Talking Allergies

Turns out the school intended to request a treat from me after all. I sent one anyway! There are 6 students in the class with food allergies. I am happy to send a treat for each festive occasion. My husband was able to go and help supervise the students and there were about 5 parents there so the kids were pretty well behaved.

My husband reported to me tonight that the PTA has decided not to serve pizza at the upcomming school dance but to serve fresh fruit instead.
I'm glad that they are trying to stay away from easily transferable allergens (cheese grease) and I'm glad that they are trying to serve healthy snacks.
I feel sorry for those with blossom allergies.
They have also decided to serve hot chocolate at the last skate day. (The arena next door donates ice time to the school). My husband was planning to bring her home when they bring the hot chocolate out as it is at the end of her school day. I am f the feeling that we could get her input as to what we cud bring to make it special for her too. She doesn't like hot cocoa (with soy milk naturally) but why should she miss out on the opportunity to socialise?
Sometimes we differ in opinions in these matters.

What about warm apple cider?

Wow, great idea on the apple cider!!! I will store that idea in my memory for when I need a substitute for hot chocolate which I'm sure will come up in my future! Kids would probably love it and be more than pleased with getting something new and really good.

Also, you could probably find a "certificate" at a stationary store or printed off the internet for "participation in skating" or something like that. For my kids...on the last day of gymnastics before christmas they got a certificate, and stickers ( not x-mas candy ) and they really loved it!

Susan, I don't remember your daughter's allergies, but Nutriwhip is milk free. I use coco and sugar, mix with hot water and add some whipped cream... or marshmallow and it is excellent. I can't have soy anymore, but I had tried it for years trying to get to the hot coco taste I missed so much and as soon as I took the soy milk out, it actually tasted good

Apple cider is a good idea! Can you get it at this time or is it just a fall item?
Our daughter seems to think she might like to try hot cocoa with marshmallows. I might try the nutriwhip idea. I also took the idea from someone (I think it was Saskmommyof2) who said she used Silk for coffee in the mushroom soup. I might try that instead of soy milk. The Great Canadian Super Store has it on sale (or possibly just "featured") this week so I picked up some.
Great ideas everyone, thanks!!

it's probably not what real apple cider is suposed to be (I admit I don't know what it is...), but I heat up some apple juice (the brown one, not the refined one) and sometimes add a little cinamon. That apple juice is available all year (I see it in the produce area, but it could be somewhere else too... I only know 2 grocery stores )

I think it's a great drink and it's extremly quick when I come back from work and it's -40 outside!

Mylène

Susan, I believe that my superstore has apple cider mix all year. Since most superstores have a similar planogram, the mix in your store might be located near the wine making supplies, and other "just add" alcohol drink mixes that are kept on the shelf (not in the freezer).

Susan, you said you just picked up some silk for coffee because it was on sale? You mean to say that you do not normally have it in your fridge? In our house it is a must have and I keep extras so I don't run out. I use it on everything from in coffee, cream of mushroom soup, on hot cereal, in baking! It is a must have...do not run out of, multipurpose product in our home!

No, I usually use CoffeeRich in my coffee.
We're not big on cereal. Our daughter just eats it dry and she usually have a muffin for breakfast. Or she'll have soya milk on oatmeal.
We don't do a lot of cream sauces. I might start though because I love them! I just can't make them out of "an edible oil product"...it's just too gross! Most soya miks don't seem to hold up well.

I was not a big fan of coffee rich. It left floating oil drops on top of the coffee. Silk for coffee does not do that...and it is not an edible oil product, it is soy based. It is way better in coffee! If you check out silk for coffees ingredients and nutritional info...you will see that it is actually not that different from soy milk, it just tastes "creamier". And no trans fats...I remember coffee rich being full of trans fats, which explained the floating oil drops. It is actually a healthy base for a "creamy sauce".

I think it lists "natural flavouring". That always makes me nervous, what is it etc. anyway, I'm hoping to call the company or soemthing to verify.
Yes, CoffeeRich is kinda gross but iIt's cheaper.

Currently I am shaking, fuming mad. My daughters preschool once again was idiotic. It was "valentines party day", and she exchanged valentines with her classmates. Many of them had unlabeled, definitely may contain nuts candy taped to it. One, was in a snack size bag full of loose candy. Why, once again is it the responsibility of a four year old to have it and not eat it. She gave me her valentines box, which I went through and discarded the treats.

I phoned her teacher when i got home. "It can not be the responsibility of a four year old to have the candy and know not to eat it" I said. Teacher said that "she told my daughter to make sure i checked it before she ate any, and she was surprised how rude my daughter was to her, and my daughter said "yeah, yeah" in a very rude voice." I told the teacher that "any normal four year old who is about to have their candy taken away by their mother will quickly eat it and she should not have had access to it."

They just don't seem to get it, that they need to be resposible here that she is not given candy. That is how she accidently ate some only a few weeks ago.

I came up with a new idea. Currently I have a "treaure chest" of prizes (books, markers, stickers etc.) that my daughter can choose from when she earns 5 stickers for meals where she ate a large portion of vegetables. For acting responsibly and remembering the allergy rules...I let her pick a prize. She seemed really happy about it...and hopefully it will encourage her to remember the rules when faced with those situations.

A four year old is fed up with hearing "don't eat it like all your friends do - you take it home so mommy can be mean mommy and take it away". So this four year old says "yeah, yeah". Big deal! Children learn what they live. If an adult is rudely giving her something that another adult is going to be forced take away - what does she expect that child to do? Be grateful? It sounds like your daughter is hearing *let mommy check it* to often.

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OT - I love your treasure idea for eating veggies. I may try adapting it for my son.

Does this mean that the teacher is defending her actions and isn't telling you that she will comply with your request to not give any food to your child? I hope not.

As for your daughter's response--could she be stressed about being given food that is unsafe?

Wow! I can't believe the lack of support the school systems give in situations like these. My allergic daughter is only 2 so I still have 1.5yrs to go, but already I get knots in my stomach just thinking about it.

My neighbour's daughter is in SK and she's bringing in valentine's day cards with suckers attached to them. There is 1 boy who is peanut allergic so my neighbour had asked if Dunkeroos were peanut free. I really have no idea - but I told her I'd give her one of our NoNuttin Bars to attach to his card. At least that has "No Nuts" right on the package and the ingredients. Hopefully it will help him feel some what included

I like the treasure chest idea too! Once my daughter is old enough to actually understand her allergy rules I think I'll put something like that in place too.