But I Like Brownies !

Monday is the day the agency I work for makes ...

Monday is the day the agency I work for makes good chocolate chip cookies. The rest of the time it's hit or miss on over cooking them. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Yesterday the Christian Science Monitor posted a story about the ban on bake sales in Massachusetts schools which will go into effect in August.

The article reports:

In Massachusetts, a state law that becomes effective in August will limit access to junk food (including bake sale treats) at schools from a half-hour before the school day until a half-hour after it ends, according to local news reports this week. New guidelines from the state Department of Public Health go further, encouraging schools to apply the nutrition standards at all times.

Has it occurred to anyone that home-baked goods might be healthier than some of the store-bought desserts these students are bringing from home? How come twenty years ago we did not have the obesity problems we have now and we had bake sales whenever we wanted them (and you could bring cupcakes to class on your child’s birthday)? What changed that created the obesity problems we have now? Bake sales didn’t change–they happened then and they happen now (at least until August). What are some of the things that did change? Schools have cut or limited recess. Dodge ball is now illegal. Tag on the playground is now illegal.

Has anyone thought to look at the restrictions we have put on physical activity during the day and the impact that might have on our children? I understand that many children are playing video games when they come home from school rather than going out and play, but that is between the children and the parents–the school (or the government) should not control the behavior of children at home. 

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