What the heck do I pack for lunch when every place we go is "nut free"?!?!?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seriously, if you can't deal with this for the 10 weeks of summer camp, try dealing with it 52 weeks a year.


Signed,
Mother of two nut allergy kids (no, I'm not imagining this, we've had vomiting, lost voices, hives and blood tests from doctors.) who is in the midst of the annual epipen collection/prescription update/camp form fill out/doctors office nightmare for 2 kids that will go to a number of different summer camps.

PS at least it's not gluten

Lost voices?

[Anonymous]

Welcome to my life I have a peanut- and treenut-allergic kid. Use an ice pack in the lunchbox.

As someone said, pack a thermos; food stays warm.
Hummus
Sunbutter or soybutter
Somersaults- snacks made from sesame seeds that supposedly have more protein than nuts
Greek yogurt
Cheese in all forms
Various meats

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am at a loss too for my picky eater who loves peanut butter sandwiches. If I just made a grill cheese do you think that would that keep ok unrefrigerated until lunch time? He doesn't need it warmed up.

Yes. My 4 year old loves grilled cheese and I do this all the time.

Ask your kid what she WILL eat, OP. Chicken wrap? Tuna salad sandwich? BLT? Pasta with sausage? There's lots of options besides pbj.

[Anonymous]

Hard boiled eggs are a hit with DD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Use sunflower seed butter - they sell it at Trader Joes and Whole Foods. I think it tastes better.

+1.

also, your kid will be fine if her lunch isn't chock full of protein every day.

Not mine. My own child's health issues would have precluded me sending him to a nut free camp. Way too hard to keep my child's metabolism controlled without the nuts.

I feel for you, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seriously, if you can't deal with this for the 10 weeks of summer camp, try dealing with it 52 weeks a year.


Signed,
Mother of two nut allergy kids (no, I'm not imagining this, we've had vomiting, lost voices, hives and blood tests from doctors.) who is in the midst of the annual epipen collection/prescription update/camp form fill out/doctors office nightmare for 2 kids that will go to a number of different summer camps.

PS at least it's not gluten

I get your point, but if you write like this, I wonder if your kids have to walk to camp. Uphill. Both ways.

A person with less experience than you asked for assistance and got snark. Instead, you could have passed on some of your best ideas.

[Anonymous]

If PB sandwiches are all your kid will eat, you have bigger problems.

[Anonymous]

I hate this nut free nonsense. What did all the allergic kids do when we were young and the schools and camp lunch rooms were basically peanut butter slicks. In any case, tuna sandwiches, ham sandwiches, quesadillas, cheese sandwiches etc. Your kid may not like cold cuts, but she won't starve herself either. Put enough mayo on the bread and nearly anything is palatable. Also, you don't have to buy cold cuts, you can cook a chicken on Sunday and use that, bake a ham and slice that, make homemade hot pockets with roll dough, pizza etc.

[Anonymous]

cookie butter

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hate this nut free nonsense. What did all the allergic kids do when we were young and the schools and camp lunch rooms were basically peanut butter slicks. In any case, tuna sandwiches, ham sandwiches, quesadillas, cheese sandwiches etc. Your kid may not like cold cuts, but she won't starve herself either. Put enough mayo on the bread and nearly anything is palatable. Also, you don't have to buy cold cuts, you can cook a chicken on Sunday and use that, bake a ham and slice that, make homemade hot pockets with roll dough, pizza etc. [/quoted]

Thanks for your compassion.

[Anonymous]

We do a small tupperwear with slices of turkey, ham, pepperoni, chicken nuggets, hummus and pita

I highly recommend having a snack in the car when you pick them up. (Maybe a peanut butter sandwich)

[Anonymous]

Tuna, ham, cheese, chicken, roast beef, turkey. The list is endless. My son hates PB and all nuts for that matter. He takes one of the things I just mentioned or I heat up other things in a Thermos like chicken nuggets, meatballs, hard boiled eggs, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seriously, if you can't deal with this for the 10 weeks of summer camp, try dealing with it 52 weeks a year.


Signed,
Mother of two nut allergy kids (no, I'm not imagining this, we've had vomiting, lost voices, hives and blood tests from doctors.) who is in the midst of the annual epipen collection/prescription update/camp form fill out/doctors office nightmare for 2 kids that will go to a number of different summer camps.

PS at least it's not gluten

X10000

[Anonymous]

I've packed nut free lunches since 1996. Nut free schools are incredibly common where I am.

Cream cheese
Cheese of any kind
Eggs
Tuna
Chicken
Left overs
Tofu if your kids like it
Greek yogurt
Cottage cheese with fruit
Hummus
Sunflower seeds (6 g of protein in 1/4 cup)
Milk has protein in it.

Cook a roast, chicken or ham for supper and slice the leftovers for lunch.

The PB substitutes have never gone over well here. Both kids could tell the difference without knowing what I used. Their sandwiches were "gross."

A thermos is good for keeping things hot or cold. Ice packs are great too.

One thing to note though is watch the bread you use. A lot of the whole grain ones contain nuts of some kind.

[Anonymous]

Will your child eat salad? My son loves a salad with romaine lettuce, shredded carrots, cucumbers, croutons, a little shredded cheese, some cold grilled chicken and a container of home made good seasons Italian dressing. Keep the croutons, cheese, chicken and dressing separate from the veggies and include a fork and large enough container that they can mix it up at lunch time.

I also sent in pasta salad, chicken nuggets, macaroni & cheese, pizza etc. It might not be hot when he eats it, but he doesn't complain.