Stress Free School Christmas Parties

It is December, the official climax of the holiday season! Santa hats are in bloom and lights adorn every house. You can just smell the excitement in the air! Schools everywhere are gearing up for their annual holiday parties; gathering parents who are willing to help, and goodies that are fun to eat.

By this time of the year, parents and teachers alike are experts at the gluten free party thing. We’ve been through Halloween, Thanksgiving and any number of birthdays together. We’ve got this stuff down!

For the Christmas Celebration, I decided that another type of advice was in order. You cannot glean the full scope of any topic without consulting the experts. Who better to give the inside dish on Holiday parties at school than the all important guests themselves?

So, I asked a few simple questions and got some great answers from the star of all of my celebrations, my daughter.

Q: What is the hardest thing about school parties?

A: Being gluten free! Because I have to check all of the ingredients and sometimes I can’t have some of the best stuff there because it’s got a little bit of gluten in it, or maybe it’s a maybe.

Q: What are some things that made it easier for you?

A: My mom being there and having to do it with me and the fact that I have the nicest teachers ever that are willing to go out of their way to actually help me. Having snacks that my mom buys for me that I know are good.

Q: What is some advice you can give other parents to help their kids have fun at school parties?

A: Make sure the kids have something they know they can eat. Help them learn to check their ingredients. At least TRY to be there!

Some other great insight that came from this conversation was that the most important thing about the party is not having to worry. Having all the snacks in place and reading labels ahead of time can really make the party more fun.

A Note About Candy Canes

This seems to be an iffy subject. There are a lot of sources that claim that most candy canes are unsafe due to the fact that they are lightly floured before packaging. The other side calls this a Celiac Urban Myth, saying that cornstarch and cellulose are used for those purposes. I honestly cannot find conclusive evidence on this. Meaning that, as so often happens, it is left up to us to decide.

For me, the reactions in this house are too painful and last too long to take a chance. Until I have confirmation I will treat strange candy canes like strange animals and have a hands off policy. This doesn’t mean that I will be cane free this Christmas. I plan to stock up on brands that I know are safe and carry some with me so I can always have one to replace unknown gifts.

Spangler, Jelly Belly and Asher candy canes are confirmed by the manufacturer to be gluten free. Lifesaver Candy Canes are made by Kraft and will always be labeled for wheat, rye, barley and oats.

Because I am a “silly mommy” I composed this little ditty for my girl to help her remember:

Jingle bells, gluten smells Spangler canes are fine. Lifesavers are labeled well, Most others you should decline!

Granted, it doesn’t cover all brands, but it made her smile :)

In any case, the point behind this candy cane tangent is that when it comes to Christmas parties at school, candy canes are always in supply. In fact, they are all over before the party too. If you are playing it safe this year, get a box of safe canes to your child’s teacher immediately! That way they can be on hand whenever they’re needed.

Wishing you all the best this holiday season, in and out of school!