Even more school randomness-Healthy on OUR terms!

Proud of his mother's fine baking, my friend's son wanted to bring in brownies to celebrate his 13th birthday with his class. Turns out that with the new School Board's Nutrition Policy (based on the Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide and the Ontario Ministry of Education’s nutrition guidelines), this is now forbidden.

Never mind that Mom uses only the best: whole butter churned by her own two hands, 'free-run' eggs from the local farmer, and fresh ground organic flour. Sorry, but the ingredients are simply not in keeping with the nutritional guidelines outlined in the policy. There is too much fat, not enough fiber..... blah, blah booorring.

To permit or not to permit?

"To determine whether a specific product may be sold in schools, it is necessary to read the information on the food label (dead give away here-the brownies are homemade and they don't even have a label. Fail!)– particularly the Nutrition Facts table and the ingredient list – and compare this information with the nutrition criteria." Policy No. 7.20

So basically 'dead food,' processed packaged food is okay as long as the ingredients of the 'food' meets the nutritional criteria that the school as implemented. 'Diet Pepsi' is okay because there's no sugar in it-(never mind the harmful effects of the aspartame it contains).

The irony to me is that this is exactly how education is delivered at school.

Here is an apt metaphor: a 'balanced' diet to be administered in quantities and in content according to ministry approved curriculum. You can't have too much of this - or too little of that.

And most of all, there must be no chance at enjoyment. No FUN allowed.