School Food Options for Kids with Food Allergies

Whether at a restaurant, school or a friend’s house, if your child has a food allergy, eating outside the home may be stressful. Fortunately, there are resources to help. For children heading to school or daycare, working with teachers, staff and health care providers can help put both kids and parents at ease.

Meet with Staff

Make a field trip to meet with the school cafeteria manager. Be sure the staff recognizes your child and they know the problem foods or ingredients. It also can be helpful to identify a go-to person your child is comfortable with asking if a food is safe to eat.

Communicate what type of reactions your child has, and which foods affect them. Make sure to have your child’s pediatrician fill out any forms the school may need and always have medication available in case of emergencies.

Be Prepared

Get a copy of the monthly menu to review with your child. That way, you both know which menu options are safe to eat. Feel free to ask the school for ingredient lists of prepared foods and recipes.

Consider making a food allergy action plan in case of emergencies and share it with your child’s teacher and school. Young children may communicate that they’re having an allergic reaction differently than older children or adults would. Make sure everyone is aware of the signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction.

Peanut Allergies

Peanut allergies are on the rise. According to the Food Allergy & Education organization, the number of children with a peanut or tree nut allergy in the U.S. more than tripled between 1997 and 2008. Many schools avoid peanuts and peanut butter in their menus, but not all schools. If peanuts are a concern to your family, be certain to ask which foods may contain them. Peanut butter cookies are an obvious example, but peanuts and peanut products may be hidden in sauces, gravies, salad dressings, chicken salad, egg rolls and a variety of foods from global cuisines. Many schools serve a popular peanut butter substitute made from sunflower seeds. If your school doesn't already offer it, ask them to have it on hand.

Gluten-Free Options

Because of celiac disease or other intolerances, some students avoid gluten, a protein in wheat, barley and rye. Some easy-to-spot sources of gluten are bread, pasta, pizza and breaded items like fish or chicken nuggets. Cross-contact with serving and prep utensils also can be a source of gluten. Checking labels in advance can be especially helpful for parents and school foodservice staff.

Regardless of what type of allergy or sensitivity your child has, it’s important to be prepared by talking to both your child and the school staff. Help your child feel comfortable by focusing on what is safe to eat and not just what must be avoided.