NYC's nutrition rules shut down school bake sales
When New York City's Department of Education banned unhealthy snacks from being sold on school property, it had an immediate impact not only on what was available in school vending machines, but on what could be sold at bake sales. Although enacted with only the best of intentions, this rule change has turned out to have a severe impact on school funding, since bake sales are one of the easiest and most profitable ways that schools can raise a little bit of extra money.
In the past, bake sales were used to help fund everything from music programs to yearbook clubs and sports teams' travel costs. In order to be approved for sale, snacks must have less than 200 calories and 200 milligrams of sodium per serving, with no more than 35% of the calories coming from fat. Obviously, that rules out most delicious (and profitable) bake sale goodies, from chocolate chip cookies to fudge squares.
In some schools, administrators are taking a "look the other way" approach, and allowing bake sales and candy drives to happen. At other schools, bake sales take place just outside the school property lines. But many schools are trying to follow the rules, while struggling to find funding.
What's clear is that some creativity is going to be required in future fundraisers. One school already hosted a successful fundraiser during cold and flu season, selling bags with tissues, lip balm, hand sanitizer, and fruit gummy snacks.
Frankly, I'm totally in favor of non-food fundraisers like selling raffle tickets for high-value items, hand-made soaps or candles from arts and crafts classes, or selling mugs and t-shirts printed with student art. I'm a bit of a germophobe, and not knowing what conditions food was cooked under (have you seen the kitchens on Hoarders?) if I buy something at a bake sale, I usually end up surreptitiously throwing it away later.
Image courtesy Flickr/tiny banquet committee