To the editor:

At first I thought it was satire when I read that students in our public schools might have to trade in their candy canes and Christmas cookies for broccoli and carrots. First, we already can’t have candy canes and Christmas cookies because someone might think we’re converting the children to Christianity. Second, school administrators can’t be so naive that they believe offering cantaloupe and apple wedges during three classroom parties a year is going to solve the obesity problem of 16 percent of our youth.

I support offering healthy meals at lunch – those are eaten daily – and the Mile Club that schools offer a few mornings a week is a great way to teach kids how to implement an active lifestyle. Students should be educated on making healthy choices in their daily lives, but should 86 percent of our kids not have cookies because 16 percent have had too many?

As a parent who organizes the “winter party” every year and has to look for games with snowflakes and gingerbread men because we can’t have Christmas trees or Santa Claus, I feel like someone is just trying to suck all the joy out of the classroom.

How about teaching moderation? Cookies and cupcakes are treats; treats are something we do on special occasions.

For all of you out there who have tried a diet of deprivation of your favorite foods – has it ever worked?

I’m already so excited to plan next year’s “winter party” when we eat broccoli and celebrate snow!

Brianna Mosiman,

Lawrence