Pizza parties, cupcakes, cookies, OH MY

[Supernrse01]

OK! I am seriously just about at my wit's end with this one. I have a class that seriously has some kind of special parent provided lunch no less than 2-3 times each week. I'm talking pizza, cupcakes, cookies, more pizza, chips, ice cream, even Happy Meals. My struggle is the fact that one of my diabetic students is in this class, leaving me to figure out carb counts for all the little goodies. This is proving to be more and more difficult, sometimes leaving me guessing because I can't find solid nutritional information for the bakery provided treats or whatever else they are bringing in. I am getting ready to send a memo home to all parents, all grades, letting them know they must bring a copy of nutritional information with them when they are providing foods for the classrooms. How should I word the letter?

(My Nurse Ratchet voice just wants to say, Dear Parents: Stop sending in crap for your kid and their friends to eat.)

[Windchaser22]

I hear you. Calculating carbs on a minion cupcake is a nightmare. And the allergies! We check every label including things like vanilla and oil (Walmart oil was found in one case to be processed in a facility that also processes nuts). I hate vouching that an item is ok when I have no idea whether cross contamination at home has happened.

Also, if your trying to eliminate food parties, another way to present this to admins is district liability. The school is insured right? If risk management were to know about the parties I think they would have a big problem with potential liability issues and lawsuits. In my daughters district this worked. The parents initially had a hissy fit but are over it now.

[Kylas_RN]

I think making the letter about ALLERGIES will be best bet and maybe give them a handout of "allowed foods" and "not allowed foods." Be specific! People have such different views on what is healthy food and what is junk food - it always surprises me.

[BeckyESRN]

I think making the letter about ALLERGIES will be best bet and maybe give them a handout of "allowed foods" and "not allowed foods." Be specific! People have such different views on what is healthy food and what is junk food - it always surprises me.

Our district's nurses have decided that a "safe foods list" is impossible. There is just no way to account for every condition and allergy on one list. Add to that the fact that manufacturing procedures change without notice, we just feel that it's unrealistic. I am all for a parent providing the teacher/staff an "approved foods" list for their child! This makes my life soooo much easier! I also have no problem at all calling a parent to ask if a particular snack is safe for little Timmy. I use theglutenfreebar.com search feature for my celiac kiddos, it's awesome. Ultimately, we feel, that if it's not a fresh fruit or fresh veggie, it should not be in the classroom without express approval from the nurse and/or the parents of all the students in the classroom. Some parents don't get that cupcakes and cookies are not, in fact, an essential part of learning!

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

Hopefully admins will be on board, especially with all of the sue-happy people now-a-days, and the amount of allergies kiddos are rumored to have.

Be careful what you wish for, hopefully no one will feel deprived of their unhealthy snack and have mommy and daddy sue for that!! LOL!

[SnowyJ, RN]

My struggle is the fact that one of my diabetic students is in this class, leaving me to figure out carb counts for all the little goodies.

Noooooo...Just wrong. Diabetics should not be having regular concentrated sweets carb count or no. Sure, on a special occasion, but this is ridiculous! Not to mention it isn't healthy for anyone else either. Once in a while, sure. But I would really have an issue with it being that often.

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

Noooooo...Just wrong. Diabetics should not be having regular concentrated sweets carb count or no. Sure, on a special occasion, but this is ridiculous! Not to mention it isn't healthy for anyone else either. Once in a while, sure. But I would really have an issue with it being that often.

Sounds like a helicopter parent buying her obsession friends. (OT, not you).

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

If they are having cakes 2-3 times a week, for special occasions, it's no longer special. It's just unhealthy.