Handling School

And Other Activities Gluten Free

Some tips on surviving class room parties, birthday parties,

sleep overs and other events gluten free

SCHOOL:

We have been very lucky to have school administrators and teachers that are very helpful and accommodating.  That being said, it is still a lot of work for Mom. 

I am sure it could be easier, but my daughter is eleven years old and the one thing eleven year old girls do not want to be is different.  Therefore, to the extent possible, I try to provide her and/or her entire class with food that is safe.  And even better yet, food that is the same as what everyone else is eating.  

Here are some useful tips that will hopefully make school easier for you and your gluten free child:

At the beginning of each school year, send out a letter to the school nurse, the receptionist in the front office, the Head of the School and the teachers. 

Also request a copy be placed in the substitute teacher file.  Finally, email a copy to all of the parents in your child's class. 

Follow this link to a sample Letter to Teachers and Parents.

CLASSROOM STASH OF GLUTEN FREE TREATS

Provide a stash of gluten free snacks for those unexpected situations that will come up.   Some of our favorites are:  Black Forest Gummy Bears and Glo-Worms from Ferrara Pan, Hershey Bars, Snickers, Star Burst, Skittles.  Yes, junk food.  But if the rest of the class is eating Crispy Kreme donuts, you want your child to have something extra good.  As a side note, we have found that cookies do not hold up too well so don't send in those $2.00 WOW cookies.

Also send in a bag of gluten free food in case of an emergency such as a bag of gluten free bars, peanuts, can of juice etc. 

I also provide a container of kitchen wipes so that desk can be wiped down after other students eat gluten treats.

GLUTEN FREE SCHOOL LUNCHES

The only thing our school provides that my daughter can have at lunch time is the milk.  Therefore, like a lot of celiac kids, she takes her lunch every day. The following are some tips on making gluten free school lunches as fun, and manageable, as possible:

• Buy a Fun and Different Lunchbox

This may sound silly, but buy your child a fun lunchbox that is not like everyone else’s.   Make it fun because they will carry this lunch box everywhere (school, sleep overs, parties).   We bought one at the M&M store in NYC that looks like a bag of Peanut M&M’s and my daughter loves it.

More importantly, you do not want the lunch box to look like anyone else’s. Last year we had the standard issue Target lunchbox that several students had. One day I had to bring an emergency lunch to school because someone else had grabbed her lunchbox by mistake.

• Pack More Food than your Child Needs

The extra food is not necessarily for your child to eat during lunch;
Even though most schools do not permit it, all kids trade food. A celiac child cannot take anyone else’s food. Having extra lunch in her bag to share, lets her be a part of this lunch time social exchange. It does not have to be your expensive special GF treats – we often pack a bag of sunflower seeds to pass around on the playground.

Additionally, you never know when a situation could arise where your gluten free child needs extra food. A spontaneous invite after school for a play date is okay because she will have extra food left over from lunch for snack.

Lastly, you never know when an emergency may arise. Yes, I’am probably overly protective and prepared, but in the event of an emergency I will feel better knowing my daughter has a little extra food (this is in addition to the emergency stash of food in her classroom).

• Keep Lunches Fresh

Who would not get tired of eating the same thing every day? It can be challenging, but rotate some favorite things through the lunch to keep it interesting.

Our lunch ingredients are broken down into six main categories: main entrée, fruit, vegetable, something cold, snack item, dessert. This may seem compulsive, but sticking to these makes it easier for me (I don't have to think too much before my coffee kicks in) and for my daughter, to make her lunch in the morning. She can put in whatever she wants, as long as there is one thing from each category.

Okay, we all have made a lot of lunches. Here are some ideas to keep them fresh that have worked for us.

MAIN ENTREE:

If there is a microwave and it is clean enough for your child to use (I pack an extra paper towel in my child's lunch so she can lay it down in the microwave then put her food on top of it. She just leaves the paper towel in the microwave when she is done):

• Lundberg Rice Express Microwaves in 60 seconds.
• Thai Kitchen Instant Rice Noodle Soup Just add water and microwave for 3 minutes.
• Leftover GF Mac –n- Cheese

If a microwave is not available:

• Corn thins with peanut butter
• GF bread with butter and cheese
• GF bread with Hormel Natural lunch meat and cheese
• GF bread with Nutella Hazelnut Spread
• Glutino Gluten Free Bagels with Cream Cheese
• Blue Diamond Almond Nut Thins
• Edward & Sons Brown Rice Snaps
• Ener G Gourmet Crackers or Glutino Gluten Free Crackers with slices of cheddar cheese.

FRUIT:

Okay pretty obvious, but something different to try:

• Satsumas
• Bowl of raspberries, strawberries and blueberries mixed together
• Cantaloupe
• Dole cups of mandarin oranges

VEGETABLES:

• Bags of carrots
• Pickles
• Celery sticks
• Cherry tomatoes
• Avocado (the first time she tried an avocado my daughter was hooked on them. Slice in half, remove the pit, and fill the bowl with GF balsamic vinegar)
• Can of V-8

SOMETHING COLD:

• This usually means yogurt for us. Yoplait is GF.
• Bowl of Organic Valley Cottage Cheese
• Sliced cheddar cheese
• Frigo cheese sticks

SNACK ITEM OR BAR:

• Cracker Jacks
• Eden Organic Pumpkin Seeds
• Ener-g Pretzels
• Frito Lay Sunflower Seeds
• Jo-Sef - Graham Crackers See My Gluten Free Pantry Shopping List
• Fruit Gushers, Fruit by the Foot, Fruit Roll ups by General Mills
• Lara bar Apple Pie Not necessarily a favorite but will do when you want a healthy bar.
• Potato Chips: We love Frito Lays not only for the list of gluten free items they provide on their web site, but also for Cheetos!!
• Purfit Nutrition Bar, Almond Crunch My favorite bars. They are high in protein, travel well and taste great. You can order them on their own web site, but I add them to my Amazon.com order. My Amazon.com Gluten Free Shopping List
• Organic Food Bar Belgium Chocolate Chip  My daughter’s favorite bars. We find them at Whole Foods.
• Eden Organic Tamari Almonds

DESSERT:

• Whatever gluten free treat I made that week such as 123 Gluten Free Sweet Goodness Pan Bars, 123 Gluten Free Devilishly Decadent Brownie, The Cravings Place Chocolate Chunk Cookie Mix or Namaste Foods Spice Cake muffins.
• Cherries by Ferrara Candy Company. These are a favorite.
• Candy Tree Organic Vines This great gluten free licorice is such a special treat and a favorite snack. Order from Amazon.com.
• Glutino Cookies - Lemon Wafers, Vanilla Dreams and Wafer Cookies
• Hershey’s Chocolate Kisses
• Kozy Shack Chocolate Pudding
• WOW Wheat and Gluten Free Cookies and Brownies The best of the best. Large, soft and delicious. Much like you would find at the local bakery.
• Yogos
  

GLUTEN FREE CLASSROOM PARTIES

In the ideal gluten free world, gluten would be banned from all classroom parties and events.  In the real world, cookies and other treats seem to fly around my celiac child's classroom.  

All of the time and money invested in making or getting some extra-special treats for the gluten free members of your family will be duly rewarded with the satisfying “this is yummy” or the heartfelt thank you.  However, when it comes time to making treats for classroom parties, save the  gluten free flour for yourself.  You just never know how a classroom full of sixth graders is going to react to the gluten free cookies you spent hours making. 

Instead, try some of the following which are scrumptiously delicious:

• Naturally Gluten Free (adaptively Casein Free) Incredibly Delicious Fudge
• Gluten and Casein Free Cashew Brittle
• Haagen Dazs Ice Cream Bars Link to Haagen-Dazs Allergy Statement
• Popcorn
• Make your own Sundaes with GF toppings such as M&M's and Hershey's Chocolate Syrup
• Sprite or 100% Fruit Juice
• Chocolate Brownies - I never had a kid refuse a chocolate brownie, gluten free or not.  Try Pamela's Chocolate Brownie Mix.  They are even better frosted.

SLEEPOVERS

Thanks mostly to Amy's, there are lots of great options for your child to take on sleep overs

First, talk to the parent and make sure they understand everything. Since they will most likely be involved in the preparation of the food it is important they understand contamination issues.  That is why I also send out the Sample Letter to Teachers to the parent's of my child's friends.  A lot of the same issues that arise in the classroom also arise at sleep overs

Some will get it (thank heavens for them) some will say they get it and then try to serve your child fruit they cut up on the bread board. 

For this reason, I send everything my child will need for dinner, snack and breakfast.  Because her non-celiac friends like her snacks as well, I also send extra treats for her to share with her friends.  My child is old enough that I also send her armed with a cell phone.  This way she can call me if she is offered something she is not sure about or if an issue comes up (like they put her pizza on the plate with the rest of the families!). 

Here are some ideas: 

FOR DINNER:

To avoid issues of contamination, send food that is self-contained and can be warmed in the microwave.  My child likes:

• Frozen Mac -n- Cheese by Amy's.  
• Lundberg Rice Express Microwaves in 60 seconds.
• Thai Kitchen Instant Rice Noodle Soup Just add water and microwave for 3 minutes.

If they are having pizza, I will make one at home and send in a container that can be microwave.  If the parent does not mind cooking, I have also assembled a pizza at home on our own cookie sheets and sent it with cooking directions.

SNACKS:

Most sleep overs include a late night snack, so send one your child can share.  Popcorn is always easy and a hit.  Newman's Own Microwave Popcorn- Natural is GF.  Candy Tree Organic Licorice Vines are also very popular.   Some other ideas are Cracker Jacks, Fruit Gushers, Fruit by the Foot, Fruit Roll ups by General Mills.

BREAKFAST:

Don't forget breakfast.  Some ideas that travel well are Yoplaityogurt, Kinnikinnick Donuts and Muffins,Whole Foods Blueberry Muffins are good. You can also send a gluten free cereal in a covered bowl. 

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