It’s one thing to go to school, a troop meeting, or dance class and get bullied by the mean kids. When you’re the overweight girl, you learn to spot those villains early and navigate run-ins with them with surprising aplomb, even as their cutting insults and snide remarks are pelting you like shrapnel. You perfect a face that smiles through them, even laughs along, as the insides of you crumble over in pain. It’s hard being the brunt of everybody’s joke, but you don’t want to make it worse by being a cry baby on top of a fatty. It’s page one, lesson one in the Misadventures of an Awkward Chubby Girl Chronicles. But when the bully with the cutting insults and snide remarks is one—or both—of your parents, it’s not the same as another kid. It’s worse. 

On one hand, Breanna Boden is an amazing inspiration. After reaching a weight of 186 pounds, the 9-year-old girl embarked on a healthy lifestyle overhaul and has lost an incredible 66 pounds in the past year. She is the poster child for what we want to show every overweight child in America -- it can be done with healthy eating habits and exercise. And good for her for doing it.

After facing bullying from peers and problems keeping up with her friends, her mother, Heidi Bond, decided something had to be done. She told Good Morning America that they had Breanna tested for everything from thyroid to diabetes to allergies, and everything was normal. Even though she reached 100 pounds by kindergarten, her pediatrician "always said that she'd grow into her body," but after awhile Heidi knew that wouldn't be the case. So she designed her own exercise and eating program for Breanna. And it worked.

It's been said that money is the root of all evil, and while that may be a stretch, researchers say it could be the root of peanut allergies for some children. In a recent study they found that children from high income families were more likely to have peanut allergies than those from lower income families.

According a press release in allergist, researchers looked at 8,200 patients. They found that in children between ages 1 through 9 there was greater rate of peanut sensitivities in those who came from higher income households. Economic status did not seem to be related to those who developed the allergy later in life, but boys and racial minorities in general had higher rates of peanut allergies.

So what's money got to do with it?

If I’ve noticed it, I know you’ve had to notice it, too. Girls sure are more… buxom nowadays, aren’t they? As I mentioned in a post yesterday, I was a substitute teacher in Baltimore for a period while I figured out if I was going to finish grad school or move to New York and become an award-winning journalist. (I ultimately ended up doing neither. Womp womp.) I was assigned to elementary and high schools, and they had something in common—the girls were taller, shapelier, more statuesque than I was, even in heels and a Body by Victoria special. There is something to be said about these girls developing early, though. Too early. Like an 8-year-old girl getting her period early.

Was this morning a little rough getting your little ghosts and goblins roused for school? In our house the Halloween sugar hangover was palpable, even though the kids were still requesting candy for breakfast (hair of the dog?). From the class parties at school to the last pieces of candy popped before bed, I knew they ate a lot of sugar yesterday. But I didn’t really know how much it was. And I bet you didn’t either.

What seem to be a few Milky Ways here and several sacks of Skittles there really add up … to an ungodly amount of calories. Talk about seriously scary — The Consumerist reports that the average kid eats between 3,500 – 7,000 on Halloween night. I know.

Some kids in Washington deserve nothing short of an A+ for their recent push to get school cancelled on the day after Halloween. With their school’s carnival and trick-treating, October 31 is a big night, and the fourth graders at Calvary Christian School knew the following Thursday would be a tough day to tough it out in school. So they decided it would be best if there was no school to cope with in the sugary aftermath.

They didn’t just whine about it, however, they took action. Cavan Bower, 10, told the Huffington Post that after he told his friends about his idea to try and get it officially cancelled that day, it sparked a massive petition and letter-writing campaign. 

Oh for cute -- Honey Boo Boo just tried "real" sketti for the first time in her life! She and Mama June went to a fancy-pants restaurant in Beverly Hills called Villa Blanca. Did we mention it's owned by Real Housewives' Lisa Vanderpump? It's reality TV magic right here, folks! Check out the adorable gif People made of Alana slurping up spaghetti noodles with glee.

Whether you think Honey Boo Boo is the Fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse or just a harmless little kid, you have to admit: These photos of her eating spaghetti are just pure joy. Who cares if she's using her fingers? Isn't that how we should all be eating it?

Well, this is just ridiculous! A lunch lady at a school in Sweden was actually reprimanded by administrators for serving food that was "too good."

At lunchtime, Annika Eriksson used to serve students freshly baked bread and an assortment of up to 15 vegetables. Sounds delicious, right? Apparently not! Eriksson came under fire by school officials because they said her meals are so yummy that it's "unfair" to other schools with less appetizing cafeteria food.

Huh?!