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

Pre-school

buddhasmommy

Recommended Posts

buddhasmommy Newbie
buddhasmommy
Posted

Hello all. I'm new here, and I'm new to this lifestyle! My 3 yr old has been confirmed to be Gluten intolerant (at the least). I told her pre-school all about the situation and they nicely said that I'll need to bring all of her lunch and snacks from here on out. Is that reasonable? And the first day since I talked to them and provided her food, I picked her up to find all the kids eating Cheerios which were scattered about the tables, and she had some carrots (Great!!), but she had managed to eat at least a few pieces of cereal....it was on her breath and in her mouth. So how do you all handle matters outside of the home such as these? Thanks

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


darlindeb25 Collaborator
darlindeb25
Posted

As of yet, the school probably isnt required to provide food for special diets. As for the cherrios, buy your child some gluten free cherrios to have when the others are having them--just make it very specific to the school that the child must have just her own cherrios and no one elses. If a child is given the choice between carrots and what everyone else is having, of course she will want theirs. Ask what the snacks will be so you can send for your daughter something similiar. Their telling you that you must bring your own food in may not be reasonable, but it's your child's safety at issue here and you may just feel better sending her own food. Deb

mmaccartney Explorer
mmaccartney
Posted
Hello all. I'm new here, and I'm new to this lifestyle! My 3 yr old has been confirmed to be Gluten intolerant (at the least). I told her pre-school all about the situation and they nicely said that I'll need to bring all of her lunch and snacks from here on out. Is that reasonable? And the first day since I talked to them and provided her food, I picked her up to find all the kids eating Cheerios which were scattered about the tables, and she had some carrots (Great!!), but she had managed to eat at least a few pieces of cereal....it was on her breath and in her mouth. So how do you all handle matters outside of the home such as these? Thanks

I think it is totally reasonable for them to ask you to bring meals and snacks from here on out.

We did this for our children in pre school. Now that the oldest is entering school we have him on a 504 plan. It is for his peanut allergy, not celiac though it can still be applicable. we will always supply their meals and snacks. I actually prefer it that way, there is less risk for them if we provide their meals.

As far as the others eating gluten food and yours getting ahold of it. You need to train her to not eat food if it did not come from you. You can only expect so much from the "real world". My boys will not eat food that we have not given them, at one school function someone was trying to give him a piece of cheese pizza, and he firmly told them NO, I cannot have that.

CarlaB Enthusiast
CarlaB
Posted

I think it's reasonable for them to have you bring your own food.

I would stress with them that she has a serious food intolerance and ask them what they can do so that there are not Cheerios all over the place for her to eat. If they do not have a satisfactory solution, I would find another preschool that takes her intolerance seriously. If your child is in pre-school, she is too young to expect to have the self-control or understanding to not eat food lying around.

I would find out what snack they are serving so that you can provide a similar one.

mamatide Enthusiast
mamatide
Posted
Hello all. I'm new here, and I'm new to this lifestyle! My 3 yr old has been confirmed to be Gluten intolerant (at the least). I told her pre-school all about the situation and they nicely said that I'll need to bring all of her lunch and snacks from here on out. Is that reasonable? And the first day since I talked to them and provided her food, I picked her up to find all the kids eating Cheerios which were scattered about the tables, and she had some carrots (Great!!), but she had managed to eat at least a few pieces of cereal....it was on her breath and in her mouth. So how do you all handle matters outside of the home such as these? Thanks

Well, actually, I prefer to bring in my DD's meals at preschool - that way I know for sure that it's been prepared carefully (read: no cross-contamination) and all ingredients were inspected carefully. It's no picnic for them either. They had to be vigilant that the other kids weren't reaching in to Kate's lunch all the time (she was getting glutened by their crumby hands). But of course her lunch was always more exciting because she was the only one eating different foods.

I did make an effort to send her gluten-free animal crackers and cheerio-type cereals because I knew they ate that stuff all the time and it would be less of an attraction.

I taught her to wipe off her table and usually gave her her own plate to eat off of - she learned not to eat anything that dropped onto the crumby table.

I'm so glad preschool is done for the summer - yesterday, on her last day, after playing play-doh (Kate washes her hands twice after playing in it) another kid stuck her finger in Kate's mouth (probably accidentally but who knows?) and sure enough, she's had D and cramps all last night and today. PITA to say the least.

Anyway, short answer is that I think it's completely acceptable for them to insist that you bring in your own food.

Good luck - it's not easy sometimes.

VydorScope Proficient
VydorScope
Posted
Well, actually, I prefer to bring in my DD's meals at preschool - that way I know for sure that it's been prepared carefully (read: no cross-contamination) and all ingredients were inspected carefully. It's no picnic for them either. They had to be vigilant that the other kids weren't reaching in to Kate's lunch all the time (she was getting glutened by their crumby hands). But of course her lunch was always more exciting because she was the only one eating different foods.

I agree we send all of our son's food in, always and everywhere he might go.

wonkabar Contributor
wonkabar
Posted

It is 100% reasonable for the preschool to ask that you send in appropriate snacks for your daughter. The district we live in will not provide snacks for any of the preschoolers due food allergies and such. I honestly prefer it this way. I also think it's 100% reasonable for you to ask the preschool staff to be cognizent of your daughter's dietary issues and act accordingly...I say that both as a parent of a 3 y/o in preschool who is wildly intolerant to gluten AND as a teacher.

That being said, I would give the teacher's/aide's very specific information about gluten intolerance/Celiac Disease and nicely, but firmly lay out your expectations. It sounds like they just need to be educated about her dietary issues in order to understand the seriousness of it all. If you let them see that you're educated about this and willing to openly discuss it, it should lend itself to them asking questions. My son's teacher often asks questions. In fact, I just sent her a link to the Q and A section of this website! She's already emailed me with a couple of questions! Good luck!!

--Kristy :)

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Guest nini
Guest nini
Posted

I sent all my daughter's food for pre school... her school was extremely supportive because they saw the tremendous difference in her before gluten free and after gluten free... feel free to e-mail me to ask any questions... I'd be glad to share what worked with us, my e-mail is nisla@comcast.net I'd go into detail tonight but I've been out all day at a health fair doing spinal screenings and I'm exhausted.

Satori Newbie
Satori
Posted

I agree with the others, I sent in all my dd's food as well. Were home schooling now but for preschool/daycare I sent in her food every day.

kenyonsmommy Rookie
kenyonsmommy
Posted

My daughter, who is not celiac, just "graduated" from preschool last week and at the school party I spoke with her teacher about when we send our son, who is celiac, to school in about a year. She told me that she would keep a small bin in the back with a variety of snacks that I could bring in, then she would just match up as best she could to what the others were eating. Also, for birthdays, she would give me a heads up so I could make something special for Kenyon. I figured that I would send a variety of things in small zip locked baggies, so they stay fresh, such as pretzels and crackers, also snack puddings. I'll also keep some things in the freezer, like I do now, such as mini muffins to bring on occasion.

I figure communication is the key, lots of it.

Archived

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

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


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,549
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Blough
    Newest Member
    Blough
    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.