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

School Cafeteria Lunches

OBXMom

Recommended Posts

OBXMom Explorer
OBXMom
Posted

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.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


kbtoyssni Contributor
kbtoyssni
Posted

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

philanderr Newbie
philanderr
Posted

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.

Open Original Shared Link

luvs2eat Collaborator
luvs2eat
Posted

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 Rookie
MaryannG
Posted

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 Rookie
MaryannG
Posted

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!

Archived

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

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. KathyR37
      - KathyR37 replied to KathyR37's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      2

      New here

      Thank you for your response. I have already learned about the info you sent but i appreciate your effort. I am the only one in my family cursed by this disease. I have to cook for them too. I make sure that my utensils are free of gluten and clean after using them for other food. I use non-porous pots and pans and gloves when cooking for them. One huge problem...
    2. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to KathyR37's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      2

      New here

      What you've described—the severe weight loss, the cycle of medications making things worse, and the profound fear of eating before leaving the house—is a heavy burden to carry for 15 years. It is absolutely not your fault. While everyone's journey with celiac is different, the struggles with the learning curve, social isolation, and dietary grief are fee...
    3. KathyR37
      - KathyR37 posted a topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      2

      New here

      I am new here but celiac disease is not new to me. I was diagnosed with it at age 60. At the time I weighed a whopping 89 pounds. I was so ignorant to celiac so I buried myself in learning all about it and looking for food I could eat. I lost so much weight and stayed sick all the time. So to combat the sickness I was give all sorts of meds for loose bowels...
    4. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Colleen H's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      3

      Celiac attack confusion and anxiety

      This article, and the comments below it, may be helpful:
    5. Scott Adams
      0

      Coconut Macaroon Sandwiches (Gluten-Free)

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,808
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    MoonBear
    Newest Member
    MoonBear
    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

    • KathyR37
      New here

      By KathyR37 · Posted

      Thank you for your response. I have already learned about the info you sent but i appreciate your effort. I am the only one in my family cursed by this disease. I have to cook for them too. I make sure that my utensils are free of gluten and clean after using them for other food. I use non-porous pots and pans and  gloves when cooking for them. One huge problem I have is a gag reflex out of this world and if something doesn't taste good it is not going down. Most commercially made breads and such taste like old cardboard.Pastas are about the same. I did find one flour that I like and use it regularly, but it is so expensive! All gluten free food is way more expensive. I only eat twice a day because I cannot afford to buy all that. We live on a very low income so my food purchases are quite limited.
    • Scott Adams
      New here

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      What you've described—the severe weight loss, the cycle of medications making things worse, and the profound fear of eating before leaving the house—is a heavy burden to carry for 15 years. It is absolutely not your fault. While everyone's journey with celiac is different, the struggles with the learning curve, social isolation, and dietary grief are feelings many in the community know all too well. Your question about whether you should just eat what you want and manage the symptoms is a heartbreaking one, born from years of frustration. It's crucial to know that the diarrhea is a sign of ongoing damage to your small intestine from gluten, and simply managing the symptom with Imodium doesn't stop that internal harm or the risk of other complications. The fact that you are still getting sick within an hour of eating, even while trying to be gluten-free, is a huge red flag that something isn't right. This could be due to cross-contamination in your kitchen (e.g., using a shared toaster, colander, or condiment jars), hidden gluten in foods, or the possibility of another concurrent condition like refractory celiac disease. Don't give up!  This article has some detailed information on how to be 100% gluten-free, so it may be helpful (be sure to also read the comments section.):    
    • KathyR37
      New here

      By KathyR37 · Posted

      I am new here but celiac disease is not new to me. I was diagnosed with it at age 60. At the time I weighed a whopping 89 pounds. I was so ignorant to celiac so I buried myself in learning all about it and looking for food I could eat. I lost so much weight and stayed sick all the time. So to combat the sickness I was give all sorts of meds for loose bowels and vomiting. All that just made me sicker. Eventually I chucked it all and went back to eating like I had all my life. Now I am from the south and biscuits and gravy are a big part of our food, as are breaded foods, pasta, and sandwich bread. Through the years I would try to do the gluten free thing again and am doing it now. It has not helped any. Within and hour of eating I have to run to the bathroom. I am now 75 and am wondering if I should just forget it and eat what I like, take Immodium and live the best I can. I cannot eat before going anywhere for fear of embarrassing myself. Family and church dinners are out of the question unless I eat and run straight home. I am so frustrated I just want to sit down and cry or throw something. Does everyone go through all this?
    • Scott Adams
      Celiac attack confusion and anxiety

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      This article, and the comments below it, may be helpful:    
    • nanny marley
      Manitol and mri

      By nanny marley · Posted

      Oh yes I can understand the tiredness after going threw all that, must be exhausting especially on the mind I have high aniexty so I can understand that , I wish there more easier ways for people to get help , I had a MRI on my spine some years ago without anything it was really quick and no prep , I understand the need for  them to see better with the bowel ,but you think they would use something a little less traumatic  for ibd sufferers on the bowels by now ,I hope your feeling better today 🙏
×
×
  • 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.