Parents of children with food allergiesknow how to pack a nut-free lunch and have spoken with teachers, coaches and after-school adults about how to keep their children safe.
But when parents find out their child is in a "nut-free classroom," or part of nut-free extracurricular group, what does that mean for them or theirchildren? It varies.
At the very least, itmeans changes when food is involved in holiday or birthday celebrations, art projects orsnack time.Managing food allergies in a school setting is challenging because they can prove deadly,which is why many schools around the country have adopted nut-free policies.
Dr. Michael E.Manning, of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Associates in Scottsdale, Ariz. said it's rare that anything severe happens, but parents' of children with allergies are always concerned.
"People don't understand the degree thatallergies can impact the family," Manning said. "The level of fear the family deals with on a daily basis can be incredible."
Parents can make the transition to a nut-free space easierby following these suggestions, Manning said.
Read any material that the school or teacher sends home.The school may provide a listof recommended snacks or require that snacks be in individual packages. Some schools may forbid homemade snacks.
Read food labels. Peanuts and tree nuts must be identified under federal law as a food ingredient."Pay attention to'may contain,'Fine print is important," Manning said. These also qualify as tree nuts:almonds, macadamia nuts, brazil nuts, cashews, walnuts, pecans, pistachios, chestnuts, beechnuts, hazelnuts, hickory nuts, pine nuts (pinon or pignoli) andgingko nuts.
Ask for help. Still confused about whether you can pack your child'sfavorite peanut butter and jelly sandwich? Ask the teacher. Or if you're in a spot — you're asked to be bringsnacks for a special occasion or you wantto bring cupcakes for your child's birthday—ask the child's parents, Manning advises.
"You will never make a mistake by being too conservative," he said "It behooves (parents)to be extra cautious because youdon’t want to be the source of aproblem."
10 nut-free snacks
So what are you going to bring to a nut-free classroom?Specific snacks are alwaysdicey to suggest, but we offer a few recommendations.Always check labels on packaged foods.
Cheddar snacks: The crunchy crackers are an easy, all-aroundpopular choice.
Pudding cups. Another most all-the-time nut-free snack.Check labels to be doubly sure.
Cheese sticks: Check the label, but most cheese is nutfree, including the cubes and string variety, which kids love.
Applesauce: When opting for the healthy choice, pick the unsweetenedindividual cups.
Pretzels: Crunchy andgreat for dipping inhummus or sun butter.
Fruit snacks: Kids adore fruit snacks. They start eating them when they're young and never seem to outgrow liking them. Avoid the fruit and nut combos, obviously.
Popcorn: A lot of popcorn is popped inunsafe oils, but certain brands are safe.
Raisins and dried fruit:The classic, kid-friendly snack comes in kid-sized packages. Be sure to check the label to assure it's processed safely.
Veggie sticks: The crispy sticks are a healthier choice to potato chips and kids love to dip 'em. They come in individual packages and in variety packs.
Animal crackers: As with all snacks, it's important to check the label. But brands such asZoo Animal Crackersand Barnum Animal Crackers are nut free.
Cheese sticks: Check the label, but most cheese is nut free, including the cubes and string variety, which kids love. Applesauce: When opting for the healthy choice, pick the unsweetened individual cups. Pretzels: Crunchy and great for dipping in hummus or sun butter. Fruit snacks: Kids adore fruit snacks.
Cheese sticks: Check the label, but most cheese is nut free, including the cubes and string variety, which kids love. Applesauce: When opting for the healthy choice, pick the unsweetened individual cups. Pretzels: Crunchy and great for dipping in hummus or sun butter. Fruit snacks: Kids adore fruit snacks.
Chips are a popular snack, and most chips, pretzels, and popcorn are naturally peanut-free. Nevertheless, the facilities they are made or packaged at may not be. Surprisingly, the list of safe and healthy options is limited. Potato Chips - Siete and Boulder are some of the safe potato chip brands.
Although your meal is prepared with care, we cannot guarantee it will be allergen free, even after ingredients have been removed on request. While there are no nuts or peanut ingredients in the products listed we can't guarantee that our food is completely nut or peanut free.
Only Multi Grain Cheerios Peanut Butter contains PEANUTS. All other varieties, including original Cheerios, Multi Grain Cheerios, Apple Cinnamon Cheerios, Chocolate Cheerios, Cinnamon Burst Cheerios, Frosted Cheerios, Fruity Cheerios, and Yogurt Burst Cheerios, do not contain nuts.
McDonald's has a policy of avoiding peanuts in their standard menu items, but cross-contamination can occur, and some products may contain traces of peanuts or tree nuts. It's important to note that McDonald's restaurants also offer various desserts and treats that contain tree nuts.
There are some important things that you may not know about a peanut and tree nut allergy. Some parents wonder why they can't eat certain foods when peanuts or nuts are not visually present. For example, M&M's do not have peanuts as an ingredient, but there is a warning stating that they may contain peanuts.
Luckily, many classic Halloween candies happen to be nut-free. Here are some choices to fill your candy chute that will keep everyone safe while snacking: Skittles: The taste of the rainbow is free of all eight major allergens, and it's hard to find a kid who doesn't like Skittles.
Due to the handcrafted nature of our food, variations in our supplier ingredients, and our use of shared cooking and preparation areas, we cannot ensure that our food is free from any allergens.
Yes, these chocolate-coated wafers are peanut- and nut-free. But like some other options on this list, its facilities are not nut-free, so not ideal for those with severe allergies.
So, I'm here to inform you that the peanut oil used at Chick-fil-A is 100% refined which removes the peanut protein. The allergen is in the peanut protein, not the oil. That means that people with peanut allergies can safely eat at Chick-fil-A without worrying about reactions.
Welch's® Fruit Snacks are made in a number of facilities. Many varieties are made in completely nut free facilities.The remainder are made in isolated areas within facilities that handle allergens.
They may have questions like “What candy can I eat?” or: “Are fruit snacks peanut free?” They'll be happy to know that Welch's® Fruit Snacks and Welch's® Fruit 'n Yogurt™ Snacks are delicious nut-free options!
We strongly recommend that anyone with an allergic condition or sensitivity to nuts, gluten, or other food allergens NOT consume our products. Products may contain allergens or sensitivities as an ingredient, or they may contain them as they share common equipment at the store level and/or at the manufacturing plants.
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