Allergen-free snack list for your school?

[Ladybug]

Valentine celerations were a mess yesterday. I still have parents disregarding our guildlines to not send in food with trace amounts of nut exposure and I had several students that were left out of the main snacks. I'm putting together a safe food list that will limit/specify exactly what food can be sent in for class parties and birthday snacks.

Do you have a safe foods list at your school that you can share with me? I'm starting at ground zero.

TIA!

[migirl]

I have one at home, I'll find it and post it when I get back.

[HouseofWool]

I don't have a list, but my nephew has a severe peanut allergy and some of his favs are:

Oreos (these are dairy free as well - eewwwww)
Goldfish
Pretzels
Wheat Thins

[scrub-jay]

Nothing can really be allergen-free unless you tailor it to the allergies of the students in the classroom. The most common allergens (90% of allergies are to one of these) are: dairy, egg, peanut, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat, and soy. Anyone can have a severe allergy to anything however. If you tried to eliminate all of these from classroom snacks, you would have no classroom snacks. Peanut/Treenut allergies tend to be the most severe, but goldfish crackers can cause anaphylaxis in a child allergic to dairy for example. I'd start by avoiding peanut/treenut and then tailor the list to the classroom needs. If that is not possible, ask that parents only bring in store-bought snacks with clear labels and have alternate snacks for the allergic kids. (Even graham crackers can have milk in them for example).

[Ladybug]

One of our conscientious parents sent these in yesterday. She ordered them off amazon for the valentine party. They are gluten, milk, egg, peanut and tree nut free. An incredible feat. Of course I'm partial to the name too.

http://www.drlucys.com/about

I hear what you're saying regarding tailoring to specific allergens. I do have one classroom though with severe dairy, egg, and peanut and tree nut allergies. We've tried to allow parents some discretion regarding their classroom's specific allergies, but they've been fumbling the ball lately. I was curious has how schools approached it so I appreiciate the feedback.

I did get the safe snack list faxed from DD's old preschool; however, it's ladened with processed foods I like this blog blurb and her safe snack list so I've forwarded to our LS director along with all the other safe snack lists and we'll put our heads together. Some allergy kids parents are better about supplying supplemental snacks than others, but I think they all need to be reminded again.

http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/201...0%93-nut-free/

[Pollyanna]

My guess is that if your child does not have food allergies you just have no idea how many food items can cause problems for these children. Rather than everyone bringing in different items it would seem easier to have one parent handle the food that understands the dietary restrictions of the class and then everyone just donate money, handle decorations, games, etc. No matter how many lists are go out some people just won't get the severity of food allergies.

[scrub-jay]

My guess is that if your child does not have food allergies you just have no idea how many food items can cause problems for these children. Rather than everyone bringing in different items it would seem easier to have one parent handle the food that understands the dietary restrictions of the class and then everyone just donate money, handle decorations, games, etc. No matter how many lists are go out some people just won't get the severity of food allergies.

This. There is a reason that my MPH focus is food allergy awareness. Unless you have lived it, there is no awareness for IgE-mediated severe allergies. There is frequent confusion with food sensitivities (such as lactose intolerance) and food preferences (such as no red meat). These are not the same... an IgE-mediated allergy can result in death, just like a bee sting.

[Ladybug]

That's an interesting suggestion. I'll bring it up with my LS director.

I'm tempted to nix birthday snacks completely. Is everyone sending in snacks to school on their kids' birthdays?

[scrub-jay]

That's an interesting suggestion. I'll bring it up with my LS director.

I'm tempted to nix birthday snacks completely. Is everyone sending in snacks to school on their kids' birthdays?

Nope. I wish we didn't do them, bc every single time there is a bday, I have to bake something the night before so dd isn't left out.

[Pollyanna]

Our school limits class parties to 1 per month but kids still bring in goodies, they just have to be store bought (still doesn't help with allergies though). The school we are looking at in TN has no parties but prepares special birthday bags for the birthday kid to pick up in the office. So the kiddos still get recognized but you avoid class disruption and allergy issues.

[migirl]

I scanned the snack list into my computer, but can't figure out how to upload the images into this thread. Ladybug, if you PM me your email address (I tried to PM the snack list to you, but can't figure that out either ), I'll email it to you.

Our elementary school is nut-free, so the snacks listed are all nut-free but - of course - that doesn't help the kids who have other allergies. DS's kindergarten class has a child with an egg allergy, and his mom has to send in a separate treat for him just about every time.

[SuzySunshine]

At A's school they don't do parties but we sign up for snack so if you'd like to sign up for snack around your child's birthday and send something special you can.