A couple of weeks ago I was attending Kid-3's first Tball game of the season, and I'm in my own world enjoying the outfield show playing out right in front of me: One child so small I could probably tote him around in my purse, another child performing to the Flight of the Bumblebee that was clearly playing in his head, the adorable little girl distracted by the stray hairs that kept falling out of her perfectly coiffed ponytail. Not one eye on the ball that went rolling right past them. This was entertainment in its purest form!
So I felt a tap on my shoulder, and I turn to find another mom, clipboard and pen in hand and asking me if I would please choose a date on the list and assign myself to snack duty for that game, and pelase review the list of allergies and intolerances before making my snack selections. I was a bit confused at first, but not wanting to be the cog in the wheel of this person's obviously well organized system, I assigned myself to snack duty and turned my attention back to the Fourth Inning show.
But then I started thinking, (which I should have learned not to do by now. It never leads me anywhere good). When did a wholesome snack become the necessary staple to a successful children's event? Especially those activities that last an hour or less.
Growing up I don't remember having to have a snack and drink every hour. I was too busy playing even for regular meals. And I didn't waste away after an hour of hide and seek or call it quits because there was a whole wheat cracker with lactose-free, low-fat cheese calling my name somewhere. My friends and I could play for HOURS on end, and still we would wait for that call from Mom to come in for lunch or dinner...and it was our mouths grumbling about the interruption to our fun as much as our tummies grumbling for food.
When we played softball and soccer, there was a cooler of water with a spout and some cone shaped paper cups for when we got thirsty. And it was enough for us!
I don't know where this rediculous trend started, I'd really like to STOP THE MADNESS!
What are your opinions on this snacking trend?
What do you mean they have to EAT?
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Posted by Wed Jun 4, 2008 8:09am PDT
Report Abusewhy do you think kids today have a weight problem so early?
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Posted by Wed Jun 4, 2008 9:53am PDT
Report AbuseWell, when we played soccer -- oh so many years ago -- we always had oranges at half time and after the game. And, yes, water.
Now that my kids play sports, we do have snack duty and I can understand it -- to a point. Our games are usually ending sometime around lunchtime and the kids are a bit tired, hungry and thirsty (this is Georgia after all).
Some mom's bring sugar-loaded, fatty snacks -- that in no way could be could even be twisted into thinking they were "healthy" -- And I'm okay with that (sort of), as my kids don't eat it all day, every day and it's usually limited to this once a week while in sports or birthday parties and the like. And my kids almost never drink the juice -- they don't like it. I would much rather the parents brought water....
So, long story for a short answer -- yeah, I'm okay with bringing snacks after an organized sporting event. I wish more parents brought healthy snacks (like pretzels or fruit) and water. But I'm okay with the occasional "unhealthy" thing too.
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Posted by Thu Jun 5, 2008 9:57am PDT
Report AbuseMaybe if I start scheduling some more activities for my kids on an every 2 hour basis, I would be able to stop grocery shopping. Seems the village is more concerned with their appetites than I!
Mimi--I understand your take on the situation, especially water in the heat. (It's 98 degrees right now in NC!) That's perfectly understandable and I am with you on that. I even am for some orange slices as a treat during a hot, sweaty game. I don't understand the MANDATORY snack list and the mentality that the game ain't over until the we fatten up the kiddies!
What I don't understand is the current mentality that assumes that kids who have participated in a 1 hour activity can't wait for a 15 mintue car-ride home, or even a half an hour before having to stuff their faces.
But for the game that runs until lunchtime...for cripe's sake, those kids can't wait 20 minutes to get home and eat lunch? How do they make it through their school day if the teacher is not stopping every 45 minutes to feed them?
I just think kids today aren't given enough credit for stamina. I babysit a little boy and his parents' attitude seems to be keep stuffing food in him and hopefully he'll stay happy. He's already a pudge at 2 years old!
As cloud9 stated, it's no wonder childhood obesity has become an epidemic.
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Posted by Fri Jun 6, 2008 8:47am PDT
Report AbuseI definitely agree that we’ve got an obesity problem in this country. But I think it has very little to do with the fact that someone's mom brought pretzels and juice boxes to the pee-wee soccer game. Honestly, I think it has more to do with WHAT we feed kids than WHEN we feed them. American kids are obese because they're eating candy-covered pop-tarts for breakfast and washing them down with Pepsi. I teach middle school, and you’d be AMAZED at how many kids come in finishing up their breakfast of Doritos and grape soda. Or how many refuse school lunch because it’s “nasty,” and choose to eat their brought-from-home-lunch of Twinkies and Hawaiian punch instead.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with kids "snacking" as long as the snacks are healthy and appropriate. Kids are growing, and they’re SUPPOSED to take in more calories then they burn. Young kids have small stomachs and most need to eat more than 3 times a day in order to keep their bellies full and their bodies functional. I don’t think any of that is the problem.
The issue in my eyes is that so many parents are allowing their kids to eat garbage.
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Posted by Tue Jul 1, 2008 6:14am PDT
Report AbuseWhen I was a kid WATER was the "snack" at our games! And we did not have all these food allergies to worry about!
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Posted by Tue Jul 1, 2008 12:38pm PDT
Report AbuseThis reminds me of the "Everybody loves Raymond" episode at the T-Ball game where his wife flips out about the snack. I played softball and soccer when I was younger, and we didn't have snacks. Our parents were responsible for us ONLY. The coach would bring a water cooler and some paper cone cups, but no snacks, unless you call that nasty bubble gum and bbq sunflower seeds a snack. It was the parents responsibility to provide for the child; it's not the responsibility of others parents to have a rotating schedule of who brings what and when. That's just stupid. Lord, help whom ever approaches me about what "approved snack" I will be choosing to bring to our kids' next atheletic event.
Ps HotCrossBuns... I think way too much for my own good, too, "which I should have learned not to do by now. It never leads me anywhere good." I can totally relate! :-)
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Posted by Wed Jul 2, 2008 8:22pm PDT
Report AbuseWhen my son was a teenager everyone on his team would load up on spaghetti before the game, presumably for energy. Little kids though seem to have boundless energy without eating.
My grandchildren are vegetarians and their parents only allow them to have fruit as snacks in between meals. We have to remember that what they eat today may not affect their weight as much as their eating habits will affect their weight the older they get.
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Posted by Fri Jul 18, 2008 9:54am PDT
Report AbuseI agree that is has become insane with all these roating snack schedules. My daughter is in dance class and they want us to take turns bringing in snacks. For dance class? You have got to be kidding me. It makes me so mad that you are expected to bring in snacks for up to twenty kids sometimes more. Some of us just don't have the time in our busy schedules to get all of this ready. I am all for bringing snacks for my own kids. That is where we should get back too. Take care of your own kids and i will take care of my own.
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Posted by Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:09am PDT
Report AbuseI agree with you. Bring snacks for your own child. Feed them before they leave the house.
And to those parents with the supersensitive kids, Noone has the time to look for soy, non-wheat, hypoallergenic, lactose free, free range or microbiotic food snack for yoiur child, so if you have achild like that on a team, buy your own snacks.
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