The best childhood memory all of us have is recalling how our mother ran behind us for making us eat food. Being kids we would run away from drinking milk and eating healthy fruits and vegetables and then our mom would run behind us to consume those. Almost all of us have been told since the building years that " Health is Wealth", but not many of us really pay attention to it. And it's always the mom who would actually make us sit and eat.
Just like any other mother, the mother of our story is considerate towards her little daughter. She would pack her lunch daily and one day she finds a note from her daughter's school in her lunch box that changed the dynamics of nutrition for children forever. What was this questionable thing about a mere lunchbox that raised such a huge public drama?
Leeza Pearson and her four-year-old daughter Natalee lived in Colorado. Being a working woman, Leeza had a hectic schedule. She had to wake up early in the morning and had to pack lunch for herself and her daughter as well. As Natalee was in her growth years, Leeza made sure that she provided her with healthy food. But one day...
It was Friday morning and Leeza was deep in her sleep. That morning when the alarm went off she just shut it off and slept again. After sleeping for about half-an-hour extra she realized that she was getting late for work and even making Natalee late for school. She wakes up in panic and dresses up her daughter for school.
As Natalee was quite young in age, Leeza made sure that she packs her a lunchbox incorporated with different colors that would attract Natalee and persuade her to eat it. She would add fruits and sandwiches with some salad. But as that day she was running late, she did not have enough time to prepare all this stuff and thus, packs her lunch with whatever she had handy along with some biscuits. She didn't know that a sudden change in her daughter's lunch would cost her a lot.
It was just any other day for Leeza. She drove to her office and dropped Natalee to her school on the way. While she picked up Natalee in the noon, she was tensed. Natalee was hungry stomach and wanted to eat something. Leeza was confused that as she packed her lunch then how come was her daughter this hungry. She thought that Natalee did not have her lunch that day.
While driving back to home, Leeza asked Natalee about her day at school. Usually, she would very excitedly tell her mother about the activities she did at school, but that day Natalee sounded low and irritated. When asked if she had her lunch or not, Natalee told her that she did not eat her lunch that day. But why? Did something happen at her school?
On entering the home, Natalee once again said to Leeza, "Mom, I am hungry". Leeza was surprised as Natalee never felt this hungry before at this time of the day. To make sure that she had her lunch today, Leeza opens her lunch box and was surprised to find a note in it along with the pack of biscuits she packed in it today. What was the note about?
Aurora’s Children’s Academy was one of the most prestigious schools in Colorado. It shared a good name and fame in the society. When Leeza saw a note in her daughter's lunchbox from the school she was taken aback by what was written in that. She never thought that the school which she always bragged about would make her rethink about her decision.
Of course, any mother would want the best for her children. Right from imparting education to good manners and healthy eating habits, Leeza gave the best of everything to Natalee. She knew that if she shapes Natalee's forming years in the best way possible, her future would itself turn bright. Thinking on the same lines she admitted Natalee to this school. Little did she know that the school would do the unthinkable.
As a single- mother Leeza made sure that she provides Natalee with the best. And to an extent, Leeza was even successful in doing this as she never heard any sought of complaints regarding Natalee from school. She was good at studies and even at extra-curricular activities. When a complaint came from the school regarding Natalee, Leeza had no other choice but to talk to school authorities.
Leeza had absolutely no clues that a lunch box to her daughter's school would end up making her a part of the huge public drama. Usually, she would pack healthy snacks like fruit salad, bread jam or cheese in her lunch but that day just because she was rushing late she packed her a packet of biscuits in lunch and it turned into a controversial debate all over the school and in media.
Leeza decides to share the note she received in Natalee's lunch box on the social media and tell all the other parents sending their children to this school about the type of letter they send to parents. Leeza was highly disappointed to find such a letter. As a parent, she knew what was good for her child and what was not while the letter she received somewhere pointed towards her to be an irresponsible parent.
The note at which Leeza was this annoyed, read something like, "it is very important that all students have a nutritious lunch. It is a public school setting and all children are required to have fruit, a vegetable, and a healthy snack from home". For an instant, Leeza was confused at it as she always packed a healthy lunch for her. But that was not all. The lines in the note further, took Leeza's anger to another level.
The note further told parents in a very firm manner that, "potatoes, peanut butter, chips are not lunchable snacks. Even if the children have potatoes, they need bread to go with it." Leeza was annoyed to see that the school calls pieces of bread and potatoes as healthy and didn't let Natalee eat the biscuits in lunch that day. Leeza wanted to take some action against it and generate some awareness.
Leeza took to the social media platform and posted the notice everywhere. Her friends and other parents supported her saying that the school could not tell the parent's what a child should be fed in lunch. Moreover, keeping Natalee hungry in name of "not getting a healthy lunch" was totally unacceptable to everyone.
The school wasn't wrong on their behalf as well. They wanted to be sure that the children remain safe from obesity issues. They were concerned about child obesity at such an early age and thus wanted that the children should be provided with nutritious and healthy lunchboxes.
Obesity is a rising concern worldwide. In the last few years, the number of children to cross the obesity line have increased. While obesity was seen as a disease to hit the adults, it is now seen amongst kids as well. Children are facing a lot of health issues and cardiovascular problems. And suffering such diseases as kids is not an appreciable thing. Yet, these statements fell on deaf years.
Leeza further argues with the school authorities that the biscuits weren't that unhealthy option as the school made it be. On the first hand, the school doesn't provide children with food and on the second one, they question what the child brings. She further makes a comment that it is the same school which asks parents to send candies on occasions from time to time.
As a body of the educational institution, it is a school's prime responsibility to impart healthy eating habits in children and the parents are expected to participate in imparting such habits to their children. Being a mother, all these arguments did not bother her and all she thought of was how did the school let Natalee stay hungry stomach the entire day.
The school authorities said that they are considerate about every student of theirs and they even offered Natalee a healthy snack option. They gave her some fruits but Natalee did not wish to consume those. She wanted that biscuits only. Was it right on the part of the school to devoid a little girl of biscuits?
The school made a valid comment. They said many studies show that fruit and vegetables along with the right amount of cereals ensure a healthy brain. These foods are believed to boost the cognitive skills of a child while the junk and deep-fried foods, chocolates, and other sweeteners hinder with their growth. To ensure a healthy child it is must that they eat healthy as well.
While the school made all its point sound valid, they made a statement that no parent would ever want to hear. Till the time they were talking about health and fitness goals for kids, it was agreeable. Even a specific diet for children was acceptable. But the school called Leeza also unfit. This was when Leeza lost her cool.
Leeza till now was accepting everything on the part of the school. She was happy to know that the school is promoting healthy eating amongst kids but the sole reason for her disagreement was the way the school authorities were taking this argument. Somewhere they made Leeza feel ashamed about herself and her body structure, as she was quite obese. Leeza even tells them that this is something which has nothing to do with the discussion and they can't even tell her this in front of her daughter.
Every claim and argument which the school kept forward, upsets Leeza to the extreme. She was disturbed on being told that she has to follow certain health guidelines while preparing lunch for her daughter. She says," What the school thinks is healthy for her is not what I think is healthy for her". The school at any cost can't tell her what her daughter could eat and what she couldn't.
The court would not have favored Natalee, had she weighed beyond 100 pounds and crossed the obesity parameters. But, luckily that wasn't the case. Natalee was absolutely healthy and wasn't obese. Rather she weighed just apt in accordance with her age. This made school's arguments weak on their part and eventually left Leeza happy.
The results of her daughter's perfectly fine health made Leeza even happier. Natalee was slim and disease free. On this Leeza further says that being a mother she herself is concerned about Natalee's health. And she did not offer biscuits to the entire class and even the biscuits were not the only thing in the lunch she packed.
In an interview, Leeza even calls the school and the concerned staff as hypocrites. She completely condemns the school's say of offering a healthy meal to their children as they themselves offer children candies, sweets, and junk food at times. She believes that this is sheer hypocrisy on their behalf. First practice and then preach.
Leeza further says that children are in an age that everytime one cannot feed them vegetables. Rather parents need to prepare interesting dishes incorporating vegetables and fruits. Leeza also said in a session that Natalee has a full and a healthy lunch packed with fruits and vegetables and at times cereals as well. Moreover, it was Friday so why not offer kids some treat.
Schools have never had a good reputation for serving children with the healthiest foods. Rather they too would offer sandwiches and packed foods to kids. Keeping that in mind if Leeza packed a pack of biscuits in her daughter's lunch, it should not have been such a big controversy. After all biscuits at any time are healthier than junk food.
When this entire issue was highlighted in public, Brenda Dean was the director at school then. She shows her sympathy towards Leeza and assures her that she is looking into the matter and was trying to figure out who kept that letter in Natalee's lunch as it was something against the institution's policies.
While a majority of the public supported Leeza, there was a handful of them who even says that this entire case was a result of over reactions from the ends of both the parties. The case was not such a big issue as it is depicted to be. There was no requirement of involving media into this as the matter could have been sorted out between the school authorities and the family concerned.
Patti Moon who is the Chief Communications Officer at Auror Public Schools clarified on his end that, as a school, it is their responsibility to promote healthy eating choices amongst kids and as well as motivate the parents to do so as well. And as far as Natalee's returning home empty stomach is concerned, she was actually offered another snack to eat.
Natalee on being offered a healthier fruit snack refused to consume it only because she was devoid of her biscuits. And neither was this the case that the biscuits were taken away from her and thrown into the trash. No! Amongst the hundred other students at the school, it was solely Natalee's decision to stay an empty stomach.
As the preschool is the building age of the children, it is important that preschoolers are provided with healthy and nutrient dense food. Colorful fruits and some vegetable sandwiches along with rice and curries are a healthy meal option for the kids. Also providing them with protein in form of milkshakes and curd is a good choice.
Often parents are confused when it comes to nutritious food for children, especially in lunch boxes. To make this a little easy, two Californian women introduced a ready-made packed food packet for kids. These food packs were known as revolution kits and are believed to be low on sodium and absolutely preservative free.
Leeza appreciated this new lunching option but at the same time, she wants parents to provide their children with healthy and freshly made food. Instead of quantity, quality food should be focused upon. Not only Leeza but all the parents should be particular about the meal pattern for their kids.
With time the matter sorted out between both the parties. While Leeza agreed that she should provide a healthy meal, the school also reverted in the same manner. Natalee now stepped into the elementary school and is living a healthy lifestyle. However, the school made a special remark.
The Children's Academy even said that now they won't be sending any such letters to the parents. It is up to the parents what they want to feed their child. But all they hope is the kids are provided with nutrient-dense foods.
Leeza and Natalee are doing good in life now. We hope they continue to spend a healthy, wealthy and happy future. With this incident, all we hope is that all the parties concerned and the families who saw this would start giving more importance to their fitness and health.