Snacks, anyone?

I think we have gone a little crazy with snacks.  It might just be the area where I live, I'm not sure.When I was growing up, I don't think I EVER took a snack to school.  Not even once.  I ate breakfast before I left, I ate lunch at school, and then I went home.  That was it.  I do remember eating something at home after school and before we ate dinner.Pretty typical, right?My kids are not having the same experience.  My pantry is full of Costco-sized boxes of goldfish, granola bars, jerky, and trail mix.  I have rice rollers, popcorn, protein bars and all kinds of packaged food, probably all made with high-fructose corn syrup.  I don't even know.Why do I buy this?  Who needs it?We do.  And I'll tell you why.Schools.  SCHOOLS, people.  My email is full of messages from teachers and administrators, all reminding me to remember to send my child with a snack."Make sure your kids have snacks to bring to school, please.""Don't forget your snack!""Please have your kids bring a healthy, non-messy snack each day."I comply.  I send my children to school each day armed with books, pencils, calculators...and snacks?  I just think it is too much.  It's ok to feel hungry, to be excited when lunchtime comes.The truly crazy snack requests happen during testing.  It's hard to believe.  Now, instead of one snack, we are asked to send our kids with MANY snacks.  Seriously, the emails come in, reminding the parents to send in several snacks since the kids will be testing on certain days.Again, why?  Is the school day longer on testing days?  Do the kids have to skip lunch altogether?  The snacks will be the only nourishment they get ALL DAY LONG??  Maybe they just need more food...everyone knows long days of sitting at a desk really boost an appetite, right?Now, I don't have a degree in nutrition, but I know a few basic things.  One is that mindless eating to keep you quiet and focused is never a good idea.  It's dangerous as an adult OR as a kid.I think we could all use LESS snacks, not more.And while I'm at it, I'd prefer less testing...and more recess.