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Obesity, especially childhood obesity, is an issue that the city takes seriously. But one Upper West Side mother's tactics at P.S. 9 have caused the school—and many other parents—to become frustrated and weary. MeMe Roth, an anti-obesity activist who gets upset by "special occasion" junk food ("cupcakes that come out for every birthday, the doughnuts her children were once given in gym"), tells the NY Times, "I thought I was sending my kid to P.S. 9, not Chuck E. Cheese. Is there or is there not an obesity and diabetes epidemic in this country?”
Apparently Roth tells her kids to dump any junk food they receive in school into a piece of Tupperware, which then brought the battle to a new level:
This solution seemed to be working pretty well until Ms. Roth’s daughter dutifully tried to stick a juice pop — a special class treat from her teacher on a hot day — into her plastic container. The teacher told Ms. Roth’s daughter to eat it or lose it, and according to the child pointed out that she had seen the young girl eating the corn chips served with school lunch — did that not count as junk food?Roth and her husband say that school suggested "they should request a health and safety transfer, something that generally follows threats of violence," which would mean filing a complaint with the police. Ben Roth said, "What would that conversation even sound like? 'We know you guys are dealing with stabbings and shootings, but stop everything: We have a cupcake situation'?" While some parents think MeMe Roth has valid concerns, they think she's abrasive. P.S. 9's principals also says Roth once "threw candy onto the table and cursed" during a meeting and has repeatedly "displayed this hostile behavior."This prompted one of Ms. Roth’s infamous heated e-mail messages to the school. Which, in turn, prompted administrators to pull her daughter out of class to discuss the juice pop incident, which only further infuriated Ms. Roth, who said her daughter felt as if she’d been ambushed.
Jezebel once pointed out that MeMe Roth essentially compared eating to rape in an interview with The Guardian, "The defence has been made in the case of sex criminals that there is pleasure on the part of the victim. The same is true with what we're doing with food. We may abuse our bodies with food, but it's incredibly pleasurable" and proudly admitted to throwing away all the ice cream sundae toppings at the local Y. And the Roths previously lived in Millburn, NJ, where a PTA member told them, "Please consider moving," after a crusade against bagels.
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Haha, I read this on the Times earlier today. It's pretty hilarious. Though, if she was a fellow parent at my child's school I'm sure I'd be ready to kill her. "Please move" is putting it way, way too nicely. Apparently she feels she is not only the nanny, but the dictator of the nutritional needs for everyone in her vicinity.
On another note, I feel *really* bad for her kids. Imagine having that horrible psycho bitch for a mother! Imagine knowing she's the reason that nobody can have cupcakes!
This lady sounds like such a bitch that when her kids start smoking cigarettes she'll be too fixated on what they're eating to notice. Don't people understand that forcing your will via dickhead tactics, no matter how righteous the cause, will get people like me to want to offer her children candy (not for kidnapping or other creepy purposes)?
Lighten up MeMe, your obsession is bound to lead to other problems or just general obliviousness.
I decided i hated her as soon as I read her name.
"MeMe Roth"?!? are you sure that name is real and not some brilliant form of satire on self-righteous UWS types?
It's not real. Her real name is Meredith.
And yet the narcissistic megalomaniac insists that people call her MeMe...
Those poor kids. My kid's doctor actually encouraged us to give him more junk food.
uhh...yeah right. who's your doctor Vinny Boombatz?
The Guardian article is crazy! The lady definitely has weight issues and some sort of eating disorder. Check it:
"Her suffering was apparent early on. "When I was in kindergarten," she recalls, "no one taught me to be ashamed of obesity, but the day, on my birthday, that my mother was to bring cupcakes to my class, I put my head on the table because I knew that within minutes my mother would be there and everyone was going to know that my mother was fat. I felt ashamed. I was grateful that down the block there was another mother who was fatter than my mother.""
Later on she admits that she doesn't eat breakfast and refuses to eat at all until she runs at least 4 miles.
Really...she's as bad as any of the parents she accuses of feeding their kids a diet that will eventually lead to obesity. Her relationship to food is just as unhealthy as someone at the obesity end the eating disorder spectrum and now she is teaching her own children these behaviors. Makes me wonder if the school will call social services on this witch.
True, true.
Once, when it was late and I couldn't sleep and there was nothing on, I watched a movie on Lifetime about a teenage girl who went to a very competitive ballet school and developed an eating disorder. In order to control her weight, she would puke in glass jars and keep them in her closet (guess she didn't have her own bathroom, even though she lived in the burbs). One day, after the girl's esophagus collapsed and she started bleeding from the mouth during ballet class, her mother found the dozens of jars of vomit she had hidden behind some sweaters. Then the movie ended. I envision something like this happening to this woman's kids if someone doesn't stop her.
True, true.
Once, when it was late and I couldn't sleep and there was nothing on, I watched a movie on Lifetime about a teenage girl who went to a very competitive ballet school and developed an eating disorder. In order to control her weight, she would puke in glass jars and keep them in her closet (guess she didn't have her own bathroom, even though she lived in the burbs). One day, after the girl's esophagus collapsed and she started bleeding from the mouth during ballet class, her mother found the dozens of jars of vomit she had hidden behind some sweaters. Then the movie ended. I envision something like this happening to this woman's kids if someone doesn't stop her.
Gee, an upper west side parent who is a complete pain in the ass about her kids and believes her own self-righteous opinion and concerns trump all others? Who'da thunk it?
Gee, an upper west side parent who is a complete pain in the ass about her kids and believes her own self-righteous opinion and concerns trump all others? Who'da thunk it?
But you have to admit -- when you're an UWS mother who is even pissing off all the other UWS mothers with your extreme, self-enveloped bullshit...that's an achievement.
The other UWS mothers should give her some sort of medal. And then invite her to move to Park Slope.
Go overboard with the food issues could lead to some confused thoughts about food in a child which could lead to an eating disorder. Obsessing about issues, like food, should always be done in moderation.
I think the only way her name could fit her more is if it were MeMeMe.
I'm not a fan of sweets or candy, but I would start munching on a king size snicker bar or huge bag of candy corn if this woman could see me.
On the one hand, I do think that people (and schools) give kids way too much junkfood.
On the other hand, this woman seems to be profoundly unbalanced. Maybe her blood sugar is too low?
Okay Yes! Rich people have our priorities in mind, they will save us from the evil cupcakes!!!! All the while I was more worried about affording rent and health insurance. What dumbass-wad gave this b*tch a mouthpiece.
I'll bet green money that both her kids will suffer from eating disorders.
Extremism is not a good thing, no matter what the cause. Aside from Roth, that goes for vegans, too. At the risk of sounding like a cliché, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. Ironically, she's probably doing more damage to her own health with her hyper Type-A personality than if she allowed herself some treats in moderation. She should really be teaching her kids to use self-control rather than complete self-denial. As her kids grow older, they'll start to hear saltier language from their classmates, mostly noting what a nutjob their mother is.
I totally agree extremism is not good. Just like that PETA lady speaking at Borders at Columbus Circle tonight. Apparently when she was young she and her family gorged on meat and wore fur coats. One extreme lifestyle gives birth to another extreme view.
So true. Everything in moderation, or you'll fuck up your kids!
Is it me or does she look fat in the article?
That's definitely a thick right arm and some strategic newspaper holding.
I'll go out on a limb and assume she's not much fun in the sack.
"You're doing it wrong."
Why cant there be parents who push for more athletic activity instead of junk food mumbo jumbo
With her it's all about Me Me Me...
This is the same crazy bitch who went on a public crusade to say that Jordin Sparks (last year's "American Idol" winner) was obese, and that Sparks should admit it, do something about it, etc., because she's a role model for children. Sparks is curvy but by no means obese, and I felt horrible for her. I'd like to take this obsessive bitch, tie her down and stuff her mouth with Twinkies. She must be soooo much fun at dinner parties.
if I was her kid, I'd eat my way up to 500 pounds and ONLY wear skin tight clothing. In your face Mommy!
I'm a pretty fit person who exersizes regularly and eats right and the only thing i can think of now is cupcakes heheheh
I'm still trying to decipher what the fuck this bitch is wearing in the times article. super thick silk fuschia pajamas with a super broad collar? Rich people is crazy.
The Liberace Museum is missing a costume...
Hey MeMe, you can always homeschool your children rather than act like a superbitch.
Her homeschooling her kids would be a form of extreme child abuse!
In the good old days, women like this would be locked away in Bellevue long before they could annoy so many people.
Oh my god, could everybody please please please stop giving media attention to this obviously mentally ill woman? Every time I see her I want to snap her over my knee like that dude at the end of Bloodsport.
She goes out in public, raising a stink and infuriating everybody then returns home alone...and that's when the cutting begins ( hence the long sleeves ).
Now she's your problem NY. Good luck!
Park Slope moms, you're up next,
don't let the UWS moms overtake you guys.
crazy mofo shouldn't be allow to reproduce.
Her daughter will be a hot size 0 when she grows up.
Her daughter will be a hot size 0 when she grows up.
A size "0" who will never make her a grandmother.
After reading the links above, I kind of feel sorry for the woman. She needs some serious therapy. I definitely feel sorry for her children. They are going to be royally screwed up.
Wow what a narcissist ! I hope she gets run over by a dunkin donuts truck.
Way to ensure all the other kids take your kid's lunch money, thereby avoiding the risk of junk food. Your kid's a walking punching bag now, dumbass.
Everything is ok, in moderation, including overseeing your kid's diet.
Way to ensure all the other kids take your kid's lunch money, thereby avoiding the risk of junk food. Your kid's a walking punching bag now, dumbass.
Everything is ok, in moderation, including overseeing your kid's diet.
She is clearly trying to stir up a media-friendly "controversy" in order to promote herself and the "group" she runs. And we seem to be playing along.
As an aside, this is the kind of thing we have to look forward to if the public health fascists consolidate their gains. Just picture her in a position with some actual power.
This lady makes me want to puke up the bottle of Coke (regular!) and pretzels I had for breakfast.
My brother was the kid who told all the others there is no Santa. Her kids are going to start the teenage anorexia outbreak in school.
The idea is good. Change is good.
But, like Sarah Palin, why did you have to go off point? Your reference is off. You lost me.
Fortunately, if the concern of your child's health is in question, move. This is not a safety issue.
Also, why don't you spend some of your money educating the rest of the kids about better health habits. Don't back peddle.
She's hot.
She's hot.