What Do You Do For Lunches?

[prinsessa]

My son is starting daycare soon. I am nervous about the whole thing since he has never really been away from me with anyone but family. My daughter did great in daycare, but she was younger when she started and was more independent than he is. We will have a meeting with the daycare next Monday and I will tell them about the gluten intolerance thing. The thing is that I'm sure most of the lunches are not ok for him to eat. Do other parents make lunches everyday for their gluten free kids? And does the daycare give you a list of what the lunches will be for the week? I know he will not be happy if he doesn't have the same thing as the other kids. And how do you make sure the your kids don't grab other kids foods? Thanks for any advice!

[MySuicidalTurtle]

You can certainly pack his own lunches and that won't be odd at all. Making sure he won't eat other kids food is something you have to talk to the adults there, and your kid, about. Good luck to him!

[shayesmom]

My son is starting daycare soon. I am nervous about the whole thing since he has never really been away from me with anyone but family. My daughter did great in daycare, but she was younger when she started and was more independent than he is. We will have a meeting with the daycare next Monday and I will tell them about the gluten intolerance thing. The thing is that I'm sure most of the lunches are not ok for him to eat. Do other parents make lunches everyday for their gluten free kids? And does the daycare give you a list of what the lunches will be for the week? I know he will not be happy if he doesn't have the same thing as the other kids. And how do you make sure the your kids don't grab other kids foods? Thanks for any advice!

My dd is only in pre-school twice a week. The teacher provides me with the monthly snack menu and I then circle the things which are okay for my dd to have (there are very few as my dd has multiple food intolerances). From that point, I spend a weekend baking up similar treats (or buying them if available) and I give it to the teacher to store in the school freezer and refrigerator. I also stock up some extras goodies and treats for special occasions and holidays. That way, if my dd is not in the mood for a particular item, she has other options.

When kindergarten begins, I plan on packing dd a lunch every day. I don't really worry about her grabbing other kids' food as I've really been working with her on staying away from foods which are not safe. She is recognizing labels of certain things which she can have and is very verbal in reminding teachers/staff of her allergens. It also helps that she's had a few exposures to problematic foods which really made her sick (a blessing in disguise as she now knows that there's NO cheating on this).

The best thing that you can do is provide a nice variety of food for lunch and ask your child for his opinion on what he wants to have. Start him thinking about healthy foods which he can bring and let him know that he does have some control over how he ends up feeling. I spend my time in the kitchen with my dd showing her safe foods and ingredients. We have lots of discussions about food and I try to take at least 2 days per week with her baking or otherwise preparing special treats/recipes. She loves this and it gives her a great background in what she can and cannot have. And dd is only 3 1/2. It is never too early to work on empowering your child.

Good luck!

[Fiddle-Faddle]

I don't know if this is feasible for you, but when I started my kids in daycare, I went with them for a couple of hours every day for the whole week before they started for real. That way, it seemed to them (or so I thought) like a safe, familiar place where they already had had some fun times, and they knew the teachers a bit.

When I had to actually leave them there, I tried to time it so that it was at a meal time (so I actually took them about half an hour earlier than I needed to), so that they would have their food in front of them (and hopefully going into their mouths) when I left. That way, they felt like a basic need was already being met, and they didn't fuss too much when I left.

Good luck!

[GFmum]

Gee it's a tough time but I would suggest that the first thing you do is talk to your son about the fact that he can't eat some foods just like other children can't eat nuts, egg, etc which makes them sick. And that some have to have medicines or need wheel chairs etc to live normally. There's so many kids these days with intolerances, allergies, etc there's bound to be others who have restrictions. Then he doesn't feel singled out. If you're nervous about it then he will think there is something to be worried about. Kids pick up so much from us. If we're matter of fact about it (but natually worried sick inside) then they'll learn it's a part of life also and take it in their stride. I know it's easier said than done!

Always pack food but work with the staff on educating them about what they can provide also. This will take time. You'll find that other kids may become envious to what your son gets to eat! Use that to your advantage. I find how you approach the situation makes all the difference. Although it is easier said than done!!

All the best...

[mamatide]

My dd was in preschool last year and is in K this year. We pack her lunch and offer her a wide variety of small containers of food that she enjoys. She experiences some pretty immediate gastrointestinal symptoms if she consumes gluten so we're very confident that she will not be sneaking others' foods.

The thing that is the biggest issue for us is having the other kids touching her food. Especially in daycare/preschool, where the other kids are all eating the same old slop, er food, day after day, my dd's lunches are pretty attractive and quite tempting for the other kids. There are many a day when my dd will come home with containers of food untouched because as soon as she opened it up another kid (who was eating crackers or sandwiches at the time) just couldn't keep their grubby little fingers out of her lunch.

So you need to educate the staff to be watchful and to allow your child NOT to eat something that the other kids have touched if your child doesn't want to eat it. You have to empower your child to stand up to the others and tell them that if they touch your child's food, your child will become very ill.

Since my dd's lunches look a lot like the other kids' lunches, many of the others don't understand what the big deal is. A sandwich is a sandwich, right. Er, no.

So that's my $.02.

Good luck!

[geminigal]

My son is starting daycare soon. I am nervous about the whole thing since he has never really been away from me with anyone but family. My daughter did great in daycare, but she was younger when she started and was more independent than he is. We will have a meeting with the daycare next Monday and I will tell them about the gluten intolerance thing. The thing is that I'm sure most of the lunches are not ok for him to eat. Do other parents make lunches everyday for their gluten free kids? And does the daycare give you a list of what the lunches will be for the week? I know he will not be happy if he doesn't have the same thing as the other kids. And how do you make sure the your kids don't grab other kids foods? Thanks for any advice!

As a daycare provider myself I know that here in MN we can/should provide meals that fit with your child as long as he has a doctor's statement explaining why. If you don't have that then we legally cannot feed them different foods.

I have had lots of different diets come through here and I have either provided it myself or had parents bring their own meals and snacks. It is somewhat easier to me to have the parents bring in the food so I don't have to worry about making a mistake....which can and will probably happen when there are so many kids involved.

Stress how sick your daughter will get if she eats any thing with gluten and that will most likely help ensure that she doesn't get it because your daycare will probably not want to deal with any more poops or pukes than they have to.

[pinktulip]

I work in a day care and the only allergy we have right now is a peanut and all of our school lunches are peanut free. We do have a vegetarian and his parents do bring his lunches and I heat them up in a microwave. Though that poor little boy doesn't understand because his grandparents sneak him meat when he stays at their house so the whole it will make you sick doesn't work.

[GFmum]

Don't you just hate people who sabbotage what you're trying to do! I put it down to lack of education and selfishness. Thankfully being vegitarian isn't life threatening but the mixed messages that poor child is getting can scar him for life (as I'm sure its just an example of others).....grrrr glad I got that off my chest! sorry...I've gone a bit off topic.....

[kirst4588]

I pack lunch everyday for my son. It was easier when he was in preschool, as they had a microwave and would heat it up for him. That way I could fix a big batch of gluten-free macoroni and cheese etc, and portion it into ta-go tupperwares, and just put it in his lunchbox. Now at his 'big boy school' they don't heat it up. Which is a challenge. So I have to find things that don't need to be heated. Of course gluten-free pbjs work. I also send apples. gluten-free envirokid bars. Also, Hormel, and a few other manufacturers, are good about the labeling on their little peal off lid cans of lunch sized soups or chilis. Find some gluten-free ones and if your little guy will eat it room temp, you're all set.

good luck

My son is starting daycare soon. I am nervous about the whole thing since he has never really been away from me with anyone but family. My daughter did great in daycare, but she was younger when she started and was more independent than he is. We will have a meeting with the daycare next Monday and I will tell them about the gluten intolerance thing. The thing is that I'm sure most of the lunches are not ok for him to eat. Do other parents make lunches everyday for their gluten free kids? And does the daycare give you a list of what the lunches will be for the week? I know he will not be happy if he doesn't have the same thing as the other kids. And how do you make sure the your kids don't grab other kids foods? Thanks for any advice!

[mom-to-claire]

My son is starting daycare soon. I am nervous about the whole thing since he has never really been away from me with anyone but family. My daughter did great in daycare, but she was younger when she started and was more independent than he is. We will have a meeting with the daycare next Monday and I will tell them about the gluten intolerance thing. The thing is that I'm sure most of the lunches are not ok for him to eat. Do other parents make lunches everyday for their gluten free kids? And does the daycare give you a list of what the lunches will be for the week? I know he will not be happy if he doesn't have the same thing as the other kids. And how do you make sure the your kids don't grab other kids foods? Thanks for any advice!

my DD just started daycare this week. She is an infant so she doesn't know the difference. I was certain she had a gluten intolerance but now I think it might be more but don't know where to turn. She barely eats anything (and it is all gluten free and now we are trying lactose free) and is miserable all the time again. I tried to go gluten-free myself for a few weeks because we are still BF but it didn't make any difference.

I have been providing her lunches all this week and it has been fine but once she moves to the toddler room at 18 months, I am not sure what will happen. Now they all sit in high chairs and there is no chance of other kids touching her food. I hope by the time she moves up, we will have a better handle on. I am quite stressed about it so I'm not much help to you!

[trober]

Don't forget to send gluten-free playdough----My 4 year old didn't eat the school playdough but had it on her hands and forgot to wash before she ate her gluten-free lunch at preschool. You can get it at discountschoolsupply.com

I sent a list of foods that are safe and unsafe to the teachers to keep in the classroom. My daughter also has her Gluten- Free Snack Sack (thanks to the book Eating Gluten-free with Emily-- GREAT CHILDREN"S BOOK). It is a tupperware that we keep non-perishable snacks in. The teachers let her go to get whatever she wants at snack time, so I don't have to pack a snack everyday. I explained that it is treated like a peanut allergy- we are just lucky to not need epi-pens.

Good luck

Theresa

[mamatide]

Don't forget to send gluten-free playdough----

My DD was glutened by another kid who stuck her (playdoughed) finger in my DD's mouth.

Just do your best. My DD has been the best ever for the last two weeks, when she'd been home from school in our gluten-free house. I'm gearing up for more cc when school starts up again Monday.

[prinsessa]

Thanks for everyones replies! I will be making his foods most days and sending gluten-free snacks. We went there today and all the kids were eating snacks off of big plates that were on each table. I just hope he doesn't get upset that his snacks are a little different. I will try to get him things that are the same, but it is sometimes hard. It is hard enough to send your kids to daycare, but having to worry about them getting sick there because of the food makes it even harder