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Parenting
Enough With The Snack Bags After Sports Events!
by Mia Thompson
Updated: August 19, 2020
Originally Published: May 6, 2015
I may end up on someone’s “She Shouldn’t Be a Parent” list, but there’s a pressing issue I feel compelled to discuss, and I’m ready to face the backlash: the relentless demand for post-game snack bags. This is a nuisance for many parents out there.
Seriously, why does little Emma need a snack after running around for just an hour at soccer? Is she at risk of starvation? Did she really burn thousands of calories while frolicking around the field? Do I need yet another task of buying, portioning, and decorating snacks for kids who aren’t even mine? Or is this just another way to waste $30?
Every sport my kids play has a system where parents rotate bringing snacks and drinks for the team. I could understand if they were participating in an all-day tournament, but come on! You’re telling me that after a 45-minute basketball game there’s a snack? Or an hour-long soccer match? Or even a short t-ball game that wraps up in five innings—snack required! These kids don’t need a treat for an activity that lasts less than the time it takes to watch a couple of cartoons. When they are younger, every child gets a turn to play, so it’s not like your star player is on the field the entire time—yet they still don’t need a snack.
And let’s talk about the snack guidelines. They must be “healthy” (because every kid is dying to munch on that fresh apple you brought) and allergen-free (which I fully support, so no judgment there). But really, no child craves a cheese stick after scoring points. Plus, your snack bag is subject to scrutiny, not just from the parents, but from the kids too. I have seen kids turn their noses up at meticulously prepared healthy options just because they deemed it “gross”! I mean, come on—how about a little gratitude?
Who initiated this trend? Why does little Tommy need the assurance of a special snack bag he’s probably going to toss aside? And can we address the extravagant gift bags at major competitions? My daughter participates in gymnastics, and this year we decided on a snack bag after their meets. To be fair, these meets can stretch for four hours and often miss regular meal times, so I’m all for giving them something to munch on while waiting for awards.
However, I’ve noticed other gymnastics teams coming in with extravagant spreads—seriously, it looks like a feast! And the decorations on those bags would make you think royalty was competing. The best part is when little Hannah (remember to put the ‘h’ in, or her mom gets upset) tosses her entire gift bag without a second glance, not acknowledging the effort that went into it. How about a simple “thank you” before tossing it aside?
And to the parent who spent more than five minutes on the snack bag, please share your address. With that much free time, I’d love to send my kids your way! You might say, “But I love doing this for my little Olivia; she gets so excited!” This is probably the same child who’ll insist on granite countertops in her first home instead of being satisfied with something simple (I should really stop watching home renovation shows).
Must we revert to simpler times? A time when kids had to earn their treats? A time when the only snack option was whatever awaited them for dinner? Raise your hand if you received a snack bag after sports events in the 1980s or earlier—yeah, I didn’t think so. We all survived! No one starved, and there were no complaints about hunger. Remember those snack shacks at events, where you’d get a treat or a pat on the back for a job well done? That’s called motivation, folks, and it’s part of life—because not everyone wins every time.
In short, let’s simplify things. Kids can thrive without a snack after every single game. They’re capable of handling a little hunger, and we should encourage resilience rather than create a culture of entitlement.
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Summary:
The incessant need for snack bags after every sports event is unnecessary and burdensome for parents. Kids can manage without a treat after short games, and the over-the-top expectations surrounding these snack bags often lead to waste and disappointment. Let’s embrace a simpler approach and encourage resilience in our children.