Lunch box ideas?

[organicmama]

We use SunButter as a substitute. The label reads:

Allergy Statement:
Made on Equipment that processes soybeans.
PROCESSED IN A PEANUT AND TREE NUT FREE FACILITY.
-------------------------------------------------------------
We grind specially selected and roasted sunflower seed into the news nutritionally packed spread that can function as a direct peanut butter replacement; allowing for a peanut-free, tree nut-free, and great tasting food for your family. Each batch is tested for trace amounts of peanut protein.

The front of the label also reads: Gluten Free.

You can buy it at FHTOI or you can get it at both Publix stores. The one in Sandestin has it in the healthfood section with the sweeteners and other nut butters. The Watercolor one has it in with the regular peanut butter. It's $4.99 at Publix.

My oldest daughter has a peanut allergy and I can pretty much pinpoint the cause, as the other two don't have the same allergy. While pg with her, I was working at UGA Law Library and used to tote a couple of PB sandwiches with me daily. It was easy to pack, no refrig necessary and I was a vegetarian at the time. I lived off of them because of my job and ravenous appetite. We noticed her allergy when she was less than a year old. Luckily, we had a pediatrician that was willing to work with me on the elimination diet and we figured it out quickly.

If she eats a PB sandwich, she's not going to get anything but a little spot of eczema. Constant PB and she would itch really bad. But Chick-Fil-A doesn't really bother her, with the peanut oil. However, we don't do that very often at all.
Strangely, our 3rd child has the same issue but with corn, which is another thing that is put into every product under the sun.

I am lucky because it's not the terrible versions of the allergies. However, my husband has had allergies his whole life and has been off and on steroids, which is why he became incredibly and debilitatingly ill over the past 5 years.... adrenal fatigue and hypothyroidism that was directly related to the overuse of steroids to control his allergies. YOU SHOULDN'T JUST GIVE A DRUG TO A CHILD TO CALM A REACTION DOWN ALL THE TIME. THOSE DRUGS HAVE TERRIBLE SIDE EFFECTS, ESPECIALLY IF USED CONTINUOUSLY OVER TIME. If you want the nasty side of the long term effects of the drugs used on kids with allergies, I have photos of Mr. OMs skin that will literally horrify you. NOTE: I'm not against using an EpiPen in an emergency situation or any drug for that matter, but the against the lifetime control of allergies in that manner. We've got hydrocortisone cream & benadryl here for our emergencies like that, but they are only used when nothing else we have on hand works.

 

[ckhagen]

While pg with her, I was working at UGA Law Library and used to tote a couple of PB sandwiches with me daily. It was easy to pack, no refrig necessary and I was a vegetarian at the time. I lived off of them because of my job and ravenous appetite. We noticed her allergy when she was less than a year old. Luckily, we had a pediatrician that was willing to work with me on the elimination diet and we figured it out quickly.

Constant PB and she would itch really bad. But Chick-Fil-A doesn't really bother her, with the peanut oil.

My mom was also a big pb eater during pregnancy. She says she ate at least one if not two pb&js every single day while pregnant with me, but did not repeat the same behavior with my 5 younger siblings, none of whom are allergic. Of course, I know kids who are severely allergic whose mothers didn't do that, but I do believe it can be a trigger for some.

Btw, the reason why she doesn't react at Chic-fil-a is because peanut oil is only a problem if it is cold-pressed. Fast food joints don't use cold pressed oil (it's a gourmet thing). So, I can eat chic-fil-a just fine and of course my favorite chips, Zapps, which are also friend in peanut oil. And honestly, I just found that out recently (the reason why).

 

[Matt J]

We use SunButter as a substitute. The label reads:

Allergy Statement:
Made on Equipment that processes soybeans.
PROCESSED IN A PEANUT AND TREE NUT FREE FACILITY.
-------------------------------------------------------------
We grind specially selected and roasted sunflower seed into the news nutritionally packed spread that can function as a direct peanut butter replacement; allowing for a peanut-free, tree nut-free, and great tasting food for your family. Each batch is tested for trace amounts of peanut protein.

The front of the label also reads: Gluten Free.

You can buy it at FHTOI or you can get it at both Publix stores. The one in Sandestin has it in the healthfood section with the sweeteners and other nut butters. The Watercolor one has it in with the regular peanut butter. It's $4.99 at Publix.

My oldest daughter has a peanut allergy and I can pretty much pinpoint the cause, as the other two don't have the same allergy. While pg with her, I was working at UGA Law Library and used to tote a couple of PB sandwiches with me daily. It was easy to pack, no refrig necessary and I was a vegetarian at the time. I lived off of them because of my job and ravenous appetite. We noticed her allergy when she was less than a year old. Luckily, we had a pediatrician that was willing to work with me on the elimination diet and we figured it out quickly.

If she eats a PB sandwich, she's not going to get anything but a little spot of eczema. Constant PB and she would itch really bad. But Chick-Fil-A doesn't really bother her, with the peanut oil. However, we don't do that very often at all.
Strangely, our 3rd child has the same issue but with corn, which is another thing that is put into every product under the sun.

I am lucky because it's not the terrible versions of the allergies. However, my husband has had allergies his whole life and has been off and on steroids, which is why he became incredibly and debilitatingly ill over the past 5 years.... adrenal fatigue and hypothyroidism that was directly related to the overuse of steroids to control his allergies. YOU SHOULDN'T JUST GIVE A DRUG TO A CHILD TO CALM A REACTION DOWN ALL THE TIME. THOSE DRUGS HAVE TERRIBLE SIDE EFFECTS, ESPECIALLY IF USED CONTINUOUSLY OVER TIME. If you want the nasty side of the long term effects of the drugs used on kids with allergies, I have photos of Mr. OMs skin that will literally horrify you. NOTE: I'm not against using an EpiPen in an emergency situation or any drug for that matter, but the against the lifetime control of allergies in that manner. We've got hydrocortisone cream & benadryl here for our emergencies like that, but they are only used when nothing else we have on hand works.

This made me chuckle, my sister has to use it for my neice due to peanut allergies at her school. Honestly, if you think the anti-peanut folks are nuts (no pun intended) here move to Tallahassee. My sister was approached about a peanut free law for public schools in Florida. Yep, a state law. :roll: Anyway off topic, my sister discovered this lovely alternative and sent my neice to school. Only to receive a call from the school about an hour later telling her to come pick her up and take the peanut butter home. She explained to the principal that it wasn't peanut based, but she didn't buy it. My sister finally had to tell her to just throw it out and then the next day took the jar in with her. Long story short is to tell the teacher ahead of time or it can be a huge ordeal. The anti-peanut folks can be a little naziesque, but I do understand some of their reasoning.

 

[organicmama]

My granddaughter is in that preschool class. I think it is very unfair for all of the other kids. I am very sorry for the child with the problem but we cannot afford expensive alternatives. It requires alot of time and money to work around this problem. The school needs to find another way or perhaps the child should be home schooled. We do not need to pay the price to solve the problem.

I am a bit shocked at your statement. If a child had something that you considered a true disability, I believe that your reaction would be more kind-hearted. These are little guys we are talking about.

Homeschooling is hard as hell. I've tried it with 3 kids and you should also have sense enough to realize that it's not an option for many because of the need for both parents to work.

Usually, the expensive alternatives you speak about are better for the child eating them, in the first place, as they are "real" foods, not the processed crap that is so prevalent in our society today. I grew up on that junk, I know. At home & for school lunches our children eat whole, healthy food. We do some fast food, as I am not some live in a bubble extremist, but it's random and rare. To me, it's kind of like the theory of eating dirt as a child, it keeps their immune system up, but too much would make them ill.;-)

Ma'am, you need to think about how rude you can come off before you type.

 

[organicmama]

This made me chuckle, my sister has to use it for my neice due to peanut allergies at her school. Honestly, if you think the anti-peanut folks are nuts (no pun intended) here move to Tallahassee. My sister was approached about a peanut free law for public schools in Florida. Yep, a state law. :roll: Anyway off topic, my sister discovered this lovely alternative and sent my neice to school. Only to receive a call from the school about an hour later telling her to come pick her up and take the peanut butter home. She explained to the principal that it wasn't peanut based, but she didn't buy it. My sister finally had to tell her to just throw it out and then the next day took the jar in with her. Long story short is to tell the teacher ahead of time or it can be a huge ordeal. The anti-peanut folks can be a little naziesque, but I do understand some of their reasoning.

I write on the school forms that Riv is allergic to peanuts and then I get the Inquisition. I just let them know that it's not going to kill her and that she's smart enough to know what to avoid. I've never explained the SunButter to her school, unless they ask what it is.

 

[organicmama]

My mom was also a big pb eater during pregnancy. She says she ate at least one if not two pb&js every single day while pregnant with me, but did not repeat the same behavior with my 5 younger siblings, none of whom are allergic. Of course, I know kids who are severely allergic whose mothers didn't do that, but I do believe it can be a trigger for some.

Btw, the reason why she doesn't react at Chic-fil-a is because peanut oil is only a problem if it is cold-pressed. Fast food joints don't use cold pressed oil (it's a gourmet thing). So, I can eat chic-fil-a just fine and of course my favorite chips, Zapps, which are also friend in peanut oil. And honestly, I just found that out recently (the reason why).

That's exactly what I did.

So, basically, the stuff from Chic-Fil-A and Zapps isn't really peanut oil anymore, as we know.

 

[DizzyLizzy]

I am a bit shocked at your statement. If a child had something that you considered a true disability, I believe that your reaction would be more kind-hearted. These are little guys we are talking about.

Homeschooling is hard as hell. I've tried it with 3 kids and you should also have sense enough to realize that it's not an option for many because of the need for both parents to work.

Usually, the expensive alternatives you speak about are better for the child eating them, in the first place, as they are "real" foods, not the processed crap that is so prevalent in our society today. I grew up on that junk, I know. At home & for school lunches our children eat whole, healthy food. We do some fast food, as I am not some live in a bubble extremist, but it's random and rare. To me, it's kind of like the theory of eating dirt as a child, it keeps their immune system up, but too much would make them ill.;-)

Ma'am, you need to think about how rude you can come off before you type.

Ma'am, she wasn't being rude. She was stating the same thing that every other parent in that class has stated. It's difficult and puts EVERYONE in a bind. It's horrible for the little girl and if it were my child, I would want people to comply. That doesn't make it any cheaper or easier for everyone in the classroom though.