Flaming Hot Cheetos are NOT a health food choice!

Specialties School

Published

Have you ever seen the vomit that is expelled after consuming flaming hot cheetos? It is a particular shade of red/pink that does not exist in a normal body and it actually can stain your bathroom floors and walls if not cleaned quickly enough.

The first time I encountered this lovely vomit shade, I was perplexed until I asked what the student had eaten for lunch.

I should mention that I see TONS of random stomach aches in my Pre-K to 5th grade population and it's always the same story, no nausa or diarrhea, they don't need to use the restroom but their stomach just hurts across the front of their abdomen.

Imagine my surprise to learn that they actually SELL the flaming hot cheetos in our cafeteria. So in addition to children bringing their Takis from home. our own cafeteria peddles this particularly heinous "snack" product. Dozens of children were gleefully eating them when I went to the cafeteria.

I'm at a Title 1 school that provides free breakfast to everyone and essentially all students are on free lunch. I don't begrudge them buying a snack with their limited funds at all ... but for the love of all that is holy, why does anyone think this is a good idea???

OK rant over luckily it's the custodian's job to remove the neon puke :)

Specializes in NCSN.

Flamin' hot Cheetos and we have hawaiian lava pizza as a part of pizza day.

I sometimes wish I could just go back and cook breakfast for our students who get the free breakfast. I've seen donuts, funnel cakes, and all sorts of things that make me frustrated.

Specializes in School Nursing, Pediatrics.

OMG, thankfully we do not have this hideous food here, or any vending machines!! Gob bless you guys!

Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..

And lets not forget that EVERYTHING is whole grain or wheat. I like wheat sometimes. But the crackers smell and taste like cardboard. Wheat pasta, wheat poptarts, YUCK!

So delicious...I want some now. I am sure their reputation and marketing is 99% of the appeal, especially to children. I have adult acute care patients talk about them from time to time.

Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

I had a conversation with my son's pediatrician on this subject. I work adolescent psych and have noticed many apparently healthy looking youngsters having elevated cholesterol levels. This pediatrician who works with one of the largest health care providers in the US stated that there was research being done to addressed the correlation of these spicy snacks to high cholesterol. He further stated that while the jury is still out - they were recommending that young people not indulge in this treat more than once a week.

Hppy

Specializes in School Nurse.

I spoke to the cafeteria staff about eliminating the FHC (flaming hot Cheetos) and supplied her with documentation about how awful they are for children. Once she sold out of the FHC she did not repurchase.

Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.

We don't sell it but kids bring it and then later I get the "My stomach hurts" and then RED VOMIT! and then they are fine are throwing up. But sometimes the teacher freaks out and thinks it's blood, but it's not.

The other problem is Cheeto Conjunctivitis, all of that cheese dust gets wiped into the eyes and the result ain't pretty!

The other problem is Cheeto Conjunctivitis, all of that cheese dust gets wiped into the eyes and the result ain't pretty!

Ouch!

I think a letter to the principal is neccesary here. We can't expect kids to make the right food choices if this is what is offered at school--the place where you go to learn things. This is so sad to read about, can only imagine what it is like to see. Good post.

I think a letter to the principal is neccesary here. We can't expect kids to make the right food choices if this is what is offered at school--the place where you go to learn things. This is so sad to read about, can only imagine what it is like to see. Good post.

In talking to other nurses in my area, they are serving the demand. The high school only sells spicy chips like the spicy Doritos and flaming Cheetos. Our population is almost entirely Hispanic and the kids love these damn things. I'm sure the snack sales in the cafeteria help make up our insanely underfunded school, I just wish the spicy stuff was taken out of the mix at least.

edited to add: I'm In a large urban district so our local school has literally zero control over the atrocious food choices whether it is donuts for breakfast or any of the other processed crap we serve. It saddens me to see the free school tray thrown out in lieu of chips, even when it is crappy food choices.

Specializes in Oncology, Home Health, Patient Safety.

Great post! How could I NOT want to read a post about flaming hot cheetos? And then you mention Takis? It's like we like the same things...Keep writing - we all need a good rant and a good laugh.

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