Since the JWMGEI goal is to teach advanced material, the JWMGEI teachers need learning-ready children. Research suggests food high in sugars, preservatives, artificial sweeteners and/or flavor enhancers can cause behavioral difficulties in children and make learning difficult. Also, research suggests children tend to be happiest and perform the best when they are fed a balanced diet that includes protein, fruit, vegetables and carbohydrates. To help ensure my child is ready to learn:
- I will provide food and drink for my child’s snack(s) and lunch.
- I will not send food or drink that has more than 6 grams of added sugars per package label serving (including cookies, candy, soft drinks, fruit juice, etc.). Added sugars include cane sugar, beet sugar, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, fructose, molasses, honey, maple syrup, cane juice, etc.
- I will not send food with artificial preservatives, artificial sweeteners, artificial colors, artificial flavorings, flavor enhancers and food additives for snacks or lunch. Artificial preservatives, flavorings and flavor enhancers include, but are not limited to, BHA, BHT, TBHQ, Splenda, Aspartame (Nutrasweet), Saccharine, and MSG (monosodium glutamate).
- I/we will only send unopened packages that include nutritional information on the outside of the packaging (or a copy of the label), if an item COULD have preservatives or more than 6 grams of added sugar. This step keeps JWMGEI teachers from spending an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out if something meets the policy. Items in this category include applesauce, cakes (including banana, zucchini and other sweetened breads), cookies (of any type, small or large), granola/cereal bars, Cheetos, Doritos, other flavored chips, yogurt, and fruit juice.
- I will not allow my child to bring gum to school.
I/We understand that admittance of my/our child to the JWMGEI for the 2024 Summer Camp, enrollment of my/our child in the JWMGEI for 2024 Summer Camp and attendance of my/our child at the JWMGEI during the 2019 Summer Camp is contingent upon my/us signing this Food Agreement.