Although I am an RD, I've never been known to be the killjoy of the dinner party. I'm pretty permissive with myself and others when I'm out to dinner. I'm a big believer in living life to the fullest, and to me, that includes eating dessert when a delicious one presents itself. I think that it's quite alright to indulge and celebrate with your taste buds on occasion (but not every day), especially on one's birthday.
As I chatted with various well-wishers today, my birthday, some were surprised to find out that yes, I planned to have a decadent birthday cake (probably chocolate Oreo) and that I'd be sharing it with my family at home. The mental tally of sugar, fat and calories will sting a lot less than the 39 candles will. (We'll leave the "healthy eating at every age" blog for another day.)
I know that there is a lot of discussion about whether or not children should be able to bring treats to school on their birthdays and whether school celebrations should be marked by sugar explosions. For schools that seem to have a birthday or so a month in each class, the treats would probably not be too harmful. On the other hand, many parents I speak to perceive that their kids are "always eating junk" at school parties. They wish that teachers would insist upon celebrating with other types of fun, such as games, activities or healthy treats.
Although I still wax nostalgic about my mom's lovely birthday cupcakes, which were lovingly delivered to school each March 21 of my childhood, today I side with having your birthday bonanza outside of school. If we decide to declare our schools health zones and treat schools as what they are--places of learning (in every respect, including health and nutrition), then we need to forego junk food in school. If we weren't dealing with an overweight/obesity crisis, I would probably be softer on this point. Soft, like a moist, sprinkle-laden, frosted cupcake.
this post is really sweet. I like it
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