Food Allergies in the Classroom – What’s for Lunch?

By: Nomsa Langa

05 September 2019

If you are the parent of a child with food allergies:

In addition to communicating with your child’s teacher, the principal, the school nurse, and the cafeteria staff about what is required to keep your child safe (school planning resources can be found at Kids with Food Allergies) you will need to focus on packing a safe lunch and snacks for your child.

You may no longer be able to rely on cafeteria meals. Whether your child is on a very limited diet, or allergic to just one food, the best approach is to find staple foods that can become your go-to options, including:

Bread – Those with allergies to wheat, dairy, eggs, and/or nuts will need to find safe bread for sandwiches. Usually found in the frozen “natural foods” section, bread labeled gluten-free is a good place to start. Check the labels for other allergens. Alternatively, you can make your own allergen-free bread (using a resource like The Allergy-Free Pantry) or choose a veggie option such as a lettuce wrap or cucumber rolls.

Sandwich topping – There are off-the-shelf options for allergen-free mayonnaise, as well as mustard. Be sure to read labels carefully (especially if you are managing milk, soy, or egg allergies) or choose to make your own mayonnaise.

Milk – If your child is allergic to milk, choose a safe non-dairy alternative (e.g., coconut or rice milk) in single-serve containers or substitute a fruit juice. Worried about spilled milk? Parents with young children who have contact allergies to dairy may want to request special attention in the cafeteria.

Snacks – Find one off-the-shelf snack option (e.g., bars or cookies) that meets your child’s dietary restrictions; read the nutritional label to avoid those loaded with sugar and starch.  Other healthy snacks include fresh fruit and celery sticks filled with sunflower seed butter. I also recommend keeping a box of safe allergen-free treats at school to be used for an impromptu snack and to help keep your child from feeling left out.

Nuts – The most controversial of foods that are no longer allowed in some classrooms is peanut butter, but nuts are responsible for some of the most severe anaphylactic reactions and responsible for the most food-allergy deaths. If a child is allergic to peanuts or tree nuts, both should be avoided as they are nearly always processed together. If allowed at your child’s school, sunflower seed butter is a highly nutritious replacement. Also, a trail mix of sunflower seeds and/or pumpkin seeds, raisins or other dried fruit, and allergen-free chocolate chips makes a great snack!