Parents are planning a city hall “bake-in” in protest of new regulations that ban homemade treats from their kids' school bake sales. The city's rationale is that brownies and cookies made from scratch carry an uncountable calorie load, whereas Doritos, packaged cookies and other food items on a list of permissible items, disclose their nutritional content. "We don't really want to be told what to buy, especially when it's junk food from Kellogg's," one mom told the Daily News.
The city limits parents to bagged treats that adhere to rules about sodium and fat content, and contain less than 200 calories. Pop tarts are on its list; so are Linden's cookies. According to protest organizer Elizabeth Puccini the new regulations cause an ethical dilemma, since art and music programs rely on bake sale revenue. "If we want to raise money—which we have to, given the budget cuts—we're forced to buy the kids junk food," said protest organizer Elizabeth Puccini. "There's something wrong with this picture."
The bake-in is scheduled of March 18. No word on what treats will be provided. Other attempts to limit student calorie intake have included a proposal for "Meatless Mondays" and regulations slapped on school vending machines.
