Saturday, August 15, 2009

Oh, peanut butter...

Friends whose kids have food allergies...I NEED YOUR HELP.

(Really, it's not as big as a deal as making "I need your help" in all capitals, but now that I have your attention...)

I have been blessed with children who can eat anything-including dirt and flowers on occasion. Neither one has any food allergies.

I know, my life is easy.

Because they have no known allergies to food one of the main staples at our house is peanut butter. My girls eat peanut butter and honey (jelly is too messy and does not comb out of hair easily) sandwiches at least 4 times a week. And they love them.

At the end of the month, they are both going to Mother's Day Out-Nora is going two days a week and Elyn is going once a week. And they both have to take their lunch.

There is a strict "no peanut" policy at their school.

Which means I have to think outside my box for lunches. I don't enjoy thinking outside of the box on some days.

I have sent rolled up turkey meat, mac and cheese, quesidillias, pieces of chicken and even one time, a Lunchable (which I'm not crazy about doing because they can get pricey).

Believe it or not, all of the above items required thought. There is nothing easier than slapping some peanut butter on some bread and shoving it in a sandwich bag.

So my question is this...does the "no peanut policy" usually mean that ALL nut spreads are out?

Obviously, I will be asking the director, but wanted to get an idea from you guys on how far I was going to have to stretch my "lunch making" brain cells.

Let's hope not too far.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

McKinley is one of those children. SIGH. - Most of the time, I would assume yes - but there is SOY butter (McKinley loves it - of course she knows nothing else.) - I can only find it at wal-mart - off brand. I make pigs in a blanket even at night and then send it to school the next day - (cheap biscuits - torn in half, and the roll the (all beef sausages) in them - bake and they are great - Mac loves them. Hope this helps some.

Julie said...

Ethan eats "home made" lunchables. (He prefers the real thing, but his mother is a tightwad!) I cut up some lunch meat, a couple of slices of cheese, and send some crackers, but they all have to be in separate baggies so he assembles them himself. (And of course, a piece of candy for dessert.) We also send lots of apple slices, carrot and celery sticks, Go-gurt, and pudding cups.
Fortunately for me, Ethan has a very boring little diet and actually prefers to eat the the same thing for lunch day after day.
Good Luck. I'm sure you'll find something to send that works for all of you.

Rebecca said...

Hi Dallas, I saw your title on Sara's blog and just wanted to add that we use "Sunbutter" (made entirely out of sunflower seeds but it looks and tastes like peanutbutter to me) at our house because of peanut allergies. I've found it at SuperTarget and health food stores or Whole Foods Market type places (I don't know where you live, so you may not have something like that close by. You can also order it online at sites like "Peanut free planet"). It is more expensive than peanut butter, especially if you buy it online, but might be worth it for the convenience factor, at least for school lunches. All the best to you, and thanks for being supportive of families who deal with allergies! That means a lot.

Anonymous said...

Hi Dallas! I found your blog and I have never left a comment but I do read!! My kids go to a nut free school and I have some information. Sadly. Nut free schools mean just that Nut Free. No peanut butter of any kind or anything spread out. They don't want peanut butter staying on someone's hands and touching a child with an allergy. THey also want any sharing of food behind their back. My kids don't have food allergies as well, but I feel like they do after all that I go through with lunches. I have a couple of ideas.

1. I do honey and grape sandwiches. With actually grapes so that it isn't that messy.
2. Ham/Turkey roll ups. Roll cheese up in ham and I usually serve with some fruit and carrots.
3. Strawberry and Cream Cheese Sandwiches
4. Sometimes I'll do Cheese squares with crackers, fruit and a veggie
5. Tortillas with meat and veggies. I've done leftover grilled chicken with avocado before. The girls loved it.
6. Sometimes Chicken salad on an english muffins

I get pretty creative, but I always try to do a meat, vegetable, and a fruit.
You can email me at slkasmom@gmail.com
and I can give you a few more!

Good Luck

Jenn said...

Okay, girl. HELP! We just got a not sent home today declaring the girls school nut free. We have had 4 years of nothing but PB &J in a public school in Ft. Worth and then we move down here and drop this bomb on us the 2nd day of school...could have given us a little more warning. Esp. since I have been sending PB & J the past 2 days!! I read the comments....
Have you found anything else that your girls will eat?
Thanks!!

Tesney said...

What about bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches? I also send just plain cheese sandwiches or cold grilled cheese. Clayton also likes cream cheese with fruit or fruit spread...I think someone mentioned that. A lot of times I will do those mini bagels with that. Good luck...I hate making lunches.

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