So, I never know what to do in this situation, because my general rule was to never have dd eat what other parents made at home for elementary school parties.
Ds has 2 kids in his class with gluten or wheat issues, then there is also MA, and PA.
So, I am signed up to bake a sweet snack. I figured it is easy enough for me to go get a Cherry brook mix or two and do cookies or cupcakes, get the gluten free mix, and I think that covers me for PA. I can ask a mom about dairy free shortening if it is needed.
But, then I always worry, what I what I make is cross contaminated(it surely could be with gluten)? granted, it is the decision of another family to make, and the kids seem pretty losse and would possibly eat other stuff that has that risk. But I have a moral dilemma about if they reacted to something I made, and how awful I would feel.
So, then I think, I should just make what is ok for my kid(no allergies) and hope their parents send a treat for them. They have not in the past. These 2 kids choose from what is safe(chips or popcorn, and fruit) and clearly look longingly at the treats and ask me a few times if it might be safe. :( I suggest to them they ask their moms to send something special fo rthem next time. :dunno:
Do you make a safe treat for all? Or just leave it to other parents to handle the kids' allergies. Then, the kids do whatever they do, hopefully according to their family policy for their allergens. Oh, if I do make something safe, I plan to contact the 3 parents I know about, and mention it and ask for safe shortening, mixes, etc... I have to shop anyway, and no biggie for me to get what is safe, either way.
If cherrybrook covers all the allergens, I might pick up the mix, as well as a new cheap whisk, mixing bowl, etc. and disposable foil pans to avoid any cross contamination with nothing I already own. And of course, pass it by the other parents.
I actually basically did that years ago for two of DD's classmates for a birthday party at our house. Except it was pizza, which i made a gluten-free crust for. And the mother greatly appreciated it.
I try to make what can't hurt being around. I do like the idea of getting a cheap whisk and new bowl. But I know if DS were GF I wouldn't feel comfy. But these parents don't have that issue?
At a meal where I was providing dessert (and a meal I knew the cast member with celiac couldn't eat), I bought her a tiny box of Amy's GF maple cookies. :)
Are Enjoy Life GF?
Well, one kid is GF, and milk and peanut free. But, they are pretty lax. i htink he took rice crisy treats last time, and, unless his mother made them, they had little m&ms on them! As room-mom, and with no offical info on the allergies given to me, I leave it to the teacher. So, not sure exactly what his allergies are. Come to think of it, two of the kids have been left with me at Bday parties in the past and not epis!! I always knew they had allergies and I always had epi on me, so kept that in my back pocket.
I don't know what I would do, but I think your concerns are justified.
In this thread, 5th post down, you'll find some discussions about this type of thing.
504 index- Examples of accommodation possibilities and/or considerations (http://foodallergysupport.olicentral.com/index.php/topic,8384.0.html)
"The Allergen-Free Cake That Wasn't" article was interesting to me.
I would not provide homemade.
I would provide only commercial items that, according to labels and information provided by the manufacturer, are acceptable for the allergies and other med needs.
Why commercially prepared and not homemade? The liability rests MORE on the manufacturer than on you. Plus you might be able to get official "OK" from parents for certain brand name items. Would be clearer for everybody.
Homemade has too much risk for Xcontam.
And homemade has YOU holding the legal liability (well, you and your homeowner/liability coverage). Truly something to consider, IMHO, in this day and age.
after I made cookies for a soy-allergic kid at school last fall --- worked so hard to keep everything soy-free and no cross-contamination --- even tho the kid ate them, liked them, and had no reaction, I've decided it is not worth it.
Sooooo not worth it.
I really fretted that this kid might have a reaction, even tho I, a food allergy mom, had made the cookies and I really do know what it takes to make something allergy-free ---- but there's always that chance that even I had somehow contaminated the cookies with soy.
And if a reaction had happened, I would never have forgiven myself.
Just ain't worth it.
In your case, I would call the parents of the FA kids and talk it through with them. See what you all can come up with so all the kids can participate.
Having a child with a history of anaphylaxis to wheat/barley I've found that we're the statistical anomaly in a sea of "gluten free kids". I don't even know what that means that a kid is gluten free. For the class I'd just bring some whole fruit like bananas and mandarin oranges and little waters. Fruit they can peel.
I'd echo ajas and recommend something commercially prepared and individually wrapped. Why individually wrapped, because sometimes the other volunteers who serve the food don't wash their hands. This happened to us every party even when the room moms had gone to the trouble to get "safe" food. The parties were always after lunch, the moms usually had other preschool children in tow, and they never washed their hands before serving. I always came prepared with backup food for DD.
Someone else is doing fruit. I am signed up got the sweet treat. Usually these kids just skip over an obvious unsafe treat. My options are something safe for all or just bake nut free, which is the only recommendation for the class. I will not find a single packaged product safe for all. We Are also being sure to send a safe candy with our Valentine.
Personally, I always was sure my dd had something safe from home for these things.
Enjoy Life and you're done.
Quote from: twinturbo on February 11, 2014, 09:24:38 AM
Having a child with a history of anaphylaxis to wheat/barley I've found that we're the statistical anomaly in a sea of "gluten free kids". I don't even know what that means that a kid is gluten free. For the class I'd just bring some whole fruit like bananas and mandarin oranges and little waters. Fruit they can peel.
Bingo. Or this:
Quote from: twinturbo on February 11, 2014, 09:45:41 AM
Enjoy Life and you're done.
Seriously on the fruit and water. It's my method of saying F your snack list.
Not directed at becca I have nothing but love for her Boston butt (see pulled pork thread).
Oh I have already died on that hill at this school. It is not changing, though some changes were made. I committed social suicide when my dd went there.
This is for my son, who has no allergies, but I have empathy for the kids who look longingly at the treats.
:yes: That's what a rational person would do. I strive to be rational most times.
Then I get wild notions that I'm going to conquer the hill and later watch the body of my enemies float down the river before me.
:rofl: My personal vision is of the bridge, sending still-glowing embers skyward with a huge plume of black smoke... while their screams indicate that the rapids far below are carrying them to the sea... :evil: I can almost taste the champagne and satisfaction.
There is one and only one mom I will do this for. I will also let her do this for my boys. Her boys are allergic to dairy and egg. Their home is not 100% peanut free (Mom has some protein bars), but it not overtly nutty either, as they use sunbutter so B can sit with M at peanut free table. Our house is in no way dairy free.
We've never cooked an entire meal for each other, but we've made special treats for the boys. I've made her boys dairy and egg free Oreo balls for M's birthday party. I took special precautions with cleaning the kitchen and the tools I'd be using, checked all ingredients with mom ahead of time, and made theirs first. Our way of looking at it was , it was no riskier than eating at a restaurant.
She did the same for me. There was a "Holiday Meal" at school before Christmas and the PTA :rant: :rant: :rant: was going to be passing out cake. The other mom was already going to making B safe cupcakes and M is used to going eggless anyway, so she was sweet enough to clean her kitchen really well for me and send one in for M.
Would I take this risk with random classmates. Not likely. Would I ever let M do it? Not on your life! The day he ate B's cupcake it was like the hope diamond was being delivered, lol! I sent a note to the nurse, the teacher, home to B's mom (to thank her), reviewed with M how this was a very special circumstance we never ever take food from anyone unless mom says it's OK....It's all very exhausting.
Sweet treat? Buy jello. Problem solved!
... um...
immv, but--
DD has never eaten Jello-brand without a reaction. We have an N of four-- those reactions range from grade 2 to 4, and all were systemic. (She's pistachio allergic, and we think that is the most likely explanation)
Since our house is peanut, treenut, coconut free...those are never a factor for cross contamination.
I do gluten free bake but only for one very good friend. I am very careful and she trusts me. Everything in my kitchen gets a good scrub down.
I bake for a milk allergic friend of DD's when she is at my house.
The people I do bake for I know well and I understand their allergies very well.
I would not to do so for another child at school. There are too many variables. I would not trust I knew everything. For example, at my son's birthday party years ago someone asked me if my DD was going to eat the cake. I said yes, it was safe for her. This Dad then proceeded to tell his child he could eat the cake because my DD had allergies and she was going to eat it! :disappointed: :disappointed: :disappointed: :disappointed: :disappointed: :disappointed:
Thank goodness I heard him. I immediately asked the Dad what allergies his son had. He wasn't sure! :rant: :disappointed: :rant: He called his wife. In addition to peanuts, his child was allergic to milk and soy!!! Well this cake was not milk free and probably not soy free, neither of those are my DD's allergens!!!
I really need to know all the details before I'll bake for anyone with allergies. As for that Dad :dunce: !!!
I haven't read this whole thread, but could you do a store-bought item that's free of all the students' allergens? That way, you don't have the xc stress but still could serve something that includes everyone?
I'm not seeing that it's worth the stress for you to try to bake for those allergies --- bake for your own...and then a super awesome good-kharma thing would be to buy Enjoy Life cookie packs for the food allergy kids :) They usually have them at Whole Foods.
I'm sure...that if you usually see them looking longingly at the baked goods...that when you whip out the cookie packs...you'll have a halo glow around you :) ...and how big will their smiles be?!
(I'd still check w/ the 'rents though on the Enjoy Life and their own comfort zone)
I do not have a close enough Whole foods to do that this week. It is out of my area. But I have seen a few enjoy life products at one store. I looked at my usual store today. I saw a pack of cookies that said on the front: Nut, gluten and dairy free. Then on the back was a statement that it may contain milk proteins! Ummm, how is that dairy free. I forget the brand.
I know the parents would be ok with what I might make. My greater concern is what if I do cross contaminate something and someone is ill. I don't want that on me. I would feel awful. A child could be harmed. I used to make things for 2 girls in dd's grade. I was far more careful than their moms. The girls would eat stuff my dd never would. So there, I knew I was likely keeping them safer! The GF is what concerns me. I just do too much in my ktichen with it, even if I actually usually avoid it myself.
This is a good conversation, so that is why I posted it. So many things to consider. Ds wants me to try to make it safe, as he is friend with the 2 boys. He is so caring for others and wants me to include everyone. I will try to find something special I can hand to those kids. They are all getting candy with the Valentines, and ours are safe there. So they will have lots of sweets available to them on this particualy party day. I could even bring some extra bags of skittles for them.
Skittles cover me on all fronts, right? Package say GF. If I fail to find a pack of cookies or such. Where I live is a town where there is only smaller independant grocers, or local chains, and the one main chain is still a small store. No super stores with the broader selection of allergy specialty foods.
What about Lucy's cookies? Can you get those? They might cover all the various food allergies and requirements?
They can be found at Whole Foods.
((becca -- as an aside, I seem to recall my DH posting in the comments section at a newspaper once upon a time, yes?))
Crud, posting at same time as you -- sorry the Whole Foods is too far to go.
Ajas, not sure about your newspaper reference?
Never heard of Lucy's.
But, it just dawned on me we do have an awesome organic/natural market and they stock a lot of gluten free products. They may have Enjoy Life and more. I do not go there often, as they are crazy expensive for shopping for a family with picky kids where you toss too much food! I used to go there for egg replacer. We do not need that anymore. :) That place is 5 mins down the road. DUH! I drove by it twice today, lol. I tend to forget about it because it is not the best place for PA/TNA, due to lots of bulk bin products.
Here is link to the Lucy's - actually Dr Lucy's
http://www.drlucys.com/ (http://www.drlucys.com/)
I recall the newspaper comments thing now, Ajas! My local paper? Gosh, I forgot all about that! Oy, what an ordeal that was.
Quote from: PurpleCat on February 11, 2014, 06:00:56 PM
I would not to do so for another child at school. There are too many variables. I would not trust I knew everything. For example, at my son's birthday party years ago someone asked me if my DD was going to eat the cake. I said yes, it was safe for her. This Dad then proceeded to tell his child he could eat the cake because my DD had allergies and she was going to eat it! :disappointed: :disappointed: :disappointed: :disappointed: :disappointed: :disappointed:
Thank goodness I heard him. I immediately asked the Dad what allergies his son had. He wasn't sure! :rant: :disappointed: :rant: He called his wife. In addition to peanuts, his child was allergic to milk and soy!!! Well this cake was not milk free and probably not soy free, neither of those are my DD's allergens!!!
I really need to know all the details before I'll bake for anyone with allergies. As for that Dad :dunce: !!!
BTDT. When DS was still in elementary, the nurse lamented that there were parents who, upon hearing that I had checked the ingredients and OKed them, they would let their allergic child eat it without checking themselves. I would have happily shared info with them, but no one ever asked me. And I am not sure it was the same allergies.
I do know there was one other mother who checked every time her son bought--different allergy. Checking lunches together was how we met, and we are still friendly.
Oh, yeah, in preschool, they would approach me and ask if certan things were safe *for other allergic chidren.* When I said something to the director, that I could not be certain what was ok for other kids, not knowing how they do things and all of their allergens, she would give me a look and say, "Oh, well, you are more careful that his parent, and I do not want to hurt this child!" She was not naming the children in these cases. But very, very many people are much less careful than out small group here. I dare say, most. In my community, anyway.
One of the kids in the class was recently at ds's bday. No epis. He ate the pizza and cake. I made the cake and it was safe for dd and I had vetted the pizza for her too. I did share my info with the dad, and we even discussed the allergies. Got the, "his aren't so bad," line.
So, my final plan is to just bake what ds wants me to bake, and try to get a labelled, packaged treat for the 2 kids with gluten allergies. I know the 2 with PA only will ask me and choose my treat. They have eaten every other treat at the other parties(including store bought foods a mom embellished. Teacher does not seem to care. I shudder, because dd had this teacher and I was in communication about the allergies and was definately assured things were safe. I did give stuff for dd. But, I see now that the teacher pretty much does her own thing and works when we room moms are in for a party! She is not fully engaged in the party with the kids. She did help me once, when no other moms showed up to help.
If you find Enjoy Life, the crunchy cookies (chocolate chip or choc choc chip) are better than the soft ones (IMHO).
I have made safe treats for the class that has other FA kids but the kids in question were allergic to nuts and my house is nut free. I always ask the teacher to contact the other FA patent and tell them I am pa/TNA etc. I'm not sure I'd be comfortable making a gluten free treat since we don't deal with that. But I'd think gluten free, dairy free Rice Krispie treats would be the easiest thing to make. I've found Lucy's at my local grocery store.
Another brand of commercial cookie I thought of is Kinnikinnick. There is a "where to buy" thing on the website which might help you (now or in future).
http://consumer.kinnikinnick.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/consumer.home.html (http://consumer.kinnikinnick.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/consumer.home.html)
My DD prefers Lucy's cookies to Enjoy Life cookies. Our regular grocery store carries them. You can get them packaged as snack-packs, if you want to go to that expense.
Quote from: GingerPye on February 12, 2014, 08:53:16 AM
My DD prefers Lucy's cookies to Enjoy Life cookies. Our regular grocery store carries them. You can get them packaged as snack-packs, if you want to go to that expense.
My daughter also prefers the Lucy's cookies.
This is the first year M has been with other kids that have FAs. There are 4 of them in the the class.
It boggles my mind!
There is the other little boy, the one I mentioned in an earlier post in this thread. Different allergy set, but his family is on the same page as far as cross contam, avoiding may contains, reading labels, sharing food, risk/benefit, etc. She and I are the only 2 present at all class activities that involve food. We are the only 2 with 504s. We are the only 2 that use allergist A.
The other two families defer to us "if it's OK with J&H then I'm sure it's fine". They drop off for play dates, no intructions given, no questions asked. One leaves an epi. One does not. One got snarky when teacher stated she preferred to keep Holiday party food free since it would only be 30 mins. "As an allergy parent myself, I don't understand why....what exactly are the allergies in the room again?". When M was at one of their homes on a short drop off playdate , they tried to talk him out of the no food unless it's approved by mom rule, by saying,"but it's OK for T!" They use allergist B. Allergist B says may contains are not an issue :rant: