Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

New School For Seventh Grader -- Ideas On How To Prepare

ImaMiriam

Recommended Posts

ImaMiriam Apprentice
ImaMiriam
Posted

Hi Everyone,

 

My daughter, who was diagnosed Celiac in late April (2013) had been attending a private Day School for a few years. Before her diagnosis, I saw a decline in her eating (due to her stomach aches, duh!) and the last months of school in the spring were very difficult. In particular, she wasn't eating much of her lunch (sometimes she didn't eat any of it!) I decided to move her back to public school primarily because the Day School is a 40-minute bus ride (each way!) from our home. The public school is 3-5 miles away.

 

I'd love to hear from those of you who have children this age -- she's 11 and will be 12 in a few months. Specifically, I'm concerned about finding ways to make lunch attractive again to her (so that she eats more), and possibly finding a way to motivate her to eat a snack each morning (while at school).

 

Usually we eat a good breakfast before she leaves for school. She is about 10 lbs underweight and her doctor wants her to eat 5 meals a day. I've started making green smoothies as our afternoon snack. I love these -- and she sometimes likes them. She used to enjoy eating and now is afraid of stomach aches.

 

Also, what about hand-washing? I saw in another Topic Thread that perhaps one should have a 504 Plan....and include that she must be allowed to go wash her hands at a sink, at any time she wishes. Does anyone have verbiage for a 504 plan, for any and all recommended Celiac issues for a seventh grader?

 

I look forward to hearing from other moms/dads about this important topic, as school starts soon! Her first day is Friday, September 6. :-)

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

I don't have to deal with a 504 plan as my daughter hasn't been diagnosed.  But, I can comment on fun and good things to eat that I pack for my daughter and it's typically gluten free.   She's in the 7th grade (two weeks so far) and there are no lockers.   Therefore, she must haul her lunch, water bottle and snack around.  The teachers highly recommended that the kids bring their lunch since there's so much confusion the first couple of weeks.  Our district in general has terrible lunches!  Yuck!  So, my daughter's been bringing her lunch since the first grade!  

 

Middle school is a little tough.  Since she must haul her lunch, we try to pack light.  But, I still send her off with a thermos (stored in a soft lunch bag) which may contain:

 

  • gluten-free taquitos
  • gluten-free Tamales
  • Chili (that I make)
  • Meatloaf (made with rice)
  • Corn pasta with butter and parm cheese
  • gluten-free mac and cheese
  • Cheese slices or cheese stick/ham/turkey
  • Chicken a la King on mashed potatoes

 

 

Separate bag with Blue Ice:

 

  • Yogurt -- Soy or Cow
  • Fruit
  • Salad Bowl w/ Grilled chicken
  • Veggie:  carrot sticks, cucumber, soy beans (endaname), celery w/ peanutbutter
  • Dessert:  gluten-free cookie, cupcake, brownie 
  • Pirate's Booty or Cheese Puffs (gluten-free) or Corn chips

 

Everyday, she gets a veggie and a fruit.  Always a protein, so if she takes noodles, I give her a slice of cheese or a container of peanut butter for her celery or apples.

 

Sometimes, she takes goodies that friends bake since they know I don't bake anything but gluten-free.  

 

She used to take milk, but chose the smaller blue ice and I worried that it would spoil or worse spill in her backpack.  

 

I'm the queen of freezing.  I can't live without my extra freezer in the garage.  

 

Nutrition is a banana, apple, corn chips, fruit leathers, stuffed in her outside backpack pocket.

 

Hope this helps!

Juliebove Rising Star
Juliebove
Posted

Yes, she should have a 504 plan.  I found a lot less food issues when my daughter was in Jr. High but...  They were required to use wheat pasta to build a car in science class.  And because they used wagon wheel shapes, I couldn't just send in gluten-free pasta.

 

As for the eating...  Good luck with that!  This is the age where girls in particular, do not want to eat at school.  My daughter tells me that the other kids don't eat so she doesn't want to either.  The best I could do with her was get her to take some baby carrots or apple slices to school.  But she is overweight.  And that presents its own problems. 

 

I just try to make sure that she eats well before and after school.

Mizzo Enthusiast
Mizzo
Posted

Yes, she should have a 504 plan.  I found a lot less food issues when my daughter was in Jr. High but...  They were required to use wheat pasta to build a car in science class.  And because they used wagon wheel shapes, I couldn't just send in gluten-free pasta.

 

As for the eating...  Good luck with that!  This is the age where girls in particular, do not want to eat at school.  My daughter tells me that the other kids don't eat so she doesn't want to either.  The best I could do with her was get her to take some baby carrots or apple slices to school.  But she is overweight.  And that presents its own problems. 

 

I just try to make sure that she eats well before and after school.

My DD is entering 5th grade and I just finished our 504 plan which we will present in a couple of weeks. She is also dx hashimota's disease, overweight and doesn't eat any veggies except carrots and only 4 fruits ,which is proving difficult if damn near impossible to control her weight and constipation issue's.  I have included in my 504 the option to use a safe microwave which I will purchase if necessary, I am hopeful this will provide options we never had before.

ImaMiriam Apprentice
ImaMiriam
Posted
  • Author

Thanks, All, for the ideas -- it helps me get started. Does anyone know a good place to buy small lunch thermos? In the spring, when I tossed all of our "gluten-contaminated" plastics including thermoses, my husband only bought one and he said it was overly expensive. I haven't started looking -- ideally I guess I'll order online.

 

Also, what size thermos do you recommend? I'm thinking that if I can find something fairly small, my daughter usually loves to bring leftovers. And if she eats it all, even if it's a small portion, I'll feel happy. Last year she threw away the majority of her food. :-(

 

I'm also trying to find ways to encourage eating and make meals more exciting. With my daughter home with me all summer, I haven't had much time to myself or to do much planning. I'm hoping that once she's in school, I'll have time and space to be a bit more creative.

 

I'm not sure how to start on a 504 Plan. Do you contact the school first, or is there a form online? I'll need to get Doctor's signature as well, right?

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,547
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    gizmo1jazz2
    Newest Member
    gizmo1jazz2
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Taken Seriously

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Your post demonstrates the profound frustration and isolation that so many in the Celiac community feel, and I want to thank you for channeling that experience into advocacy. The medical gaslighting you endured for decades is an unacceptable and, sadly, a common story, and the fact that you now have to "school" your own GI specialist speaks volumes about the critical lack of consistent and updated education. Your idea to make Celiac Disease a reportable condition to public health authorities is a compelling and strategic one. This single action would force the system to formally acknowledge the prevalence and seriousness of the disease, creating a concrete dataset that could drive better research funding, shape medical school curricula, and validate the patient experience in a way that individual stories alone often cannot. It is an uphill battle, but contacting representatives, as you have done with Adam Gray, is exactly how change begins. By framing it as a public health necessity—a matter of patient safety and protection from misdiagnosis and neglect—you are building a powerful case. Your voice and your perseverance, forged through thirty years of struggle, are exactly what this community needs to ensure that no one else has to fight so hard just to be believed and properly cared for.
    • Scott Adams
      Looking for a gluten-free roomie in Denver CO

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I had no idea there is a "Louisville" in Colorado!😉 I thought it was a typo because I always think of the Kentucky city--but good luck!
    • Scott Adams
      Allergy medication: cetirizine by the HealthA2Z is it gluten free?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Navigating medication safety with Celiac disease can be incredibly stressful, especially when dealing with asthma and severe allergies on top of it. While I don't have personal experience with the HealthA2Z brand of cetirizine, your caution is absolutely warranted. The inactive ingredients in pills, known as excipients, are often where gluten can be hidden, and since the FDA does not require gluten-free labeling for prescription or over-the-counter drugs, the manufacturer's word is essential. The fact that you cannot get a clear answer from Allegiant Health is a significant red flag; a company that is confident its product is gluten-free will typically have a customer service protocol to answer that exact question. In situations like this, the safest course of action is to consider this product "guilty until proven innocent" and avoid it. A better alternative would be to ask your pharmacist or doctor to help you identify a major national brand of cetirizine (like Zyrtec) whose manufacturer has a verified, publicly stated gluten-free policy for that specific medication. It's not worth the risk to your health when reliable, verifiable options are almost certainly available to you. You can search this site for USA prescriptions medications, but will need to know the manufacturer/maker if there is more than one, especially if you use a generic version of the medication: To see the ingredients you will need to click on the correct version of the medication and maker in the results, then scroll down to "Ingredients and Appearance" and click it, and then look at "Inactive Ingredients," as any gluten ingredients would likely appear there, rather than in the Active Ingredients area. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/   
    • Scott Adams
      Protein or fat?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      What you're describing is indeed familiar to many in the Celiac community, especially in the early stages of healing. When the intestinal villi are damaged from Celiac disease, they struggle to properly digest and absorb fats, a condition known as bile acid malabsorption. This can cause exactly the kind of cramping and spasms you're seeing, as undigested fats can irritate the sensitive gut lining. It is highly plausible that her reactions to dairy and eggs are linked to their higher fat content rather than the proteins, especially since she tolerates lean chicken breast. The great news is that for many, this does improve with time. As her gut continues to heal on a strict gluten-free diet, her ability to produce the necessary enzymes and bile to break down fats should gradually return, allowing her to slowly tolerate a wider variety of foods. It's a slow process of healing, but your careful approach of focusing on low-fat, nutrient-dense foods like seeds and avocado is providing her system the best possible environment to recover. Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months. Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal. This article may be helpful: Thank you for sharing your story—it's a valuable insight for other parents navigating similar challenges.
    • Beverage
      Diagnosed celiac for 1-2 months ago and everything makes me bloated.

      By Beverage · Posted

      I had a very rough month after diagnosis. No exaggeration, lost so much inflammatory weight, I looked like a bag of bones, underneath i had been literally starving to death. I did start feeling noticeably better after a month of very strict control of my kitchen and home. What are you eating for breakfast and lunch? I ignored my doc and ate oats, yes they were gluten free, but some brands are at the higher end of gluten free. Lots of celics can eat Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats, but not me. I can now eat them, but they have to be grown and processed according to the "purity protocol" methods. I mail order them, Montana Gluten-Free brand. A food and symptoms and activities log can be helpful in tracking down issues. You might be totally aware, but I have to mention about the risk of airborne gluten. As the doc that diagnosed me warned . . Remember eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all lead to your stomach and intestines.  Are you getting any cross contamination? Airborne gluten? Any pets eating gluten (they eat it, lick themselves, you pet them...)? Any house remodeling? We live in an older home, always fixing something. I've gotten glutened from the dust from cutting into plaster walls, possibly also plywood (glues). The suggestions by many here on vitamin supplements also really helped me. I had some lingering allergies and asthma, which are now 99% gone. I was taking Albuterol inhaler every hour just to breathe, but thiamine in form of benfotiamine kicked that down to 1-2 times a day within a few days of starting it. Also, since cutting out inflammatory seed oils (canola, sunflower, grapeseed, etc) and cooking with real olive oil, avocado oil, ghee, and coconut oil, I have noticed even greater improvement overall and haven't used the inhaler in months! It takes time to weed out everything in your life that contains gluten, and it takes awhile to heal and rebuild your health. At first it's mentally exhausting, overwhelming, even obsessive, but it gets better and second nature.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.