An article published in the New York Times yesterday entitled, “Bake Sales Are Banned in New York Schools” really got me riled up.

The article states that according to Education Department of New York City bake sales have been banned from schools. No cookies, no cupcakes, no zucchini bread even. The claim is that during “school hours” children should be focused on school, and the best way to do this is by creating an ideal environment.

Life isn’t ideal. Sweets are everywhere. Limiting a child’s ability to CHOOSE to eat or not eat something isn’t creating an ideal environment, it’s crippling them.

I think every Dr. and nutritionist would say that depriving someone of something will make them want it more. Isn’t that standard protocol in just about EVERY diet, “Do not deprive yourself of anything, just learn time/place/and portion for it.”

Education about being “healthy” doesn’t come from taking away the decision, it comes from teaching kids about what is good and bad for health, and HOW to make health decisions.

Blew me away. Feel free to pass it along, maybe I’m acting silly, but to me this all seems a little backwards.