Lunch Shamed: Cookies Sent With Child’s School Meal Prompts ‘Shaming’ Of Mom
A mom in Aurora, Colorado, is under fire for packing Oreo cookies inside her daughter’s lunchbox. Leeza Pearson was shamed by a teacher after learning the 4-year-old student didn’t have a complete selection of healthy choices to eat. A note shaming the mother for violating the school’s lunch program with sugary cookies has gone viral, citing an ABC News report.
Pearson spoke with reporters about being scolded over several cookies she packed inside young Natalee’s box before she headed off to Children’s Academy last Friday. Pearson indicated how stunned she was when her daughter arrived home with her uneaten cookie treats and a teacher’s note. It didn’t take her long to realize she had just been shamed.
“Dear Parents, it is very important that all students have a nutritious lunch. This is a public school setting and all children are required to have a fruit, a vegetable and a healthy snack from home, along with a milk. If they have potatoes, the child will also need bread to go along with it. Lunchables, chips, fruit snacks, and peanut butter are not considered to be a healthy snack. This is a very important part of our program and we need everyone’s participation.”
I feel for the 4 yr old. Mom Says She Was ‘Lunch Shamed’ by School for Packing Oreos for Daughter – ABC News http://t.co/oAHfQeOjlx via @ABC
— Lori Ann LaRocco (@loriannlarocco) April 30, 2015
The shamed mom took issue with the response over the lunch cookies. Normally, she is vigilant with making sure her daughter receives meals in support of proper nutrition. However, on this occasion, she was out of fruit and other healthy snacks. But in her opinion, school officials could have handled the matter differently.
“I think it is definitely over the top, especially because they told her she can’t eat what is in her lunch. They should have at least allowed to eat her food and contacted me to explain the policy and tell me not to pack them again.”
Media sources tried reaching out to administrators at the school over the matter, to no avail. However, a spokesperson with Aurora Public Schools weighed in on the lunch shaming incident. Moon says it’s not “standard practice” for teachers to include a note inside a student’s lunchbox.
“From our end we want to inform parents but never want it to be anything punitive.”
Moon also said that the school has been focused on trying to promote awareness of the benefits of eating healthy. However, the mom shamed over placing cookies in her daughter’s lunchbox said efforts by school officials have largely been “inconsistent.”
“They say I can’t decide what to feed her but then they sometimes feed her junk food. Why am I being punished for Oreos when at other times I am asked to bring candy?”
[Photo Illustration by Scott Olson/Getty Images]
