Fed up with schools food demands -need advice!!

[Guest guest]

>> whith the massive rise in diabetes,obesity and learning issues... why oh

why are we subjecting our other kids to this? <<

Serious <HHHUUUGGGSSS>

Kids are getting subjected to this because most of the adults don't know

any better -- they have been brainwashed by the Food Machine. (It's the

same principle as the only nutritional classes taught to veterinarians

being by the pet food companies, and then the vets have no concept of how

to feed pets other than Packaged Brand X. They perfected it on our pets,

and now they're using it on US.)

You know, I have listened to various moms say, " Oh, I can't send that... my

child is in a <nut free, egg free, whatever free> school and the the

parents of thus-and-such-a-kid swear their child will be desperately sick

if they have it.... "

I wonder what would happen if parents of SCD kids, whether they are ASD or

not, were to say, " You tell me my son can't have his normal food because

<child's name> is allergic to <fill in the blank>. Well, I'm insisting that

nothing be served at any party, or as snacks around my child that he is

unable to eat, because it is just as dangerous for him/her as <fill in the

blank> is for <child's name>. " And have a doctor's note, if possible, to

back it up.

I'm sure the other parents would have a conniption, and the school, too.

One of the things which you, as parents, possess, is far more economic and

political clout than you may realize.

About twenty years ago, a very dear friend of mine, Judy Voros of

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and I were discussing the fact that a another friend,

, was one of the most huggable people we knew. played

role-playing games; one of his characters was a pacifist werewolf.

Judy and I decided we wanted to give a Dakin stuffed wolf. As I'm

sure you know, Dakin plush toys are some of the cutest and most huggable,

and I'm equally sure you can see the connection.

So we started... I was doing a good bit of traveling around the SouthEast

US then, and any time I got to a toy store, I would ask about a Dakin wolf.

They never had one, but always wrote down the suggestion. Judy also hit toy

stores in Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, etc. etc. -- all over the US

Midwest.

About a year later, Dakin announced, with great fanfare, that they were

bringing out their " Wolf in Sheep's Clothing " , a Dakin wolf with a faux

sheep skin cloak. Well, that thing was so terminally CUTE that they

literally could not keep it on the shelves for almost six months. (Judy and

I *did* manage to get one and surprised the heck out of for his

birthday.)

Know what we were told?

Dakin designed and brought out the " Wolf in Sheep's Clothing " because they

were getting requests for a wolf from ALL OVER THE COUNTRY!

But it was only two determined women, wanting a fun gift for a friend.

If we could do this, how much more impact can you parents have on marketing

decisions (like potato starch in hot dogs) as dedicated and loving parents?

One recommendation is to get a physical address and WRITE the company. A

physical letter has even more impact in these days of quick telephone calls

and emails.

Moreover, according to a survey I saw back when the Coca-Cola Company was

going through their furore over Old Coke / New Coke, a business counts each

physical letter to represent approximately 300 customers who felt the same

way, but 299 didn't care enough to write.

Keep letters simple, to the point, typed in a basic business format. You

are, after all, as much professionals as the people you are writing to: you

are professional parents, and I don't know of a more important job in the

world.

There are over 3000 people on this list: that means that this group has the

clout of something like 900,000 people. Yeah, REALLY! Nine Hundred Thousand

People! Almost a MILLION! Thassalottapeople!

So the next time you want a business to do something -- write! Whether it's

a food company, or a school board, or even just an individual teacher --

they can brush you off if you just speak to them. It goes in one ear and

out the other. But something written and documented is less easy to brush

off!

I'm betting we could draft some clear and concise sample letters and put

them in the Pecan Bread libraries for people who hate writing business

letters to use as models.

Think on it, gentle folk.

<grin> And may your situation turn out like a Dakin Wolf In Sheep's

Clothing!

-- Marilyn (New Orleans, Louisiana, USA)

Undiagnosed IBS 25 Years, SCD Five Years

Darn Good SCD Cook

No Human Children

Shadow & Sunny Longhair Dachshund