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These chocolate salted caramel cupcakes from Granny Schmidt's in Whitehall wouldn't have a place in many Lehigh Valley elementary schools. The dessert was served up earlier this year at the Chocolate Lovers' Soiree in Easton.
The Saucon Valley School District is asking parents to leave the cupcakes at home and send in nonedible treats to student birthday parties due to allergy concerns.
Saucon joins a growing number of Lehigh Valley and northwest New Jersey districts trying to limit birthday treats and encourage healthy options or food alternatives.
Saucon Valley Elementary School Assistant Principal Lynn Cheddar said her school has already started implementing the switch and hopes to formalize it in next year's student handbook.
When parents send in a birthday snack, it's often unannounced so there's no way for other parents to know to send in an alternative for a child with allergies.
Parents have been supportive and come up with alternatives to recognize birthdays, Cheddar said, such as donating books to the library.
Since 2009, the Easton Area School District has asked parents to send nonfood treats for birthdays. The district mails parents a letter at the start of school explaining it wants to help students learn to make healthy choices, and that's one of the guidelines, said Alyssa Emili, the director of pupil services.
N.J. schools ban low-nutrient foods
In 2006, New Jersey schools began following a state wellness and nutrition policy that lists foods of minimal nutritional value that can't be served.
The Phillipsburg School District allows snacks during a special holiday or birthdays. But the district sends home a list of suggested snacks like animal crackers, pretzels and apple sauce, Assistant Superintendent Marian Trapani said.
"Nothing can be homemade," she said. "It has to come in and it has to be packaged and store-bought."
The school nurse personally vets all classroom snacks to make sure the ingredients are appropriate.
"The nurse is really our eyes and ears for all the kids," Trapani said.
One birthday a monthTo give parents of children with allergies or dietary restrictions a chance to send in a safe snack, the Bangor Area School District designates one day a month schoolwide to celebrate that month's birthdays, Acting Superintendent Frank DeFelice said.
"Keeping kids safe is the main focus," he said. "On the other hand we want to have a balance so we still recognize children's birthdays."
Teachers set a classroom limit of two to three food treats and parents are randomly selected from a list of families that volunteered.
The school does encourage things like stickers, pencils and erasers over food but doesn't forbid snacks, DeFelice said. Parents can order snacks through the food service department.
"It has actually worked out kind of well," DeFelice said of the policy enacted last school year. "I'm really pleased with the support of the community and the teachers have really done a great job."
The sugar watch
Deb Roeder, principal of Miller Heights Elementary School in Bethlehem, said schools have had to watch students' sugar intake since 2007 due to state regulations.
"We also do recognize that birthdays are big deal for elementary kids," Roeder said.
All schools that participate in the federal National School Lunch Program must have nutrition standards to promote good health and prevent obesity. Pennsylvania took things a step further and developed voluntary state nutrition rules that allow schools to earn extra money to buy healthy food.
All Northampton County public schools have opted in, making them subject to rules that limit the treats served in classroom parties and what is sold on campus during school hours.
Classroom parties can have up to three treats with sugar as a first ingredient but must also include fresh fruits, vegetables, water, milk or 100 percent fruit juice.
Parental guidance
At the start of school, Miller Heights reminds parents to send in healthy, individually wrapped snacks that allow people to see the ingredients.
"We don't see the cupcakes with all the big layers of icing come in anymore," Roeder said.
Parents of children with allergies communicate well with teachers, she said. Whenever there is a doubt about the suitability of a snack, the school sends snacks home so parents can make that choice, she said.
"Our parents have been great. We see lots of wonderful health snacks," Roeder said.
The Allentown School District doesn't restrict birthday snacks but it does adhere to state nutritional guidelines, which parents are asked to follow.