Kaneland schools: 'No snacks allowed'

There is going to be a lot less chocolate, vanilla and frosting in Kaneland schools this year.

The district's elementary schools will enforce a new "no food" policy for birthday celebrations.

The change grew out of discussions of the district's wellness policies and concerns about child obesity.

"It's not so much about the amount but more of setting an example for the kids," said Blackberry Creek Elementary School principal Kyle Kuhns. "It's more geared toward changing the culture of the school."

At Blackberry Creek, students get to pick out a book as a present on their birthday. The school gets extra books from book fairs to stock the school's gift shelf.

School officials have also suggested birthday kids bring in stickers, pencils or other items for their classmates.

"There's a variety of ways to make a child feel special that don't involve food," Kuhns said.

If a family sends treats in with students starting in the fall, the treats will be sent back home, according to the policy.

Administrators plan to discuss other uses of food in the classroom -- for example, in holiday parties or in lessons like teaching counting by using M&Ms. They plan to have a more comprehensive policy in place for that by the fall.

"I know the kids have been doing this since kindergarten," Kuhns said. "But when we start with kindergartners, they won't know anything else."

Kaneland isn't the first school district to do so. Arlington Heights Elementary School District 25 made the same choice for next year.

But for holidays, the children in that district have to have healthy snacks along with treats.

Lake Zurich District 95 banned birthday sweets in 2006 but allowed healthy snacks for celebrations.