Overnight Camp For Newly Diagnosed 12 Year Old

[Glutenfree4her]

New to board and needing help. I have a daughter who was diagnosed in February and now it is time for 6th grade outdoor school. I am very nervous to send her as I don't want her to get sick from potential cross contamination. Any thoughts as to send her or not. She has severe reactions to gluten. Just now getting her to feel better. Thanks so much.

[Mizzo]

New to board and needing help. I have a daughter who was diagnosed in February and now it is time for 6th grade outdoor school. I am very nervous to send her as I don't want her to get sick from potential cross contamination. Any thoughts as to send her or not. She has severe reactions to gluten. Just now getting her to feel better. Thanks so much.

Obviously you would have to pre-make ALL of her foods in advance with strict reheating guidelines with absolutely no sustitutions allowed. If she can follow those guidelines and there is another adult with Celiac understanding and it is not that far away that you can go get her if needed , then and only then would I allow her to go.

IMO I would only let her go if I went with her. She is so new to gluten free and unless she has a really, really good understanding of cross contamination issue's I personally would not feel safe.

good luck

[Glutenfree4her]

Thank you for that advice. I don't want to be perinoid but I don't want her to get sick again. Thank you so much.

[Skylark]

It's only an overnight. Don't take her away from a special school event. You can send her with a cooler of food. With her bad reactions I'm sure she will be willing to stay gluten-free.

I wouldn't count on reheating facilities but sandwiches on gluten-free bread, cut veggies, and fruit will fill her up just fine and stay fresh with an ice pack. Contact the teachers and find out if they will be doing any special food and send substitutes for her. For example, if they do s'mores you would send her a bag of marshallows, a chocolate bar, and gluten-free graham crackers so she can participate with no risk of CC. This is a time she needs to feel like she can still join her peers for special occasions with a little planning.

[Cara in Boston]

If it is just one night, I would do it. If it is a week (or even a few days) I would be too nervous . . . unless I could go along as a chaperone. You could easily pack enough food for a day or two so that she wouldn't have to worry at all about cc. Check out the lunch kits from GoPicnic. I use them as inspiration and assemble my own for me and my son when we travel. I pack a kit for breakfast, lunch and dinner so there are no worries.

Cara

[Glutenfree4her]

Thank you for your advice. It is actually 4 days 3 nights. I have a call to the cook and waiting for a return call. She really wants to go but she is getting where she is feeling better. 12 years old and 66 pounds I don't want her sick again. Thanks again your understanding an advice is helpful

[Skylark]

Gosh that's harder. If you are not satisfied with the chef's answer, I wonder if you could drop off food each day? Or provide servings of homemade frozen food? I take frozen soups and stews I make on the weekend for lunch at work all the time.

I had really bad allergies and asthma as a child and I had a lot of trouble with school camping trips. It really meant a lot to me to be able to go though, even if I had to take inhalers and not participate in some of the activities.

[Carol4]

I am in the same dilemma. My 10 yr old usually goes to camp but was dx last sept and is VERY sensitive. I will only send her with food I have made. Otherwise I know she will more than likely get sick.

[Mizzo]

BTW is this the Natures classroom event ? just curious as me and 2 other allergen moms have discussed our extreme fears for this when our girls have to go.

[Glutenfree4her]

Not that I am aware of. It is in Oregon. They say they deal with celiac all the time. However, I still am anxious. Not sure what I will do.

[Mizzo]

If you choose to send her there are 3 golden rules for gluten-free cooking when I cook away from home .

Paper plates

plastic ware

Reynolds wrap and parchment paper

Anything that can be heated in a oven can be baked on parchment or in reynolds wrap

For grilling use reynolds wrap

serve on paper plates with plastic ware.

Of course there are tons of other needs but these rules help alot .

If she can live with baked potatoes or gluten-free french fries it avoids the whole carb side dish concern and frozen veggies might have to be the way to go for a few days. Not the healthiest meal choices but certainly safest. Also insist on her having her own labeled butter or margarine and PB and J .

Pans, sauces, cutting boards and strainers are the biggest worries in these environments so have a seriously long chat with the chef about these things.

good luck