School Cafeteria Lunches

[OBXMom]

Our elementary school prepares gluten free meals for my son. I believe they do so in compliance with disability laws, and I wanted to share our positive experience.

We recently moved and enrolled my children in a new school system. My 4th grade son had never eaten school lunches in the past - he was extremely picky due to his painful experiences with food, and the odds of him eating anything on the menu was slim. On the monthly menus that came home from his past school, there was a statement about who to contact if different meals were medically necessary, but I never called. He has come a long way with his pickiness, so I called the new school cafeteria when we moved to see if they have any gluten free menus. I was referred to the nutritionist who told me there is a three week cycle of gluten free meals, and she emailed it to me. She was extremely knowledgeable about cross contamination issues, and she and I have both talked a lot to the school cafeteria manager. Now I just email every couple of weeks the days that my son will be eating, and his meals are ready for him. He tells me the server changes gloves before she gets his meal from the heater and hands it to him. There are some foods on the menu my son won't eat, so he packs a lunch those days. The nutritionist would change the menu cycle to all things he likes, but he likes to bring his lunch some days. Even though no one else in the school requires gluten-free meals, they purchase gluten-free bread and sometimes cookies for him. It has been an extremely positive experience for my son. He is excited about eating at school, the cafeteria workers are extra nice to him, and it is helping him eat a wider diet.

Does anyone else have a school cafeteria that will prepare gluten free meals? Our school would also prepare gluten-free breakfast for my son, but we haven't chosen to take advantage of that. I hope more and more schools will make this an option.

[kbtoyssni]

Awww, that's fantastic! Sounds like you found yourself a great school.

[philanderr]

No, there is no such facility in our school. I study in a govt. school and that's why I have not faced any such problem.

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[luvs2eat]

I don't have kids in school anymore, but just wanted to say... WOW, am I impressed by the way your son's school is accommodating him. Those people (nutritionist and cafeteria peeps) deserve some kind of awards!! Maybe peeps here having to deal w/ these school issues can call your son's school and see how implementing a plan in their schools would be a great help!!

[MaryannG]

I don't have kids in school anymore, but just wanted to say... WOW, am I impressed by the way your son's school is accommodating him. Those people (nutritionist and cafeteria peeps) deserve some kind of awards!! Maybe peeps here having to deal w/ these school issues can call your son's school and see how implementing a plan in their schools would be a great help!!

[MaryannG]

That is wonderful that your school is so good! Everyone should be aware that the law MANDATES that kids should be able to get a gluten free meal in school. This goes beyond a salad or rice cakes. It should be a hot meal and meet the nutritional requirements. At our celiac meeting a woman from DC came and spoke about the legislation that passed for this. Unfornately people don't know this and don't require it. I am so happy to hear how well your situation is, and when my daughter starts elementary school I hope mine is the same. I will definitely fight for it until I get it. Wonderful news to share though!