Middle School Lunch Lacks Gluten-Free Options

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps his teacher could stow the appropriate granola bar or crackers to cover the rare refrigerator malfunction.

They technically aren't permitted I think, but we could also just have a couple gluten-free options on the regular lunch menu. It doesn't need to be specifically gluten free, but the ability to adapt items by removing breads is all that is needed. Instead, that isn't even possible.

I'm confused because the online menu seems to indicate many things that could be adapted in that way, plus other items that are gluten free. If it were my kid, I would also keep a stack of snacks in the pantry that he could use to assemble a meal if we got jammed up and ran out of other food. My MS kid does that for lunch sometimes -- we can it "snack-lunch".

Those items don’t exist on the actual menu offered. They say they have them on a general level, but they aren’t there. The biggest issue is when he forgets his lunch, but right now we have limited options from home due to home being remodeled.

Lots of options, get a mini fridge and just make some basic lunches. Or, buy some ready-made. If you can afford a remodel, you can afford to figure this out. Get carryout every night.

6 people in a mini fridge isn’t very convenient. That said, there is zero reason for them to not offer modular lunches where you can just remove the wheat product.

Sandwiches are inherently modular, OP. You said so yourself when you recommended removing buns from burgers.

Schools don’t sell modular sandwiches. They can’t be requested without the bread. If they could, that could be a minimally acceptable alternative.

Are they selling premade sandwiches? Since he doesn't actually seem to be celiac or allergic to wheat, can he just take the sandwich apart? Schools aren't making their food onsite these days, so if they sold a burger it would be preassembled as well. But you seem to think that would be an option.

Realistically, schools need to accommodate kids on free/reduced lunch who buy regularly, and have medically documented food issues. They don't need to accommodate kids from affluent families who forget their lunch and aren't actually allergic or celiac.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps his teacher could stow the appropriate granola bar or crackers to cover the rare refrigerator malfunction.

They technically aren't permitted I think, but we could also just have a couple gluten-free options on the regular lunch menu. It doesn't need to be specifically gluten free, but the ability to adapt items by removing breads is all that is needed. Instead, that isn't even possible.

I'm confused because the online menu seems to indicate many things that could be adapted in that way, plus other items that are gluten free. If it were my kid, I would also keep a stack of snacks in the pantry that he could use to assemble a meal if we got jammed up and ran out of other food. My MS kid does that for lunch sometimes -- we can it "snack-lunch".

Those items don’t exist on the actual menu offered. They say they have them on a general level, but they aren’t there. The biggest issue is when he forgets his lunch, but right now we have limited options from home due to home being remodeled.

Lots of options, get a mini fridge and just make some basic lunches. Or, buy some ready-made. If you can afford a remodel, you can afford to figure this out. Get carryout every night.

6 people in a mini fridge isn’t very convenient. That said, there is zero reason for them to not offer modular lunches where you can just remove the wheat product.

Feed your own child. The entitlement! I’m blown away.

[Anonymous]

omg entitled!

The is a PUBLIC school for the MASSES. How hard is it to throw a couple of apples and tangerines and gluten free bars into a lunch bag??

You want to be catered to? Go private.

[Anonymous]

So called “gluten sensitivity” is a fairly recent phenomenon, and schools need time to adjust their menus.

[Anonymous]

If your child has Celiac, gluten allergy or special dietary need you can make a special request for this. I would not expect a large public school cafeteria to have a true gluten free meal readily available.

If this is just a personal preference, then suck it up.

FYI my child has Celiac and I would not trust the public school cafeteria. Packing lunch is pretty easy. My child was diagnosed with Celiac in preschool and has managed with packed lunch up until now easily (high school.). Child also has Type 1 Diabetes. We make it work.

[Anonymous]

New Poster here.
We are a vegetarian family and it takes about 5 minutes to put the lunches together the night before and keep them in the fridge. We do iy as were are cleaNING

[Anonymous]

^^
oops.
We do it as we are cleaning up dinner. It often involves leftovers and some fruit and a treat.

Done. No whining.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps his teacher could stow the appropriate granola bar or crackers to cover the rare refrigerator malfunction.

They technically aren't permitted I think, but we could also just have a couple gluten-free options on the regular lunch menu. It doesn't need to be specifically gluten free, but the ability to adapt items by removing breads is all that is needed. Instead, that isn't even possible.

I'm confused because the online menu seems to indicate many things that could be adapted in that way, plus other items that are gluten free. If it were my kid, I would also keep a stack of snacks in the pantry that he could use to assemble a meal if we got jammed up and ran out of other food. My MS kid does that for lunch sometimes -- we can it "snack-lunch".

Those items don’t exist on the actual menu offered. They say they have them on a general level, but they aren’t there. The biggest issue is when he forgets his lunch, but right now we have limited options from home due to home being remodeled.

Lots of options, get a mini fridge and just make some basic lunches. Or, buy some ready-made. If you can afford a remodel, you can afford to figure this out. Get carryout every night.

6 people in a mini fridge isn’t very convenient. That said, there is zero reason for them to not offer modular lunches where you can just remove the wheat product.

So what?? The school does not need to cater to your snowflake for your convenience. This is not their problem to solve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your child has Celiac, gluten allergy or special dietary need you can make a special request for this. I would not expect a large public school cafeteria to have a true gluten free meal readily available.

If this is just a personal preference, then suck it up.

FYI my child has Celiac and I would not trust the public school cafeteria. Packing lunch is pretty easy. My child was diagnosed with Celiac in preschool and has managed with packed lunch up until now easily (high school.). Child also has Type 1 Diabetes. We make it work.

Similar to my kids. packing lunches is just a part of the daily routine -- like brushing your teeth or throwing your clothes in the hamper.

[Anonymous]

OP,
You do know there are food-insecure kids at school, right? Schools need to focus on them, not on a middle class family with concerns such as re-models getting in the way of packing lunch.

Even in HS I keep "emergency" food in my desk for the kids I know who are needy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP,
You do know there are food-insecure kids at school, right? Schools need to focus on them, not on a middle class family with concerns such as re-models getting in the way of packing lunch.

Even in HS I keep "emergency" food in my desk for the kids I know who are needy.

There isn’t a choice between those. Stop enforcing a false dilemma. Some of them could also benefit from gluten-feee options. They likely don’t have the medical access to know it. This

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New Poster here.
We are a vegetarian family and it takes about 5 minutes to put the lunches together the night before and keep them in the fridge. We do iy as were are cleaNING

OP can buy ready made veggie packs, glutten free crackers or bread, cheese, lunch meat... super simple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP,
You do know there are food-insecure kids at school, right? Schools need to focus on them, not on a middle class family with concerns such as re-models getting in the way of packing lunch.

Even in HS I keep "emergency" food in my desk for the kids I know who are needy.

This is an upper middle class family or higher if they can afford a remodel of their kitchen and other things along with having 4 kids.

[Anonymous]

Gluten free?!? The school lunch isn’t even edible!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps his teacher could stow the appropriate granola bar or crackers to cover the rare refrigerator malfunction.

They technically aren't permitted I think, but we could also just have a couple gluten-free options on the regular lunch menu. It doesn't need to be specifically gluten free, but the ability to adapt items by removing breads is all that is needed. Instead, that isn't even possible.

I'm confused because the online menu seems to indicate many things that could be adapted in that way, plus other items that are gluten free. If it were my kid, I would also keep a stack of snacks in the pantry that he could use to assemble a meal if we got jammed up and ran out of other food. My MS kid does that for lunch sometimes -- we can it "snack-lunch".

Those items don’t exist on the actual menu offered. They say they have them on a general level, but they aren’t there. The biggest issue is when he forgets his lunch, but right now we have limited options from home due to home being remodeled.

Lots of options, get a mini fridge and just make some basic lunches. Or, buy some ready-made. If you can afford a remodel, you can afford to figure this out. Get carryout every night.

6 people in a mini fridge isn’t very convenient. That said, there is zero reason for them to not offer modular lunches where you can just remove the wheat product.

Get a second fridge. There is no reason you cannot pack lunch for your kid. There are 2000+ students at your child's school and what 2-3 lunch folks. This sounds like a choice and not an allergy if you are saying sensitive and child can touch it to remove it.