The Cupcake Controversy Lives On!
Legislators just can't seem to keep their hands off kids' cupcakes. According to the New York Post, Michael Benjamin, a New York state assemblyman from the Bronx, is "drafting legislation that would make the cupcake the official children's snack of New York."
Benjamin is upset that some New York state school districts are trying to institute the dreaded cupcake ban.
Although he is apparently at odds with his wife (who thinks his bill encourages childhood obesity) over his principled stance, Benjamin is undeterred because "it's a personal peeve of mine that everything that brings warm memories, the muffin mullahs want to cut out of our diet."
Personally I think only bad cupcakes, the dry ones with grainy icing, should be expelled from all schools everywhere. But that's just me.
All right, let your voice be heard on this hot-button issue.
Should cupcakes be banned from school birthday celebrations?
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment.
13 Comments:
I believe America's children need to exercise more, and need to eat in a healthy manner. The responsibilty for instituting this practice lies with parents. Schools should provide choices for kids at lunch, that include nutritious meals. But having a birthday celebrated in your class is a rite of passage. I have a birthday cake or cupcakes on my birthday, as do most of my adult friends. Maybe we should call the ACLU on this one!
Mich23 at 8:52AM on 09/30/07
I addressed this "controversy" in my blog this week (http://www.annienewman.tyepad.com/anniesnyeats/2007/09/listen-cupcake.html) but I'll repeat myself here: one cupcake is a beautiful thing, and should be allowed to roam free in our public schools. And I rather like grainy icing, but that's just me.
annien at 11:31AM on 09/30/07
The problem with obesity comes not from innocent cupcake sprees but rather from shitty, greasy cafeteria food. Having recently exited the public school system, I have lots of vitriol concerning school food. It's bad. It's the problem. It really needs to be healthier.
Christina at 1:27PM on 09/30/07
I think obesity is a serious problem. I also think that trying making rules to try and protect us from every last thing that *might* do us some harm is a serious problem. Teach kids at home to eat right and make good choices instead of making more rules that affect everyone.
RobertB at 1:32PM on 09/30/07
Banning homemade cupcakes, but allowing the dreadful, unhealthy meals that are served in the cafeterias--that's just insanity. Where are government's priorities?
klg19 at 2:07PM on 09/30/07
I agree with klg, and pretty much everyone else as well. My kids' school lunches are hideous (which is why they bring their lunch 4 out of 5 days/week), and the "new" snack policy is even worse--according to that, fruit roll-ups are an "approved, healthy" snack, while any homemade food is not allowed. The only exception is birthday treats. They're just kids, let's allow them a little old-fashioned fun once in awhile. And while we're at it, let's teach them to make their own healthy choices, rather than dictating everything they are allowed to have and not to have.
dana828 at 2:31PM on 09/30/07
I can picture it now, the cupcakes are banned, leading to grade-school underground cupcake selling. The kids all become sugar hounds, keeping an eye on the clock, ignoring their studies, just waiting for the bell to ring so they can dash off to the playground and the hidden stash of frosting and sprinkles.
ErikaWaz at 7:57PM on 09/30/07
instead of worrying about banning the occasional cupcake, lets put the blame for obesity where it belongs! Parents, stop feeding your kids greasy fast food and start feeding them nutrious meals. start teaching your kids how good real food from your kitchen can be. and instead of buying your kids the newest video game, send them out to play!
huney_bumper at 9:07AM on 10/01/07
The cupcake ban is complete and utter lunacy. How is it that parents are not permitted to bring in homemade foods but industrially produced snacks are considered fine!? This whole cupcake ban is yet another example of how confused our country is about how to instill healthy eating habits in our children . Long live the homemade cupcake!!!
izzy's mama at 9:16AM on 10/01/07
I would actually vote for banning birthday celebrations from schools, and removing all desserts from the menu. Perhaps that puts me in the minority, but when I went to school I remember learning, not birthdays, and I remember a time when dessert was something special.
seadkdc at 11:55AM on 10/01/07
Is this cupcake debate really about obesity? Or is it about uber-Moms with one too many subscriptions to Real Simple and Martha Stewart Living who feel like they must make every occasion an Event? Take away the cupcake and you remove the opportunity for an over-worked, stressed out Mom to prove to everyone how much she adores her child using nothing more than fondant and sprinkles.
coquettecutie at 1:11PM on 10/01/07
Some of the highlights of my elementary school career were the occasional parties each year; Halloween, Christmas, Valentines, Easter and maybe an end of the year party. Celebrating together brought the class together in a way normal day-in day-out work did not. The cupcakes and candy were treats that we knew did not come around every day. What did come around every day was the poor excuse for food we were fed in the cafeteria: processed and chemical laden white bread, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, french fries...I would love to know the calorie content of those meals. Teach children that their favorite foods-including those french fries and hot dogs-can be made and enjoyed in better-for-you ways and let them occasionally enjoy the treat of a moist delicious cupcake with whatever texture frosting they like.
Kimberly at 10:13AM on 10/02/07
These food bans get sillier and sillier. What in the world would be acheived by banning cupcakes? Oh right! Children would miraculously stop becoming obese!!! Are we living in Myanmar or something? Reducing sugar intake during the school day sounds like a better plan to me... I think children should be taught to be smart well rounded people first, then you can tackle obesity with silly bans. Can you imagine this generation of kids growing up to believe that cupcakes and the axis of evil are your enemies? HA!
pickle at 2:35PM on 10/02/07