As back-to-school ramps up, I thought I’d share my shifting thoughts about school wellness teams. 

When my kids were at our local elementary school, I joined the Wellness Committee.  Made sense right? As a mom studying to become a dietitian shouldn’t I share my experience and help the school create a “healthier” lunch program? What about a snack policy? And how could we curb the never ending birthday cupcakes and holiday party treats?  I was one of those moms who was convinced that she was doing the right thing by trying to restrict my kids’ sugar/treat intake and I was also trying to impose my own values on the entire school. Oooofff! 

After ten years in private practice, a majority of it focused on kids with special needs, kids with extreme picky eating and feeding difficulties, I’ve changed my tune. 

In my practice I’ve come to know many families who are doing their best to feed a kid with sensory differences, neurodivergence, weight challenges and/or developmental delays.  Those kiddos can be tough to feed and a school that has a “no junk food” policy makes packing a lunch box even harder for those parents.  Packaged foods have a consistency that can be comforting to an anxious kid. Kids with larger bodies deserve the opportunity to have a bag of chips, just like their classmates of a smaller size (park judgment about larger kids at the door).  For some families the food that they send is the food that they can afford. Imposing my own values about what I thought was a “healthy” snack didn’t help those families either.  

This is all to say: if you’re planning to join your kid’s school Wellness Committee, consider that others’ values and resources may not match yours. Serve your school with an open mind and open heart. Find an aspect of Wellness that is good for all––a community garden, recess before lunch, raising money to buy playground equipment, a water bottle filling station or  lobbying for a mental health professional on staff.

Snack idea: Tropical Smoothie: Blend together ½ a frozen overripe banana, 1 spoonful almond butter, ½ cup frozen pineapple chunks, 1 peeled mandarin orange, some vanilla or plain yogurt, a sprinkle of dried coconut. Add a handful of ice cubes and blend again.