I think it is so EXCITING that so many people are so passionate about their food. We are flying down the ramp with our hands up in the first car of School Food Policy and there is a whole lot of screaming going on.
My goal: everybody feeling like they have been heard, and breathing normal.
I have been listening to mothers (what’s up with that?–is food not a father issue or are they going to call me later?) and I can say with confidence that I have people on both sides of the sugar camp ready to miss part of their work day to get their “no sugar, no way no how” or their “birthdays and sugar have had a long and loving relationship that should not be messed with” message written into school law.

Plan A: Speak to both sides of the camp.

1. Everbody knows I have a career built on sugar. Domino could name me their sugar queen, and everbody who knows me well would say, “yea, that’s right–she is the Sugar Queen.” At seven years old I was making my own caramel sauce. At 26 my first husband hestitated to let me go–I think only because he was going to miss my Rugelach. At 30 I was hired as pastry chef to the stars with no prior work experience–because the love of sugar is in my bones. My happiest childhood memories revolve around sugar.
2. (without giving up my love of sugar) I have become a believer and a doer of whole foods for the (almost) whole time. I have done a lot of reading about facts that have changed my feelings about just how much sugar the body can tolerate without your insides protesting in a variety of persistent and irritating ways. Who wants to act out in class or not score as high as they may have otherwise? Who wants to lose friends because of nasty mood swings and who wants to hang onto weight enough to make up for two? Who wants diabetes? It’s fun to lose the first set of the teeth, but let me tell you, losing the second set can get expensive! Having only gums isn’t good for your digestion, not to mention class photos.

Be prepared with fun facts:

Browns Mill Elementary and Magnet School in Lithonia, GA, eliminated
all refined sugar from the school for both students and faculty. Not
only was there a drop in weight, but the principal reported a
dramatic drop in discipline problems and a sharp increase in academic
achievement. Math and reading scores improved by 15% and discipline
referrals dropped by 28%. They had a contract with Coke, but it just
had to be Coke product. They switched from sodas (avg. 25% of the
intake of sugar in the daily diet) to water and fruit juice. The
principal also changed the caf menu from mystery meat and mac and
cheese to whole wheat buns, turkey dogs, and baked chicken, with lots
of veggies and fruit.

What I am going to ask: Can we make a scientific experiment: try no added sugar for a week and take notes. I want to know can we do it? (I have never done it.) How hard is it? How does it make us feel? What does sugar mean to you?

What I am hoping for: That everybody still likes me in the end.

Plan B: I am hoping it comes to me.