Then they forget their snack and say,"Can I go get my snack?" OR the snack makes their hands sticky so they say, "My hands are sticky from my SNACK can I go to the bathroom?" Or if there is an assembly during the holiest of holy SNACK times, the FIRST thing they say when we leave the assembly is, "Your gonna let us have SNACK right?"
Curses on SNACK.
This past year, we had to put the no homemade snack rule into place after a couple of those parents brought in homemade food. You know those people. The ones who if they made something you wouldn't feed it to your dog.
It looked and smelled awful. And when the little girl said her mother got the brown bug out of it, I made the teacher trip and drop the whole damn mess.
On the other hand, withholding a snack for punishment really motivates some kids to act right and fly straight.
I'm always thinking about "snacks" for the little ones. It gets exhausting. The older ones just raid the pantry all day.
I'm just looking forward to the days when my purse size doesn't need to figure in room for a bag of Goldfish crackers...
I completely agree about the ridiculousness of snacks.
And I'm so jealous that you have a Bunco group. When I lived in AZ I was in a group for about 5 years. I LOVED it. When I moved back to RI, no one here plays or has heard of it. I tried to get a group started, but trying to get 12 East Coast chicks to committ to a monthly event was impossible. But, I do miss it. Hope you have fun playing and noshing. ;)
I agree it is a little ridiculous. We haven't gotten to snacks for practice yet (thank the Lord) but soccer involves oranges, after game snack and drink. I try to buy healthy but it doesn't always work. For my kids birthdays I buck the school requirement of store bought treats for homemade brownies or cupcakes. I honestly it is about a 1/10th of the cost to make them myself.
I have all of that ahead of me! I never realized how often my Mom was expected to provide snacks when I was growing up. Guess it's my turn. Luckily my son is only town and I still have at least a year (I think) until we just on the snack wagon! :)
Here, here!
Even in daycare we are supposed to provide some snacks. It seems to start so early...no wonder Izzy is always asking for snacks. Way to go for saying something.
Oh my goodness, you are so right on with this! As my kids have gotten to the ages to start sports and school, I've been shocked by how many snacks are "required". It drives me absolutely crazy! I'm really not shocked that kids are facing such struggles with weight these days with all the junk they eat during all their activities.
Good Lord, whoever thought up the whole snack thing? I mean, when I was a kid (and granted, that was over 100 years ago), there was no such thing as snacks. We had nothing and liked it!
AMEN! lol!
In fact, when mine first started hs, that's the first thing that caught my eye. I thought...Wait a minute! NO SNACKS! lol That is very, very nice.
But somehow college and hs tuition makes up for that a bit, lol.
The same snack culture doesn't exist over here to such an extent. Kids have to bring fruit to school, and occasionally a sandwich. And that's it.
I think I've lucked out so far...none of our activities have really required snacks. And the school doesn't allow them anymore because of all the allergies kids are suffering from and the obesity problem in our country.
Regardless, Parker is gluten/casein/and mostly soy free...so he's not allowed to eat anything that isn't sent from our home anyway.
After reading this, I realize just how lucky I am. :)
I am in the midst of snack hell!
Love this post!
I totally agree with you. They'll survive from meal to meal for heaven's sake, even without a snack. All they need is a water bottle or a water fountain.
Yep, gnoshes are a TOTALLY different category.
But the snacks? Oh GOD the snacks. I hate snacks. Fortunately at our Catholic school, we can send in homemade, although still no nuts of any sort. And we only have to do snacks for our own kids.
The rest of the teams and such? THAT I hate. But I refuse to get in the war of escalation.
Snacks?!?!?! OMG! There's another reason why I don't have kids. I would totally stink at "snack that would earn my child oohs and aahs."
Noshes, on the other hand, are a completely different subject. I'm all about the "nosh"
Great post!
xo
i hear ya lady....i'm in the middle of the snack fiasco right now...every time i turn around the kids are either huffing down juice boxes or tearing open fruit snacks!!
amen. and we usually have to buy snacks, so that the parents don't have to go to the refreshment stand--the same refreshment stand that's trying to EARN money for the sport we're in at the moment. Does this make sense to anyone? I don't mind playing "the game" of parenting, but when the rules don't make sense, I get frustrated.
Raising hand - snacks suck and they make me fat.
I can't wait to be older and skinner, well at least one of them is good :)
those snacks look yummy.. i want some ):
I still have two in school and in sports, girl scouts, etc. I'm am snacked to death!!!
Chips and dip ARE an entirely different category!
The parents looked at you with relief???? Any time I suggest anything sensible in my part of the country, parents sneer at me.
yes indeed. it's great when you don't have to make like a sherpa every time u leave the house!
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