Whether it’s your child with a food allergy or a classmate you need alternatives, so I made an awesome list for you!
“A student in your child’s classroom has a severe food allergy to peanuts.” I will admit, when the news came I was annoyed. My first thought was, Seriously?! This is going to be one long year! My daughter loved Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches! What in the world was I going to pack in her lunch, we used peanuts & peanut butter in tons of things! So frustrating.
Looking back I am appalled at how narrow minded and selfish I was being, even after dealing with a minor egg allergy in our home already. Regrettably it wasn’t until witnessing first-hand what would happen if these kids were exposed to their allergen. There is always a chance of a serious life altering consequences at stake! I learned that allergies aren’t just when a child eats something, they can be triggered by contact as well. If you’re child is a fellow classmate it’s important to be informed.
Most often when a child has allergy the school will post a note outside the classroom letting people know this is a nut free (or other allergen) free zone. The teacher and school nurse will send home some sort of letter letting the other parents know what the issue is, here’s an example.
Instead of having the woe is me attitude, I began researching! In my research I found a goal! My goal is simple; to help educate and give you a resource in list form that you can take with you to the store and make everyone’s life a little less crazy!
How you can help
Below are the 3 common allergies that schools frequently face.
Each allergy category has 15 appropriate snacks to make it easier when grabbing snacks for the classroom!
Other things that are helpful to the teacher, if in doubt, bring in the item with the label! Labels are very key in determining whether a snack could be dangerous. Below is more information on the allergies listed above to help you shop, sometimes those labels can be sneaky. Also, ask the parent, sometimes bridging that communication gap can mean the world to the mom whose child suffers, so she knows that you are trying! She may have even more resources to help!
My Last Tip – PAY IT FORWARD!
Help the Mama and the teacher out! One way would be to provide a box of snacks for just the child with the allergy, in case there is day the classroom gets something they can’t have (this would happen when there is a minor allergy where the other can eat the food but the child just can’t). We loved this idea of leaving the gift of a box of alternative snacks for the child with the food allergy.
Every child deserves the chance to excel, learn and experience who they are! They each need to learn how to become a confident and independent person. If I can make that easier for another child I will! I encourage you to help the already chaotic day to day go smoother!
Do you have a child with allergies? What are some things you wish you other parents understood? Do you have other snack recommendations? We want to hear! I would love to update this list so it makes it easier for other moms to shop. Leave a comment here or find us on Facebook.
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