California Bans Bake Sales in Effort to Get Kids Back in Shape

Posted by Cyndi Allison Nov 14, 2008

Say it ain't so. I was watching Katie Couric on the news, and she said that cookies and cupcakes have been banned. Well, it's not an outright ban. Hold your Twinkies. It's California, and they have instituted new school rules that will rule out bake sales.

I clicked online, and the New York Times is also reporting this new issue with foods. They report that new laws designed to ensure safe food at school also rule out bake sales. There's no way to know just how bad Grandma's pie might be healthwise, so unless schools can come up with some tofu cakes and tarts, that's all she wrote.

School food here in the South is pretty bad. I had one kid (now in college) who ate a fried chicken patty sandwich every day at school and the other now eating pizza. The schools do offer a balanced meal option, but it's not really balanced and not one bit appealing. It's no wonder the kids hit the junk food line.

When I was in school (this is so "old school"), we really did have real meals that were tasty. I've been to visit with my kids for lunch, and I don't blame them one bit for grabbing the fast food junk. I can hardly look at the mystery meats and grossly overcooked vegetables on the healthy food line here. It's not even called healthy, because it's probably (rest assured) not.

I can see where the government might step in on what's being served in public schools at lunch time. I'm frankly shocked. Yuck. Kids aren't going to eat fruit that appears to be ready to be bottled for wine.

On the other hand, the United States is way too "big brotherish." Government steps in where they have no business. They need to fix what THEY serve in public schools, but they ought to lay off on the bake sale ladies who come in now and then to help raise money, because the government does not like to invest in education (or healhty food for our kids in the cafeteria).