Eat Right Ontario

I found a link to Eat Right Ontario: packing healthy school lunches.

They included a brief statement on allergies, but only mention by name nut allergy. They included "milk and alternatives" and "meat and alternatives". But really one line saying soy milk, is not addressing milk alternatives. I like they encourage Thermos use, left over stews and soups, as well as fruit and vegetables.

In my own family things children want in their lunches one week to another widely changes, all requests are to be made while I'm writing the grocery lists. They have to eat at least half their fruit and most of the water that is packed, I rarely pack juice, other than when it is hot out.

What is being requested right now in our house:
soup in a Thermos
apples
first child orange slices, second child grapes and carrots
chips (only on Fridays when child reminds me)
granola bars

What was big last month, or week in our house:
yogurt (soy or milk for allergic and non allergic child)
canary melon
apple sauce
dry cereal
pretzels
brown pear
salad wrap
popcorn

School Lunches

I found a really interesting blog on Twitter Fed Up With School Lunch Project It is a picture blog from a teacher and Mom who is blogging her experiences eating school lunches every day in 2010.

The anonymous teacher in Illinois, is taking pictures of her student cafeteria lunch every day and offering her opinion in taste and quality of each lunch. I was relived to read that she eats healthy, all her other meals after seeing the lunches in her school.

Where I am in Ontario, Canada, we don't have cafeteria food in grade schools, only packed lunches from home, and weekly "special lunch days". I don't know how typical her lunches at her school, compared to the rest of her State.

There are no alternatives for allergic or vegetarian children in her predominantly low income school.

Lunches

Our school has "special lunch days" every Friday it is pizza day, sub day, pasta day or hot dog day. This raises a money for the school, though not the healthiest choices for lunch.

When my allergic child started full day school in grade one, I tried to match the special lunch days, packing hot dogs on hot dog day, and so on. Half the time I would get the weeks mixed up, but our child took it in stride. Eventually she asked not to have the matching lunches, many of the kids don't have special lunches anyway due to allergy, health, or cultural reasons.

Wednesday night I made two pizzas with soy cheese for dinner, they both asked for the left overs for Thursdays school lunch. I joked I should of made it for Thursday's dinner so I could send it for Friday's "special lunch". "No" was the united answer from both our children. Our youngest and oldest wanted pizza the different day.

I asked myself why was I trying to match lunches anyway, even when she goes to birthday parties she doesn't want matching food any more. She even asked to bring left over stew in a thermos, and chocolate muffin to a birthday pizza party.

Thinking back was it me or her, that wanted to have food that looked like everyone elses lunch.

Lunches

Somethings I've been packing in my child's dairy free lunch. It is always up to you to determine what is safe.

Salad wraps
raw fruits and veggies
left over cooked corn on the cob
apple sauce
craisins (dried cranberries)
dairy free crackers
Sun Rype products
Guardian Angel individually wrapped muffins
Thermos filled with left over stew
Sha Sha cookies
salad
dairy free popcorn


Other ideas (not so big this year)
baked beans, in Thermos
hard boiled egg
dry cereal


Note: Not all salad wraps are dairy free, last nights stew may not be dairy free, always read ingredients and be aware of hidden dairy and cross contamination.

Treasure Mills

Treasure Mills have been expanding their product lines. All their products are nut and sesame free.

I’ve been packing some Treasure Mills loafs, in school lunches that are dairy free see their product guide for allergy information.

Their products include breads, baguettes, buns, cookies, mini cookies, snack cakes, brownie mixes and muffin mixes.

Update see recall from
Canadian Food Inspection agency (July 8, 2009) warning some products contain milk. See comment from reader.

Lunch Days

Our School has special lunch days on Fridays, when parents can order food for their children. The lunch program does not start till October to allow the forms to be filled in. On other days, parents are encouraged to pack more healthy lunches. This year both children are in full day school.

I have decided to order special lunch for my younger child, and pack a similar special lunch for our allergic child. So far the first week I managed to pack dairy free pizza, for my allergic child’s lunch, and fruit and crackers for snack break. My younger child had the same packed snack and ordered pizza. It was a hit for both!

Another week I messed up the special lunch, it was on Thursday due to a PD Day that Friday. I packed both snacks and lunches for both children. My non allergic child got her hotdog and complained that their was too much food in her lunch bag. My allergic child who takes food changes in stride, asked to have a hotdog in the fridge I was planning to pack on Friday.

Another week I packed dairy free pizza for my allergic child, it was Sub Day, she said she liked the pizza better!

Birthday Parties

Birthday parties

When my child goes to birthday parties I usually pre make, and pack a dairy free snack bag.

I make in my toaster oven pizza: Pita Break pita for crust, dairy free tomato sauce, some veggies. There are some mock cheeses on the market that are dairy free, but my child prefers pizzas without them.

For cake I sometimes buy dairy free mini cupcakes from Whole Foods, or I cut a slice of chocolate loaf from New Moon Kitchen.

I pack some dairy free juice and water with ice in it.

Ingredients change it is up to you to decide what is safe.

Summer

I enjoy summer, allowing the weather not school bells to determine our day. Indoor outings like indoor playgrounds, museums and aquariums. Outdoor field trips like water parks, farms, and hikes. It is always up to you to determine what is safe. Here are some samples of packed snacks or lunches that are free of dairy.

President’s Choice Alphabet Pretzels
Fresh Fruit
Pita Break Crackers
Water
Gaterade
Sha Sha Cookies
Treasure Mills mini banana bread (products are nut free, some dairy free lines)
Yoso cream “cheese”
Dairy free crackers (we use a few different types)
Dry fruit raisons, cranberries (some brands say may contain milk)