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30 May 2008 02:37 PM

Birthday Cake - Get Out

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

First it was fast foods and the short line, then it was soda and now it's birthday cake. School districts are going to start banning anything that doesn't fall into the 'healthy' part of the food pyramid, I just see it coming. What's started this?

An Illinois school district just approved a new health plan. This health plan would ban students (and by extension their parents) from bringing cakes or cupcakes to the classroom in order to celebrate their birthdays. Pause for a moment to consider that.

Yeah, okay. The reason they announced this plan is that they want kids to celebrate their birthdays in a way that promotes healthy living. I got news for the school district and I'm going to be blunt, telling kids to only celebrate in healthy ways is going to make them want it even more and I don't like it when school districts make decisions for my kids.

I get to decide whether or not they eat cake. Who are they? Marie Antoinette?

But here's the kicker.

Holiday and Valentine's Day parties will still allow candy.

So - no birthday cake or cupcakes on their birthdays, a day when we celebrate them and make them feel special, but candy at the Hallmark and holiday parties? Can you say double-standard much? I got news for the school district, kids aren't stupid - they'll pick up on that in nothing flat and all they'll think is that it's not fair - not healthy.

Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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