Is school meals or packed lunches better for a child with an allergy?

[wangle99]

DS has an allergy to wheat, he doesn't need much to set off a reaction. He isn't anaphylactic but it causes severe diarrhoea and stomach cramps (he doesn't make it to the loo half the time )

DS currently at nursery at independent school and they have managed it fantastically well. He goes into reception at local state school and I'm really not sure how to deal with it.

School meals aren't great but he eats dinners well with his peers - food not prepared on site but delivered in from a school 5 miles away.

Packed lunches - obviously we know what he's eating but am concerned he'll swap food with another child (even though he knows he shouldn't or end up getting crumbs off the table mixed with his food.

I can't work out if I'm being neurotic or whether there is a real risk here lol or what would be best. Any btdt advice greatly received!

I meant stickers!

Thanks eddiejo -MUST stop panicking about starting school . Will buy some stickers then...

Oh there will be plently to panic about as well
He's just had school report and it's brill (even if i do say so )

They grow up soooo fast

Oh, well done!! I can't wait for things like that...just not entirely sure that he will survive without me (pfb!!!), or is it the other way around?! It does go so quickly ...really will have to get a grip sometime soon!

Got the whole summer yet?????!!!!!!!

Have a horrible feeling that I am going to be like this until he is at least 45 !

my ds has nut and egg allergy,he has packed lunches only because he chooses,the school are very willing to provide safe school meals for him.
There is also a strong policy of no sharing at lunch,ds wears an allergy bracelet but tbh I'm unsure if any of his classmates are aware of his allergy or not. They are in reception and hopefully this this will improve next yr.

Ds finds the bracelet a good way of telling people about his allergy as a lot of adults comment on it.

MeMySonandI - You can make glutenfree/wheatfree bread without yeast e.g.

coeliac.info/suppboard/viewtopic.php?t=1357

and

coeliac.info/suppboard/viewt opic.php?t=603

It is worth experimenting!

I wouldn't risk it! Give him packed lunches and ask school staff to make sure he doesn't swap. I have coeliac disease and have a nightmare reaction to gluten. I don't trust anyone to make food for me. I am the pain in the a**e when we go out to eat and check numerous times that there is no wheat in the food. (that is my main culprit). I have been 'poisoned' many times, even after checking, and would certainly not trust school dinners to get it right!

My childs school has compulsory school lunches, allergies are one of the accepted reasons not to do this. They are very cross contamination conscious.
To the point of ringing the childens Mother to bring another lunch if they think it has been contaminated.
I don't think any of them fancy using an epipen IYSWIM

I had a letter back from DS new primary school saying they have placed him on the 'high risk medical list' and to meet with his class teacher and assistant in September asap.

However she did say 'to keep reminding us' gulp

dd1 has intolerance to cheese used to be milk intolerance but very mild now however she is treated as allergy at school as they don't allow forfussy eaters as found this causes major problems they send me menu whenever it changes I have meeting with school cook to confirm we both happy and carry on from there. Other children are on very strict allergy diets and there has never been problem offered to send packed lunch if easier but cook used to this doesn't need me to so happy all round