Milk and Cookies at Den/pack meetings?

[SSScout]

Picky eaters of the world, unite!

 

 

If the kid/Cub/Scout has his blood sugar level elevated by "snacks" at the time when he should have had a real meal (dinner) of some sort, how is his growing body going to get used to the idea of "eat" play/work rest eat play/work rest.? If it is always eat play eat play eat play, the body gets accustomed to never having to utilize stored reserves, always using "instant" supplies. Where is the nutrition? "eat your vegetables", in essence, the body doesn't WANT the veggies, it feels sated already. This leads, I believe, to poor nutrition and poor stamina.. Even a PB&J on the way to the event is better than a Lil Debbie .

 

Granted, in this age of two income households and no one there to have dinner ready when the wage earner(s) come in the door,, but those wage earners need to realize the example they are setting for Johnny Cub.

 

I think the idea of a potluck or even a (cheaply) catered meal for the Scout families is a good one, if the organizers can make it work equitably among everyone involved.. A 7:30pm Pack meeeting should allow for a smallish, informal family meal before the meeting, if the families are willing to make the effort , my sympathies to Base for his seemingly poorly received act of charity turned into advantage taking episode. If you have a regularly occurring event (Pack meeting) and there are some folks that need the help, perhaps arrangements can ber made with the local Safeway for a discounted roast chicken dinner combo, f'rinstance.

 

When I coached my daughters soccer team, it was arranged that the snacks were good ones (usually cheese crackers, or PBJ crackers), the drinks were ONLY water. And because, I think , we were well nurished, (other teams had sugary cookies) , that was part of the reason we did so well thru three seasons.

[moosetracker]

I can see the point of providing (or having parents provide) something if it is directly after school. Kids have been going for a while without any food.. Of course this is thinking back to my school years where after lunchtime, you were in class with nothing extra to eat until school ended.. Now if your school is calling hourly snack breaks... WELL. Phoohey.. But yes when son was in an after school program, there was snack.. Later when he came home before we got out of work, my kitchen always showed evidence of a self made snack.

 

Basement, I agree, they got way too greedy.. So after that it's feed your kid something he will eat.. But, honestly I guess I am mean, because that would have been my first choice rather then buying everyone hotdogs.. Talking to parents to make sure starving Johnny ate something before he came, so his hunger pangs were not a distraction on the group activity.. I am just heartless.

[Tampa Turtle]

I used to say I was opposed to snacks. Eat before or after the meeting. Some of the mom's insisted but I just let them do it during a lecture time.

[Basementdweller]

I can see the point of providing (or having parents provide) something if it is directly after school. Kids have been going for a while without any food.. Of course this is thinking back to my school years where after lunchtime, you were in class with nothing extra to eat until school ended.. Now if your school is calling hourly snack breaks... WELL. Phoohey.. But yes when son was in an after school program, there was snack.. Later when he came home before we got out of work, my kitchen always showed evidence of a self made snack.

 

Basement, I agree, they got way too greedy.. So after that it's feed your kid something he will eat.. But, honestly I guess I am mean, because that would have been my first choice rather then buying everyone hotdogs.. Talking to parents to make sure starving Johnny ate something before he came, so his hunger pangs were not a distraction on the group activity.. I am just heartless.

remember who I serve. They honestly might not eat dinner.

[AKdenldr]

After school den meetings, healthy snack on a rotation provided by parents. Sometimes to-go snacks in ziplocks before go-see its. Got to keep snack time to 15 minutes, especially those 9 and 10 year old boys can eat a meal after school. Pack meetings sometimes potluck prior, sometimes a sweet treat after the program on the way out the door.

 

The elementary school schedules I'm familiar with have morning snack and lunch, with the snack phasing itself out by 4-5-6 grade.

 

Pack leadership can correct anything the DE stated incorrectly at recruitment. What the DE says doesn't commit the volunteers to anything.

[NeverAnEagle]

You've just discovered why nearly 40% of children in America are overweight or obese. Kids don't need to eat every hour, on the hour, yet society keeps feeding them. Snacks isn't really about providing food anymore, it's about competition among the parents, each trying to outdo the previous parent. Don't allow snacks at den meetings, it takes time out of the program &/or makes for longer meetings. If parents insist on feeding their child hourly, they'll have to do it in the car on their own time.

[moosetracker]

I can see the point of providing (or having parents provide) something if it is directly after school. Kids have been going for a while without any food.. Of course this is thinking back to my school years where after lunchtime, you were in class with nothing extra to eat until school ended.. Now if your school is calling hourly snack breaks... WELL. Phoohey.. But yes when son was in an after school program, there was snack.. Later when he came home before we got out of work, my kitchen always showed evidence of a self made snack.

 

Basement, I agree, they got way too greedy.. So after that it's feed your kid something he will eat.. But, honestly I guess I am mean, because that would have been my first choice rather then buying everyone hotdogs.. Talking to parents to make sure starving Johnny ate something before he came, so his hunger pangs were not a distraction on the group activity.. I am just heartless.

True we do live in different areas.. And different circumstances maybe, like the pack doesn't have much in it's account anyway.. And I personally am feeling pinched by this recession.. So those two taps for us would be dry as a bone..

[moosetracker]

You've just discovered why nearly 40% of children in America are overweight or obese. Kids don't need to eat every hour, on the hour, yet society keeps feeding them. Snacks isn't really about providing food anymore, it's about competition among the parents, each trying to outdo the previous parent. Don't allow snacks at den meetings, it takes time out of the program &/or makes for longer meetings. If parents insist on feeding their child hourly, they'll have to do it in the car on their own time.

True, I would prefer to see our dens trying to outdo each other in fun and learning and growth etc.. Then to outdo each other with snacks served.

[King Ding Dong]

You've just discovered why nearly 40% of children in America are overweight or obese. Kids don't need to eat every hour, on the hour, yet society keeps feeding them. Snacks isn't really about providing food anymore, it's about competition among the parents, each trying to outdo the previous parent. Don't allow snacks at den meetings, it takes time out of the program &/or makes for longer meetings. If parents insist on feeding their child hourly, they'll have to do it in the car on their own time.

I totally agree they don't need to eat every hour but there are some unique factors to kids. They do go through growth spurts that sometimes last a few days or a couple of weeks. There are times with my youngest that you just can't seem to keep him full. Hollow Leg Syndrome. I think the problem arises when parents get in that habit and then don't back it down. When my boys get home from school I don't automatically fix a PB&J, I make them ask for it.

 

At least with my youngest I can see a direct correlation in hunger with energy expended. I had to pick him up for a dentist appt last week and it was a nice day so we grabbed the dog and went for a 2.5 mile hike at the state park. We stooped at DQ afterwards, then he ate 2 servings of dinner at 7:00 then got out of bed at 9:30 and was starrrrrvvvving. I think he had a whole apple and another big serving of corn.

 

Another trick I learned is to stop trying to serve them healthy snacks, but to just leave a bowl of grapes or carrot sticks out on the table. When they are running around they will just stop by and grab a few when they are hungry. Much easier than begging Mom or Dad for a snack.

 

No weight problems here, but have to buy slim pants with the elastic clinchers. . Me, that's another story.

[NeverAnEagle]

You've just discovered why nearly 40% of children in America are overweight or obese. Kids don't need to eat every hour, on the hour, yet society keeps feeding them. Snacks isn't really about providing food anymore, it's about competition among the parents, each trying to outdo the previous parent. Don't allow snacks at den meetings, it takes time out of the program &/or makes for longer meetings. If parents insist on feeding their child hourly, they'll have to do it in the car on their own time.

KDD: We keep a bowl of fruit on the table too. (Whatever is in season, plus they scavenge out of the garden.) I've always figured that if you aren't hungry enough to eat an apple you aren't hungry. My boys' tell is rhubarb; if they are digging into the rhubarb they are hungry enough to eat anything.

 

Still, unless you have a kid with diabetes or something that requires them to eat on a schedule, they can go without the snacks. If a kid is hungry it's the parents job to feed them before or after then den meeting.

[berliner]

When I was an 80s cub we got Kool Aid and cookies and Den meetings and Pack meetings, Blue & Gold Banquet was full on buffett dinner in the army mess hall. In the Troop it was up to us to get something to drink if we spent most meeting outside running around playing capture the flag or something. As a scouter I tried to restart this cookies n drink thing but it never took off again. I really liked it though. Although being an adult now I do agree fruit would of course be better. In NZ the kids just got water. When taking cubs on a an outing Ive had a backpack full of capri suns with me :-D

[jpstodwftexas]

You've just discovered why nearly 40% of children in America are overweight or obese. Kids don't need to eat every hour, on the hour, yet society keeps feeding them. Snacks isn't really about providing food anymore, it's about competition among the parents, each trying to outdo the previous parent. Don't allow snacks at den meetings, it takes time out of the program &/or makes for longer meetings. If parents insist on feeding their child hourly, they'll have to do it in the car on their own time.

Are you saying we are getting Fat because we served Healthy Snacks?

 

Well we served Carrots, Apple Slices, Grapes, Celery Sticks..yikes even Fresh Broccoli pieces ...Great Now we have a reason to save money on wasted healthy snacks and get the Cheaper Ding Dongs and Twinkies. Time out of Den Meetings, You mean we should not have served the Snacks as we were leaving we should have been doing during the Meeting..My Cub Scout Leader's Handbook never told me that..Man I never knew that after retiring the Flags and saying the Closing..That ByTake a few minutes to say good Night and letting the Cub Scouts grab a few Snacks on the way out the Door was wrong. I guess we were wrong for for enjoying Cub Scouts..Refreshment in My Scouting Experience has always been at the End of The Meetings, Never During...

 

My Second Year as Den Leader the Parents had started Hosting meetings in their Homes..Since there was no Fence around the Scout Hut and they wanted the Boys to be able to run around outside besides in the street. The Boys were actually losing Weight because they were more active..We went to the Park several times a Month..We went to Gyms, we went to the Pool..We Went fishing..So no My Boys were not Couch Potato Junk Food Junkie

 

My Den Meetings usually Lasted 2 Hours...and even the parents still wanted to hang around..I have even been asked to come back to run my Old Den because the Scouts miss our meetings and my Style. I had 5 Tigers My First Year..I Had 5 returned wolves when I left. This year as Bears only 1 returned to Den, 2 transferred and sadly 2 Quit. Seems Now they don't like scouting as much when it is Rushed, and No Fun and Fellowship. They Consolidated dens for the Bears because the Pack has 6 Bears. Between Cub Master, assistant Cub Master and Myself Leaving, pack seems to be in trouble. From almost 60 Active Cub Scouts down to about 22 Active..Something went Wrong I will say.

 

I admit we did splurge and get Cup Cakes when Boys in the Den had a Birthday..

 

Something Tells Me I was Respected by My Cub Scouts and Their Families, when They run Up and Give you a Hug, when I attend events to take pictures, and their parents shake your Hand.

[moosetracker]

You've just discovered why nearly 40% of children in America are overweight or obese. Kids don't need to eat every hour, on the hour, yet society keeps feeding them. Snacks isn't really about providing food anymore, it's about competition among the parents, each trying to outdo the previous parent. Don't allow snacks at den meetings, it takes time out of the program &/or makes for longer meetings. If parents insist on feeding their child hourly, they'll have to do it in the car on their own time.

jptexas - no on is personally beating up on you. Others have stated they also give snacks (healthy or otherwise),, So far I think the opinion about snacks is evenly divided.. Maybe 3/4 are with you for if you are going to serve something it should be healthy. But I don't think anyone is being personally attacked, just a difference of opinion is all..

 

Sounds like you ran a great den meeting, but some people in your shoes would serve snacks and some wouldn't for various reasons.. Simple as that.

[Baseballfan]

How long does it take for a snack during a 1-1.5 hour meeting? I would think 15-20 minutes at least. That's valuable time that could be spent playing a game, learning a knot, etc.

when we did snack at T/W/B Den meetings, which was with all Dens I've been involved with, it took 5 min., the last 5 min. of the meeting, while the Den leader talks to the parents about upcoming stuff/ due dates/ whatever. In my current Webelos Den, we have a snack if *I* fail a Scout-given uniform inspection. Water is always given on demand, though. My old pack never had food at pack meetings, my new pack does... each Den is responsible for a different meeting and again the snack is at the end while the parents are writing checks, asking questions, cleaning up, socializing, etc.

[NeverAnEagle]

You've just discovered why nearly 40% of children in America are overweight or obese. Kids don't need to eat every hour, on the hour, yet society keeps feeding them. Snacks isn't really about providing food anymore, it's about competition among the parents, each trying to outdo the previous parent. Don't allow snacks at den meetings, it takes time out of the program &/or makes for longer meetings. If parents insist on feeding their child hourly, they'll have to do it in the car on their own time.

jpstodwftexas: I don't like the idea of serving healthy snacks because with parents it tends to devolve into a competition for the "best snacks." It's not just scouting I've seen it in sports too. Parents may start out bringing carrots or orange wedges, but it escalates. I had to enforce a no snack rule where parents were showing up with coolers to make root beer floats; handing out huge slices of cake; and passing out "snack bags" with chips, candy, and soda. Then you had the parents who refused to bring snacks and tried intimidating/humiliating other parents in front of the kids. I had one mom loudly announce that she shouldn't have to bring snacks because her tax dollars paid for another mom's (single parent) food stamps! She insisted that because the other woman received food stamps she should be required to bring snack every week to pay back the tax money that the other parents contributed to her food allowance. I don't know whether or not the single mom received food stamps, but even if she did that other woman was out of line. The safest path is to stay clear of snacks, period.