Is packed lunch my only option?

[MumNeedsTea]

Sorry if this isn't the correct place to post this, but I need some advice on allergies and packed lunches.

DS is starting reception from next week and we were always going to go down the school meals route. He has some allergies, but everyone said that I shouldn't worry and DS will definitely get something to eat.

I have just checked the school menus (why didn't I do this before!) and it looks like on at least 4 out 5 days, the only option DS will have is a jacket potato. He doesn't mind jacket potato, but I know he wouldn't want it on a daily basis.

So do I just give in, get organised and do packed lunches? I don't even know what to pack.. The only thing I can think of is sandwiches. I need to get creative and desperate for ideas and advice.
Can I send in cold pasta dishes or cold rice dishes?

DS is allergic to wheat.. I really wish he had some more wheat free options. I guess it would be too much trouble for the catering companies to do gluten options for pasta and other dishes.

TIA!

Sorry.. Posted here in error. I have reported the thread and asked to be moved to a more relevant place.

Just sending this over to parenting for the OP.

Have you contacted the provider of the meals? At my daughter's school you can provide a copy of medical evidence to them and they will create a bespoke menu. Not sure what your set up is and whether it's the school providing the meals directly - but I'd definitely start with them as you may find they are able and willing to do this. Our meals are not made by the school, an outside caterer delivers them, which may be why they are able to offer this service.

Agree, those with allergies fill out a form at our school for a special meal.

At my DC's school it would be a packed lunch. You'll need to find out what your DS's school does. 😕

I would send packed lunch 2 days and let him have dinners 3 days. then he won't get too sick of jacket potatoes and you won't get too sick of making lunches. would he eat cold nuggets, sausage roll, pizza, falafel, or Spanish omelette?

What are his allergies? Does he know what he can and can't have?

At our school at least it's only the bare bones that make it onto the school menu (for example, beef chilli and rice/veg chilli and rice) when there is actually a big pot of both chillis, a big pot of rice, a salad bar, bread and butter on the tables, yoghurts and fruit for after. So although that example might not work, you could find that the meals are divided up so much that he can ask for what he'd like to have/can have and make it up with other elements much of the time.

You can send in whatever you like in a packed lunch, surely.

Perhaps you could do part time packed lunches?

At my DN's school, my sister provides a copy of her allergies and intolerances and they provide a specific menu for her. She has allergies and intolerances to dairy, Wheat, Gluten, Nuts, soya and egg.

The suggestion of the menu maybe being broader in practice than what is written up would not work for her as there would be too high a risk of cross contamination.

I agree with others. Contact the head teacher and whoever is in charge of providing the meals (in our school, it's an outside caterer). I know we have 3 standard meal options for each day, but there are special meals available for children with allergies. You just need to provide a letter from your GP specifying the allergies and then speak with the caterer to work out meal options.

I'm a school cook, speak to the cook, list the allergies and we'll always do our best to help, some days it might be wise to take a packed lunch depending on the menu but generally we would help.

If you do decide to send packed lunches I'd recommend getting both a yumbox (or other bento style box) plus a thermos tub. The yumbox just makes it easy to pack a 'picky' lunch with all the things he likes and makes a good alternative to sandwiches.

The thermos tub (something like this: www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/skip-hop-zoo-insulated-food-jars-d3822.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMImc6Vo5KT1gIVabvtCh1TDQFgEAQYASABEgK0-vD_BwE) makes it easy to send in warm meals. I do pasta dishes and leftover rice or cous cous. Soup probably a bit messy for a 4 year old but you can work up to it.

Also, you can freeze sandwiches after you've made them up...

I'm also a school cook and we have a similar child starting. Some weeks there are more options on the standard menu than others that they can but due to the alergen matrix and the recipes we are speaking to our ops manager to come up with more options for this child but some we can easily alter to suit them. Please speak to the caterer at the school.

Thanks everyone for your advice!
I called the school cook and feel a bit less stressed :)

DS is allergic to wheat and nuts and even though nuts are not present in any of the dishes, most menu items (apart from Jacket) were marked as containing gluten. Even things like curry rice and roast were marked with gluten.. That's when I started worrying.

The school cook said that was because of what is included with these dishes. So a roast comes with Yorkshire puds and that's where the gluten comes from. Similarly, curry and rice come with poppadums, which are again a source of gluten. But DS can always have the roast without the Yorkshire puds and curry wothout poppadum and he should be fine.

She asked me to look at the entire months menu and call her if I had any concerns. She was very sweet and kept insisting that she wouldn't want anyone's child to only have the pasta or jacket options on a daily basis and they will make sure kids can choose something from the mains on most days. Yaay for school cooks!!

I'm pleased you've got it sorted. It's always worth asking if you fill out the form for intolerances the school should inform them. It would be handy if you could pop in to see the kitchen staff with your child so they know what he looks like and can insure he doesn't get gluten containing products.

I'll check if popping into kitchen with child is an option.. Will definitely put my mind to ease.
I am so glad schools are nut free, as DS has severe nut allergy!

The kitchen staff may come up to reception to see you. If you could provide a onto of him as well that's be really helpful as they should have a sheet with his allergy information on with a picture.

I'm a school lunch coordinator and if you can provide evidence of a medical need for it, we will bend over backwards to make things work for your child...

Apologies if I'm repeating I've only read the OP. But get yourself over to the "Eat's amazing" Facebook group

Absolutely wonderful pack up ideas for fussy/allergic kids

Thanks for that link Jenny!

I spoke to the cook again and we went through the entire week's menu to discuss what DS could have. We have agreed to do this for the first few weeks.. Needless to say she is lovely :)

For packed lunches, how do I make sure they remain fresh? Do you send packed lunches in bento style boxes with a small ice pack or do you use the insulated bags without any ice packs? The frozen yogurt tubes are not an option as DS will only have plain yogurt!