Should Lunchbox Treats Be Allowed?

“We have pizza on Fridays. It’s a little treat for the kids.”

My child’s school included this phrase as part of their parent orientation, letting me know just what to expect when it comes to feeding my little one, William.

Okay, that’s reasonable, I thought.

Then I saw this:

“Feel free to bring a treat to share for your child’s birthday.”

(There are 20 plus kids in my child’s classroom).

And this…

“We have holiday parties. You may be asked to bring in a special treat to share if you can.”

(Me: thinking about how there’s a holiday every month)

Wow. I start counting on my fingers.

That’s a lot of added sugar and processed foods coming from my child’s school day.

Add to that some weekend trips to Grandma’s (aka my kids’ main access to fruit snacks and popsicles)… our own families/friends birthday parties… our own holiday celebrations…

Are we even talking “treats” anymore?

Sounds to me like the regular consumption of a bunch of added sugar and processed foods.

And what about when I want to take my kids to enjoy some ice cream one night? (I want to have those memories with them too; and I would like to not feel bad about it.)

I was a little in shock once I realized just how present sugar is in the lives of our little ones.

And we wonder why they crave junk food.

Check out my video HERE on the added sugar you may be packing in your kids lunch. 

See how fast it adds up!

Added sugar is not good for us, especially for kids. We know that too much of it increases our risk of cardiovascular issues and other chronic diseases.

Yes, that means kids too.

Heart disease and added sugar?! This is serious stuff.

Did you know that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends checking children’s cholesterol levels/lipids profiles between the ages of 9-11?!

Let that sink in.

A 9-11 year old being screened for cardiovascular disease risk.

Yes, it’s that bad. We are getting sicker, at a younger age. Not to mention the growing amount of research showing that our brains just don’t function well with a lot of sugar in our diet. The Center for Disease Control reports that 80% of heart disease deaths are preventable- and that’s because of diet and exercise.

So back to treats.

Should they be in your kid’s lunchbox?

I guess that depends on what you consider a treat.

Unfortunately most parents consider it something sweet (yes that means added sugar).

A lot of parents that I talk to include a treat everyday. In fact it’s a normal part of their lunch packing routine.

So should you be packing treats?…

If that daily treat is something sweet with added sugar (think fruit snacks, even the organic ones)… Then my answer is NO.

It should not be in your kid’s lunch. It shouldn’t even be in your lunch! That added sugar adds up fast and it’s going to sneak (not so subtly) into your kid’s routines anyway from so many other avenues (birthdays, holidays, weekends, grandparents).

It should not be in their lunch box too.

I looked up the definition of “treat.” Webster says that a treat is, “an event or item that is out of the ordinary and gives great pleasure.”

That really got me thinking. A lot of us think of treats as something food related. Going for pizza, having cupcakes at a birthday or me letting my mom give the kids some fruit snacks are all things that come to mind.

But it doesn’t have to be food, or it could be food but it doesn’t have to be unhealthy items.

A treat just has to be something that they enjoy that is out of the ordinary.

So what are some ideas if you want to pack a treat?

I admit, I love the idea of packing a little surprise in my kiddos lunch. I do it once in a while. Maybe a few times a month?

Nothing regular. Remember a “treat is an item that is out of the ordinary and gives great pleasure”

Some treats that won’t be contributing to that pile of added sugar…

• Fruit leather, one that is just fruit. Check the label for added sugar.
• Popcorn. I know this is a regular part of some lunches, but if it’s not for your kiddos then they might enjoy it as a treat.
• Dark Chocolate. A little. Dark chocolate chips may come in handy for this one, got this idea from a fellow CSA member.
• Leftovers from their favorite dinner, home cooked or take out.
• A new fun pencil or eraser.
• A sticker. This is for the younger ones, but my 4 year old loves a good tractor sticker.
• A note. Maybe it let’s them know about something you have planned that weekend or that night! Or maybe it just tells them to have a great day!
• If you have a sweet treat over the weekend or in the evening, maybe you give your child the option to have half then and half at lunch.

So try to get that “treat” category out of your regular lunchbox routine. Stick to our lunch box categories!

This may be a big habit to break if you’re used to packing a treat, but remember this is a marathon not a sprint. We are teaching our kids lifelong habits that will either increase or decrease their risk of chronic disease. Teaching them that they should expect something sweet/unhealthy at the end of a meal is not a good idea.

You can do this!

Our lunchbox challenge is almost over but for many of us it’s just beginning! Good luck to you and your lunch adventures!