Pre-school

[Kasey'sMom]

Hi,

My dd is getting ready for pre-school and I'm trying to get information together for the director and teacher. They have dealt with food allergies but not celiac disease. The director dosen't know about celiac disease but is willing to help.

I was wondering what would be good information to give her so she could read up on celiac disease. I did find the "Understanding Your Student" from GIG and I thought I would send that. Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks

[Guest nini]

Open Original Shared Link

this site has some printable letters that also explain it well...

my daughter just started kindergarten, but we dealt with preschool for 2 years with the gluten free diet... If you need any suggestions just e-mail me! Nisla@comcast.net

[Kasey'sMom]

Thanks for the link....this is perfect!!! I've got a ton of questions.....I'll e-mail you tomorrow.

[Guest nini]

cool... I hope your preschool experience is as positive as ours was...

I printed out those letters for everyone at my daughter's school and I've gotten nothing but positive feedback on them... The school nurse said that I have handled this PERFECTLY and that even though I will probably need to remind people and send out new letters every year, at least I am prepared!

Her teacher today thanked me for all the stuff I have donated to the class (gluten free pasta noodles, gluten free playdough, other gluten free school supplies: finger paints, glues, etc) and I told her that I would provide anything that they need as far as replacements for gluten containing products go...

[rgeelan]

I wrote a detailed letter to his school explaining the disease and what it does and what he can and can not have. I even offered to loan my copy of Raising your Celiac Kids to my son's teachers. They didn't take me up on reading it but never hesitate to ask before giving him anything I didn't provide.

[Guest nini]

I thought of one really important thing...

It's never too early to start teaching your child to take responsibility for their diet. Even when she couldn't read I would get her to start looking at labels and she quickly learned to recognize the words "gluten free" and wheat. I still triple check everything for her of course, but it gives her a sense of control over it.

Let your child have a choice between what foods to pack for lunches and snacks. Start teaching them which brands are "typically" safe of their favorite foods, I'm constantly surprised by how much she recognizes. If the child feels like they have a sense of control over the whole thing it's a little easier to send them off to the big bad world of preschool or elementary school because you know they are "owning" it.

Of course this doesn't happen overnight, baby steps, but you'd be amazed just what a little knowledge can do!

[debbie-doodles]

What are some things that you pack for your child for school lunches? I have all the school supplies down, but lunch still boggles my mind. My daughter won't eat yogurt or gluten-free breads or fruit snacks. Ideas?

[redheadheather]

"What are some things that you pack for your child for school lunches? I have all the school supplies down, but lunch still boggles my mind. My daughter won't eat yogurt or gluten-free breads or fruit snacks. Ideas?"

You could try things like cheese sticks, cut up ham (my son likes this), applesauce cups, fruit cups, hotdogs, etc.

[Jnkmnky]

Have you tried Kinnikinnick breads? They're really good and normal tasting. Pack well, are soft, no funky after taste.

Open Original Shared Link

Hot dogs chopped up in a thermos with baked beans-

Sm tupperware with peanut butter and a baggie of gluten-free pretzels *Ener-G are good*

Meat roll ups

Cold chicken nuggets with a gluten-free bbq sauce on the side

Filling lunches are essential. My son is seven and he needs CALORIES to burn on the playground. If I don't pack him protein, he's nearly fainting when he comes home.

[Guest nini]

Thermoses are great...

I freeze leftovers in single serving portions and then can reheat them and put them in the thermos in the morning. she likes spaghetti, fettucini alfredo, cheeseburger macaroni, macaroni and cheese, beanies and weanies, beef stew, you get the idea...

[Kasey'sMom]

These are great lunch ideas. This is really helpful in planning for school.