Parents of kids with Peanut Allergies, just call me chicken...update pg 2

[Microcell]

but I think I just want to get something pre packaged instead of baking anything for Ds's preschool birthday celebration.

What comes pre packaged that I could send to DS's school? I want to give him some choices and the teacher has requested no cupcakes. For some odd reason she does not want to clean up ten little faces!

I was thinking Rice Kripsy treats with M and M's or Twinkies? I will look at packages, but I don't want to take any chances with an allergy as powerful as this!

My Dh works at Linens N things so I could buy a new muffin pan to make muffins or brownies.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I used to help with the bake sales at our school and our school nurses son has the allergy, our school is stocked with epi pens for various children. Just want to say, no, NOTHING with M AND M's. They dont contain nuts, but are packaged at the plant and processed on the equipment that does peanut M and M's too. We have to seperate that stuff out. I know this sounds strange, I just send in fruit snacks alot of times, mostly for those kids. Also you are right about the twinkies, hostess is about the only prepacked stuff that is peanut free. Read everything carefully.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I'd be careful with anything prepackaged. A lot of times things are processed alongside peanut products even if they don't contain peanuts. You could risk there being the slightest bit of peanut in it.

I have a good friend with a severe peanut allergy (an adult, one of the few adults I've ever met with a peanut allergy) and he gets sick just being around peanuts, breathing in peanut dust.

Avoid M&Ms. M&Ms are one thing I recall my friend saying were really bad.

I'd really consider making something yourself from scratch if you can, or sending in something like gummi fruit snacks or something you are sure will not have peanuts.

 

[coinkc]

Hostess cupcakes are fine as are Oreo cookies. There are actually quite a few options you just have to read the labels on the packages. Personally, I think it is great you are sending pre-packaged stuff. When I had a child in my class with a peanut allergy, he was never allowed to eat homemade snacks because we just didn't know. Even with the best intentions sometimes people didn't realize where peanut residue can be.

 

[AboutTheMouse]

I'm surprised that the school will let you send anything homemade. Our school does not allow any home made edible goodies because of the concern for cross contamination. Think about the residue on tables, chairs and little sticky fingers. If by chance there were nut products in a baked good and the crumbs fall on the table, a severely allergic child could have a reaction if they were to come into contact with the cross-contaminated item.

For our school, birthday treats either have to be non-opened and pre-packaged with the ingredients listed or non-food items. I'm now doing non-edible treats along the lines of small toys from the dollar store, or treat bags with lollipops, taffy and the like (nothing baked). Maybe call the allergic child's parents and see what they suggest.

Good luck. I'm sure the parents will thank you for your thoughtfullness.

 

[Christine]

Twinkies are no longer peanut-safe and M&M's never have been. Last year, Twinkies starting having the "processed on equipment that uses nuts" or something to that effect. My son was bummed because he REALLY liked the Twinkies. Ho Ho's are safe, I do know that. The good thing about Hostess is that they label their products well.

It's tough, I know, but you've got to be really careful.

My son is allergic to peanuts but I don't consider him to be horribly allergic (or so I thought). This past Easter, I had bought him all safe stuff for his basket, and the usual stuff for my DD's basket. One day, for some reason, he accidentally picked up my DD's chocolate bunny (which was a Dove bunny) and ate a piece. Within 5 minutes, he was sneezing, coughing, and his whole head and ears where itching. We read the label and it said "manufactured in a facility that processes nuts." The product didn't even contain nuts, but apparently there was enough residue in the product to cause a reaction in my son.

So, please be careful what you send in.

 

[live4christp1]

My DD is allergic to any type nuts. Just read the label. Usually at the bottom of the list of ingredients in bold type you will find a statement that says "this product contains....." or "this product may contain trace amounts of......." or "this product was produced on equipment that is also used for......." and then it will list the allergen, be it peanuts, nuts, eggs, wheat, whatever. I didn't know there were so many food allergies, was only really aware of the peanut thing until DD was diagnosed with nut, chocolate, egg allergies. The nut though is the most dangerous I think. Most cookies will list that they have trace amounts or are produced within a facility that uses peanuts, not sure about Oreo's as we never touch those as they are chocolate.

 

[Rowena]

I sent in some Dixie cups and two bags of sealed, unpopped microwave popcorn for my DD's school birthday celebration. The teachers said this was a huge hit with the kids. You might consider this as an option, and ask if they have access to a microwave. Also, something like those little bags of Teddy Grahams or Oreos, or even mini donuts might be a good alternative. Just check the ingredients closely.

 

[Christine]

I meant to also add that I have often sent in a few boxes of Krispy Kreme donuts and I always get a nice compliment from the teacher about what a nice 'change' the donuts were. Apparently, many people don't send in donuts. They are easy, relatively "clean" and don't require plates, cutting, utensils, etc.

As far as I know, Krispy Kreme's are still peanut safe.

 

[disykat]

Just read the label and send in. However, be aware the PA child may not eat it. We are selective about Hostess and NEVER eat Oreos (they have no peanut warning, but they make peanut butter oreos so you do the math).

I think if it not labeled with peanut products, you have done your job (much more than most parents are willing to do - thank you!). Then it is up to the child, teacher, and parent to decide.

 

[tw1nsmom]

At DD & Ds's future elementary school, they don't allow a child with food allergies to eat anything from someone elses home (homemade or storebought). The allergic child has to pick from a bag of treats that his parents send in for him.

 

[kasar]

Popsicles are always a huge hit! But if the teacher doesn't want to clean up frosting faces she may not want sticky popsicle hands either.

 

[aprilgail2]

At DD & Ds's future elementary school, they don't allow a child with food allergies to eat anything from someone elses home (homemade or storebought). The allergic child has to pick from a bag of treats that his parents send in for him.

My friend does that with her daughter...the school askes the allergy kids parents to leave a bag of things they CAN have so when the class is having a treat they can give them one out of their own bag. I know at lunch time the "peanut kids"as my 5 year old calls them have to sit at their own table. At snack time all the peanut kids go to their own room to have their snacks together too.
My daughter is always eating skippy snack bars for snack and those tubes of peanut butter for lunch so she can never join her friend over at the peanut free table. The peanut kids can bring a friend to sit with them if that friend has no peanut products.

 

[mom2boys]

NO M&M's. I actually have a friend who sent plain M&Ms to her son's school (years ago before all the labeling). A classmate with a peanut allergy had a reaction & had to be hospitalized. School called M&Ms company & they indicated that it was not uncommon and explained about the peanut dust being impossible to contain & completely clean up.
Read the labels. My youngest is allergic to peanuts & tree nuts. Hostess products are usually ok - twinkies, ho-hos, zingers. Little Debbies are BAD NEWS for those with allergies. Watch out for peanut flour. Some cookies are made with it. Stay away.
My youngest will only eat prepackaged or mom made baked goods. He rarely touches a cookie - the cause of his last reaction 6 yrs ago & he's only 9.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

My DD had a friend who was so allergic to peanuts she couldn't eat lunch at school. Her mother would ask whoever baked something for the class to save the packages so she can inspect it. She would attend all the class parties. Not easy to do for everyone! She showed me what to look for on the packages for all the warnings.

 

[Idahomom]

Have you talked to the parents? I would be so surprised that a parent of an allergic child would not want to speak to the parents concerning food being brought in that their child is going to eat! I think it is great that you are being so careful and asking questions about what to bring in! It would be great if all parents were as understanding as you-thank you!

My dd8 is severely allergic to peanuts/tree nuts. She keeps her own safe snack at school for just these type of occasions. She is not allowed to eat anything except for the food we send to school w/her & parents can only send in peanut/tree nut free snacks (I'm not talking about lunch, but the treats that come into class.) Having a cupcake or cookie that someone elso brought in for a class party is not worth risking her life.

 

[leahannpen]

Wow, I just had a thread on this yesterday, and hardly got any responses. Maybe it's just me?

Anyway, I would have thought the mom at my DS's school would have given me something to work with...but she didn't. Nada. No note or anything. Apparently, she told the director of the school "vanilla muffins are fine". Well, gee, thanks. That gives me alot to work with.

Have you talked to the parents? I would be so surprised that a parent of an allergic child would not want to speak to the parents concerning food being brought in that their child is going to eat!

So I'm clueless. A few people here who did answer me suggested Duncan Hines or Pillsbury for muffins. I bought Duncan Hines with frosting, and neither says Peanut at the bottom of the box. I thought I'd bring in the box and container too. But, after reading this thread, maybe I should just buy Hostess or something???

 

[Christine]

Wow, I just had a thread on this yesterday, and hardly got any responses. Maybe it's just me?

Anyway, I would have thought the mom at my DS's school would have given me something to work with...but she didn't. Nada. No note or anything. Apparently, she told the director of the school "vanilla muffins are fine". Well, gee, thanks. That gives me alot to work with.

So I'm clueless. A few people here who did answer me suggested Duncan Hines or Pillsbury for muffins. I bought Duncan Hines with frosting, and neither says Peanut at the bottom of the box. I thought I'd bring in the box and container too. But, after reading this thread, maybe I should just buy Hostess or something???

Wow, I must have missed your thread because I SURELY would have answered it!!

I routinely bake my son cakes using Betty Crocker, Duncan Hines, etc. They are fine. I would think they would be safer than a Hostess product. But as other posters have mentioned, most daycare centers/preschools etc won't allow 'homemade' stuff and only want a packaged product. If your school doesn't care, I would go with the cake mix you are using.

 

[Idahomom]

Anyway, I would have thought the mom at my DS's school would have given me something to work with...but she didn't. Nada. No note or anything. Apparently, she told the director of the school "vanilla muffins are fine". Well, gee, thanks. That gives me alot to work with.

I would call the parents. IMO I think it is both rude & negligent that a parent of an allergic child wouldn't want to go over what treat is being brough in by you! They are leaving it up to you to ensure that you bring in a safe snack for their child who has a LIFE threatening allergy! ...aaargh I can't imagine letting my dd eat something somebody else brought into class without talking to the parent first (although we keep safe treats on hand for her in the class as she doesn't eat anything except the food we provide for her).
But again I have to say a big THANK YOU to you and those parents who go to the trouble of making sure you are bringing in safe treats. I wish there were more parents like you and Microcell in my dd's class.

 

[leahannpen]

I couldn't believe the lack of cooperation either. I'm making the Duncan Hines kind, I'm scrubbing my counters before, using the paper cup things in my pan, which I'll also scour, and take in the box and container. I think that's all I can do.

I started this over a week ago with a note to the mom hoping for some help, which I didn't get much of. I'll make sure I talk to the teacher first too. One of those things that make you go: "hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm"???!!!