In the last newsletter, there was an updated list of key dates for the year ahead. The new dates included two PTA cake sales.
Following this, someone questioned whether we, as a healthy school, should hold such cake sales. This is a good question – the more prompts we have to reflect on our practice, the better. And the more prompts for parents, carers, pupils and staff to reflect on our diets and lifestyles, the better, too.
I like to think that it’s better to think about healthy and unhealthy diets rather than healthy and unhealthy foods. Broccoli is a healthy food, but if we were to eat it all the time at the expense of other vegetables, our diets would be missing out. The same goes for all food – a broad and balanced diet is what’s needed. You can learn more with your child about the food pyramid, the eat well plate and look at our own guidance for healthy packed lunches for more advice.
So… My thoughts are that yes, cakes aren’t particularly healthy, but as an occasional treat, for most people, they’re fine. After all, food containing fats and sugars do feature in the food pyramid and the eat well plate – just in a small amount.
That’s why the PTA’s two cake stalls are held with my full approval. (At the same time, don’t forget, you’ll also have the opportunity to view some of the children’s work.)