I recently moved from a School District that was new and had State of the Art buildings and technology. Their food policy was never to allow any junk food (sweets) into the classrooms for birthday parties or any school reward. If there were rewards for classroom contests, they won prizes from a prize box or a pizza party. It was very controlled and wonderful, because, with child allergies, the teachers did not even let the parents bring in unknown items without listed ingredients.

That changed when I moved to a new school district. The kids have parties with junk food for rewards. The teachers have parties for their classes with junk food for holidays. With allergies that my kids have and the campaign against school sweets, that went on in America to get soda and candy out of the cafeteria, I am amazed at this lack of change. Especially, when so many kids are developing diabetes.

My question is, what are your experiences in your school district regarding sweets at school parties? If it bothers you, did you mention it and what was the response? One of the teachers tells me that in all his many years working there, no one has ever brought the subject up. I find that hard to believe.

No answers, so I will rephrase the question:

Are there sweets allowed in your school snacks and/or parties at your local elementary school? I'm curious how common it still is.

We do allow snacks at the school my kids go to, but there are rules.

No nuts of any kind.

During a holiday party some parents are asked to bring sweets and others bring veggie platters and fruit platters. There's a healthy balance, not just junk food.

I don't mind my kids have sweets once in a while. This isn't a weekly, not even a monthly, occurrence. It's only during a school event, party for Halloween or Christmas, end of the year party, Valentine's day.

As for rewards, there's an award box with little dollar store toys that the kids get to choose from if their work is consistently good.

I will agree with your second school completely

When I was in school we had parties with junk food too, candy as rewards.. etc. no rules. We didn't have parties everyday. Just when there was a holiday like chistmas, halloween, thanksgivng, and easter. Kids don't usually have a huge birthday party at school. They might bring in cupcakes, but that isn't that isn't too bad.

In high school, the principal tried to remove all sweets. It failed mainly because the teachers, students, and parents complained that the lunch the school provided was way more unhealthy and the drinks we had were more packed with sugar than candy and cookies.

I don't think giving out candy and chips in school is that bad unless children are getting too much of it. A kids party without sweets is kind of sad in my opinion. The parties are only once in a while anyway. If your kids have allergies I think you should pack them their own lunch to take to school and limit the amount of junk they eat at home. If something they have to eat as school doesn't have the ingredients listed than your kids shouldn't eat it.

The no nut rule is only because of the amount of children with fatal nut allergies. I accidentally sent a granola bar that had nuts in Jared's lunch the other day. I got a note from the teacher asking that I please refrain from sending snacks with nuts.

My husband is allergic to nuts, even the smell of them will make him very ill, so I understand that. Also, kids often share lunches (even though they're not supposed to) and it's too dangerous.

There were always cookies or cupcakes at school party's. No one complained and if you don't let your child have these, you shouldn't push your food rules on others.

Thanks for the responses. It's my little survey to see what other school rules are like across the country (world). Anyone else that can share their current elementary school rules?

We are not allowed to send sweets to our school. Only healthy snacks. No homemade items either.

Diabetes is quite common now in NZ, so mostly all the primary/elementary school are not allowed any junk food at all! Even chocolate chip cookies is a NO!NO! @ my sons elementary school if you do bring junk food into the school consequences are, you see the principal and your parents are involved. Even the school tuck shop/cafeteria does not sell any junk food! I think the only thing closest to junk food is the vegeterian pizza!

Now I can understand the sweets and junk food, but what's with homemade items?

Homemade foods can contain bacteria if not made in the proper way. Some people may cut a chicken on a cutting board, wipe it off, then place cookies to cool on the same cutting board... voila a salmonella outbreak.

Not everyone is clean Ben. E-coli can spread this way too.

Curlyben, the kids that had allergies could not be exposed to homemade items just in case there was an ingredient in there that would cause problems.

My solution at this time with this school is to just offer a healthy alternative for the party, such as fruit sorbet instead of ice cream. The one class that I mentioned to the parents turned into an ice cream and fruit celebration instead of candy, candy, and cupcakes. Then, as the kids get older, they will learn what they can take, although, they still can get confused sometimes. It never hurts to be too careful with allergies.