Last week, USA Today ran a story about the growing incidence of Type 2 diabetes among children. While discussing the situation of the student — a second grader — whose personal story is featured, the article noted the difficulty of “not eating a cupcake when everyone else is having one.”
With more overweight elementary school students than ever before, an old debate is getting renewed attention: Should cupcakes be allowed in school? As schools across the country develop healthier lunch programs and restrict the sale and serving of junk food, many parents maintain that treats such as cupcakes — brought from home and served in the classroom to celebrate a birthday or another special occasion — should be exempt from the rules. Others say that junk food is junk food, and encouraging students to bring in healthier treats is the best policy.
Parenting.com recently featured this question, along with the general topic of junk food in school, as a topic on its online forum. The post includes links to several stories about a New York City mother who is campaigning against treats in school — including an article earlier this month in The New York Times, which seems to have generated a largely negative reaction.
What is your view on cupcakes in the classroom? Leave a comment below!