Want to hear your opinion on this
Replies
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I think that the program should request money donations from the parents and then be responsible for the snacks. They would know what to avoid and can buy snacks that all children can have. This also avoids the possibility of a parent forgetting that it was their snack week.
But - since they don't do that - I vote to be responsible for my own child - take no chances.0 -
I agree the parent of the child with the allergy should provide the snacks for her child, but depending upon the sensitivity of the child's allergy, someone eating nuts and touching a table top may put her at severe risk. And in that case, there should be an epi-pen close by (provided by the parent). I cater and this is always a problem! Just because there are no nuts in a food, that doesn't mean that nuts didn't touch a surface.
To all those with severe allergies: Make sure you RSVP an event with the allergy listed! Don't come to the cook at the event and ask about a "gluten free" plate when the person who hired me didn't mention any allergies * I always ask, it is on the form*! And if your 6 y o can't eat wheat, BRING YOUR OWN SNACK / DINNER just in case!0 -
And may I add that in my humble opinion people are too worried about hurting their childs feelings or if they feel like the odd person out. When it comes to allergies there are so many kids with one its not like it is so strange and odd anymore.
I'm allergic to pollen. I love the outdoors, but I have to go to lengths to prevent a major breaking out. My mom told me as a kid that I wouldnt go walking through the woods with my girl scout troop. I disobeyed her and boy did I suffer for about 2 weeks with hives! Thats life. You adjust accordingly. I couldnt imagine people adjusting their routine for me. No scout trips in the woods? Or learning how to fish all cause I couldnt go? Or even limiting the time outdoors because of one student? Ummm no. I sucked it up and got over it.0 -
As the mother of a child with a severe tree nut allergy I say this: What people don't realize is that depending on the severity of the allergy coming into contact with another child who has touched the allergen then touched the child with the allergy it could be fatal. So, if you buy snacks for the class and they all eat it (except the child with the allergen) and it contains the allergen YOU are still putting that child's life at risk. The children who ate the allergen with their hands could touch the child with the allergy and send that child into anaphylactic shock. It's not that hard to read labels...look for the cross contamination warning on the package...it's in bold.0
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If I were the mom of the child with the allergy I would not take the chance that other parents would not take it seriously so I would provide my child with a snack.
If I were you I would provide a snack that doesn't contain the nuts the kid is allergic to. That's not to say that I think it should be my obligation to do so, simply that I would choose to do so because I would never want to take the chance of hurting a kid.0 -
Depending on the severity of the allergy, yes, I might pack my child a special snack to be on the safe side.
On the other hand, it's not that much to ask. Please, choose one of the many possible snack options in the world that doesn't contain macadamia nuts.
I'm not allergic, but could go years without eating a macadamia nut, so I certainly don't see that this is a wild request.
You'll see a number of classrooms in schools that are declared "nut free" because of students with very strong allergies.
If there were dozens of different allergies, then it might be time to rethink the whole process. As it is, I'd say work with it. It's not that big a deal.0 -
As the mother of a child with a severe tree nut allergy I say this: What people don't realize is that depending on the severity of the allergy coming into contact with another child who has touched the allergen then touched the child with the allergy it could be fatal. So, if you buy snacks for the class and they all eat it (except the child with the allergen) and it contains the allergen YOU are still putting that child's life at risk. The children who ate the allergen with their hands could touch the child with the allergy and send that child into anaphylactic shock. It's not that hard to read labels...look for the cross contamination warning on the package...it's in bold.
This is a great point! The program really should be responsible and ensure the safety of ALL the kids. My children's school system is contemplating the idea of not allowing any peanut butter in the school - not even in packed lunches because of kids with severe allergies.0 -
We signed my daughter up for an extra curricular class once a week. There's about 15 students in the class and all parents are required to provide snacks on a designated week. So when the instructor mailed out the schedule for the parents, one parent responded by letting everyone know that her child is allergic to Macadamia nuts and some other foods with nuts in them.
So my wife and I discussed it and are in disagreement about what should be done. IMO, if a child could have an issue with food allergies, the parent of that child should make the snack for that child and not rely on whether or not other parents in the class go out and buy the right snack that won't affect her child. If it were my child with the issue, I wouldn't take the chance.
My wife disagree and says that she did the right thing by letting us know and that we should comply to keep the child safe. There are many options that can be got for snacks and shouldn't be a big deal to shop for them.
So what do you think? Oh and I'm not gonna "rub it in" if more people agree with me. I'm just curious to see if I'm off base.
IF it were my child i would definatly let people know, and if it was known to me that a child in the class was allergic i would definately plan any snack to adhere to her needs, why?
A children share
b. children (age not important) do not always make good choices.
hell a few years ago at a wedding i had a piece of cake knowing that there was a good chance it was strawberry, had a red filling could have been either strawberry or rasberry , but i took, the chance.. it was strawberry. i got as sick as a dog.
and i am 42.0 -
I'm a parent and I dont understand my obligation to someone elses child when it comes to allergies! sorry, but thats how I feel.
Fairy is right you cant trust people to eat what is right for them. heck we are all on a diet site so we all should know about that. Kids share and dont look at labels. So make sure your kid are protected.0 -
If there weren't thousands of different snack choices, I might agree with you.
There are so many items that are nut-free, I think you should be considerate of this child's allergies. Be happy that you child has no such allergies and provide snacks that everyone enjoys.
How you you like your child to be singled out in the same circumstances and have to eat the snacks his/her parent's provided rather than sharing the same snacks as the other kids.
As a child, it is important to be part of the group. Relax. There are plenty of opportunities to battle on more important issues. I agree with your wife.
You have no obligation to be considerate, however, that doesn't mean you should not try to be or that you shouldn't teach your child to be. Of course, I'd be willing to bet that the mother of this child will make sure her child has a back up if she's unable to enjoy the group snack. Every person, small or large, wants to feel a part of the group. I doubt she's attempting to shirk her responsibility by letting everyone know of her child's allergies. More likely, she's just asking for your consideration if it's possible for you to give it.
We have food allergies within my office and we often have group meals. Most often, we avoid food's with the specific allergen, however, on the occasion that there is a dish that isn't suitable for everyone, it's never the only option and it's well labeled. As someone else mentioned, sometimes just using a common serving items is dangerous depending on the severity of the allergy. We care about our friends too much to allow an accidental event that could be life threatening.
So, you are never obligated to be considerate, but it would be a kind thing to do.0 -
Your post really hit home with me. My 2/12 year old grand daughter has several food allergies. Her mother is very careful to prepare foods for her to take as snacks and keeps cupcakes in the frezzer for those days when parents bring cake in for birthdays. It is definitely her responsiblilty to see that her child is safe. That being said, it is also important that the other parents and teachers be made aware of a young child's food allergies in a classroom because accidents do happen. While it may take a little more thought, bringing in a snack that everyone can share is a thoughtful gesture . I think it is a great opportunity to teach our children compassion, kindness and to think about other people.0
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I agree with both... you have a great point I am sure that if I were a parent I would want the safest for my child. I prolly wouldn't want to take a chance that someone make a mistake and bring in the wrong snack.
however, I agree with your wife as well... With it only being a small group of children the parents should be aware that certain children are allergic to certain types of foods.0 -
Sure, you're not obligated to look after someone else's kid. Sure, you shouldn't have to grab the snack that is 6" to the left on the store shelf.
But you should do it anyway.
Why?
Because that makes you a good *kitten* human being, that's why. If someone's kid was about to run into the street, would you just say "meh, not my kid, not my problem" - I highly doubt it. I'm not being hyperbolic. Allergies can kill. Why endanger the life of someone?
It's not the end of the damned world. Who the hell buys macadamia nut cookies for kids anyway? Seriously, just get the chocolate chip and move on.
Wife wins.
ETA:
At my wedding reception, we were able to accommodate food allergies. We were able to manage various food allergies for a 200 person reception that had been catered out of a massive kitchen. If that's possible, then it's MORE THAN POSSIBLE for 15 parents to work around a single allergy.
Don't be a **** and screw with someone's health/life just to prove a point. Grow up and skip the snacks with nuts.0 -
At my office we have people with allergies and they ask whats in a dish and dont eat if it has something in it that they are sensative too. I dont think many jobs go out of their way to accomadate those with allergies.
Schools are different. They dont want to be sued so i understand them making rules or become nut free. Same for daycares. I dont have a problem with them or teachers inforcing those rules.
I just find it kinda odd that when i was in school, and I'm 35, we didnt have nut free cafeterias and classrooms. I dont remember going on playdates or joining clubs where we were reminded to not bring certain foods. People kinda handled that themselves. I just dont know if child allergies have increased or people have come to depend on schools waaay to much.0 -
I agree with BOTH of you. I think it's great that the mom let the issue be known, and if someone had a request like that, I'd comply. But if I were the mom, I'd be extra paranoid and make sure my kid had something definitely safe to eat.
If I were a mom, I'd end up with a Bubble Boy. I'd be the most over-protective mom since... since MY mom! :laugh:0 -
Well, I agree with you both and here is why. Yes, if your child has allergies to certain things and there is something like that, where others take turns providing snacks, by all means let them know. JUST IN CASE, however, I would send a non-allergic snack with my child on the other days I am not in charge, letting my child know if the snack brought is ok, then eat what is brought. But I would play it safe and include something my child COULD consume, while allowing them to participate with the others and not feel as though they might be "different". It was considerate of that parent to let the others know however...that's just me.0
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As a parent of a child with wheat allergies this hits very close to home (which would have been considered an odd allergy 5 years ago, and while it is more main stream now is still not considered by most a "real" allergy) I have the school notify us of what the other children are having and when and then I provide a version of it for him. The school doesn't always contact us when a parent brings in a special treat and last time this happened I read them the riot act because I've told them time and time again that I keep special treats in our freezer just in case . . . how would you like to be the 2 year old that has to watch everyone else eat cookies and cupcakes while you're presented with cottage cheese and apple sauce?We signed my daughter up for an extra curricular class once a week. There's about 15 students in the class and all parents are required to provide snacks on a designated week. So when the instructor mailed out the schedule for the parents, one parent responded by letting everyone know that her child is allergic to Macadamia nuts and some other foods with nuts in them.
So my wife and I discussed it and are in disagreement about what should be done. IMO, if a child could have an issue with food allergies, the parent of that child should make the snack for that child and not rely on whether or not other parents in the class go out and buy the right snack that won't affect her child. If it were my child with the issue, I wouldn't take the chance.
My wife disagree and says that she did the right thing by letting us know and that we should comply to keep the child safe. There are many options that can be got for snacks and shouldn't be a big deal to shop for them.
So what do you think? Oh and I'm not gonna "rub it in" if more people agree with me. I'm just curious to see if I'm off base.
However, most schools and programs that have food provided either by themselves or another source are big on all kinds of nuts. My daycare has a no nut of any kind policy and my nephews school has nut free tables because nut allergies are not just serious, but deadly (some people can go into shock from inhaling the dust). The general rule of thumb that I've picked up along the way is that you can't cater to all children, but berries and nuts are a general no-no when providing snacks to a group. The person who is organizing the activity should have contacted all parents in advance asking questions about allergies and then setting perameters around acceptable snacks.0 -
It's probably because I'm not a parent yet, but I really roll my eyes at all the "everyone else must accommodate this one special child" nonsense I hear so often these days. I remember reading an article a while back about some school where the kids in one student's class were not allowed to bring certain foods in their OWN lunches because of the risk it posed to this one kid. I'm sorry, but that's BS. If it's that serious, make other arrangements for THAT kid. Sure, it sucks to be singled out, but your kid is not more important than all the other kids in the class.
I don't think this particular situation is on that level. Yes, the parent in question would be wise to just handle her kid's snacks, regardless of what other parents are doing, but if nuts are the only issue, it's not a difficult request to comply with. Just in general, it bothers me that because one kid is allergic to something, everyone else has to bend over backwards.0 -
It's probably because I'm not a parent yet, but I really roll my eyes at all the "everyone else must accommodate this one special child" nonsense I hear so often these days. I remember reading an article a while back about some school where the kids in one student's class were not allowed to bring certain foods in their OWN lunches because of the risk it posed to this one kid. I'm sorry, but that's BS. If it's that serious, make other arrangements for THAT kid. Sure, it sucks to be singled out, but your kid is not more important than all the other kids in the class.
I don't think this particular situation is on that level. Yes, the parent in question would be wise to just handle her kid's snacks, regardless of what other parents are doing, but if nuts are the only issue, it's not a difficult request to comply with. Just in general, it bothers me that because one kid is allergic to something, everyone else has to bend over backwards.
Amen sistah AMEN!! this is what I mean and I am a parent with allergies! it doesnt make you a better human being, IMO just a practical and self responsible one. So 30-40 years ago no one had nut allergies??? Did kids drop dead left and right cause they were exposed to nuts in someone elses sandwhich? Come on... Something is weird here.0 -
At my office we have people with allergies and they ask whats in a dish and dont eat if it has something in it that they are sensative too. I dont think many jobs go out of their way to accomadate those with allergies.
Schools are different. They dont want to be sued so i understand them making rules or become nut free. Same for daycares. I dont have a problem with them or teachers inforcing those rules.
I just find it kinda odd that when i was in school, and I'm 35, we didnt have nut free cafeterias and classrooms. I dont remember going on playdates or joining clubs where we were reminded to not bring certain foods. People kinda handled that themselves. I just dont know if child allergies have increased or people have come to depend on schools waaay to much.
Interesting, when I was in school (and I'm 34) they started requiring all items come in packaging so that they knew what was on the labels because of nut allergies. I can remember the year it happened too, because that's when we stopped having birthday parties in the classrooms.0 -
Omg not me. I grew up in Michigan and we would have birthday parties and everything. I didnt even know what nut free was until my kid started to go to daycare. In texas, depending on what school district your kid goes to the rules are different. Some school districts are really strict. My husband is 25 and when he was a kid the school he went to as a elementary student didnt really have that many food rules either. However, both he and I grew up in the hood. I guess no one has allergies there....
We live in a suburbs and boy let me tell you. You cant even bring snacks that are not approved by the school district! goldfish are even banned, for instance. There are allergy guidelines and nutritional guidlines for what your kid can bring.0 -
I'm with your wife. There are tons of different food items out there without nuts and I don't think that their child should feel left out of sharing the snacks just because of that. If your child, or someone elses, particularly wants something involving nuts for a change surely you could arrange to sort them out something just for them that day along with the usual you would bring
This is assuming the allergy isn't so bad that just being around nuts gives a reaction (a kid in one of my friends schools once had one so bad that there was a strict rule that nobody could bring nuts to school as he couldn't be near nuts at all)0 -
That's what I lead to also. Inconveniencing others because of one child is one of the other issues.you both have good points but i can say that as a mother, if my child had a nut allergy (which are usually pretty severe) i would never just trust that because i sent out a message, that everyone would pay attention to it. i would always provide my own snacks..i wouldn't want to inconvenience anyone but more importantly, i would want to keep my child safe!0 -
If the class said parents do not need to bring kids personal snacks and you guys do a "snack poolinbg" type thing, then i tihnk she did the right thing. Immagine how that kid feels not gettign to eat the same snack as the other kids because of her allergie, it would be different if everyone brought their own snack but when she is the only one, that might be hard and make her feel left out.0
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It's not for me. I'm thinking other parents may not comply to what was sent. Let's face it you send out a letter and maybe 50% will really read it.How hard is it, really, to accommodate that request? Seriously, bring fresh fruit and cheese on your appointed week. Healthy. No allergens. Easy. It sounds like you don't want to do it just because you were asked. Why?0 -
It's not for me. I'm thinking other parents may not comply to what was sent. Let's face it you send out a letter and maybe 50% will really read it.How hard is it, really, to accommodate that request? Seriously, bring fresh fruit and cheese on your appointed week. Healthy. No allergens. Easy. It sounds like you don't want to do it just because you were asked. Why?
Exactly! I would be the one parent to not pay attention or totally forget. Sorry I'm human. Its up to the parents and the school/organization., but mostly the parent.
Sorrry to break it to people too, but most parents are too busy wrapped up in their own lives to care too much about other peoples children but they are afraid to admit it. Oh this isnt aimed at the OP! I'm with you.0 -
i helped to make a school treat one time for the family narls, and i went out and got wheat-free, nut-free, sugar-free, gluten-free cookies. i had three moms thank me. it's worth a trip to the whole foods store to make sure that kids are safe.
i think that the mom did the right thing, and i think that other parents should get stuff that's safe for all kids to eat. we have a lot of allergies in our family, and it's always nicer for the kids when they can just grab what everyone else has.0 -
my friend has a daughter with this issue and this is what she does about snacks. she sends out a letter to all the parents because just *touching* allergen will send her daughter into anaphylactic shock. she also always sends a 'back-up' snack with her daughter in case one of the parents didn't pay attention to the letter.0
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It's a food allergy... The kid isn't gonna feel singled out bc it can't have the same snack. Their parent should pack them something they can have... that's an adult unsecurity not a child's. Kids are way less sensitive than crazy parents. My niece has major allergies to lots of things, and she's totally okay with letting people know she can't have things, even other kids... No shame in that.0
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It's not for me. I'm thinking other parents may not comply to what was sent. Let's face it you send out a letter and maybe 50% will really read it.How hard is it, really, to accommodate that request? Seriously, bring fresh fruit and cheese on your appointed week. Healthy. No allergens. Easy. It sounds like you don't want to do it just because you were asked. Why?
Exactly! I would be the one parent to not pay attention or totally forget. Sorry I'm human. Its up to the parents and the school/organization., but mostly the parent.
Not to mention, a lot of people just pick something up and could easily miss the 'peanut products' in the ingredients if its something that isn't obvious.
As far as the kid "feeling singled out", I think people are over-sensitive about that topic. The child isn't being bullied or teased because of anything personal and aren't they better off learning now that they are different than the other kids when it comes to what they can eat? My mom taught pre-school for years and the last 20 years or so, she always had one or two kids with (sometimes severe) food allergies, and the parents were expected to bring their own child's 'safe foods" for snacks, just to cover the school for liability!0
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