Back to School-Will there ever be an end to the brown bag lunch?

It’s that time of year again. The kids are back in school and as a parent you are wondering how your child will be ensured safe, gluten-free food while at school. Will I always need to pack a lunch for my daughter? What if she wants to eat food from the cafeteria? What is the policy about handing out snacks in the classroom? Just as living a gluten-free lifestyle in your home is an ongoing learning experience, this too will be a learning experience for you, your child and the school.

As I started researching the ways in which schools accommodate special dietary needs of children, I found that all districts are different. The number of children diagnosed with celiac disease, and other food intolerances, is rapidly growing which is causing school foodservice departments to be creative. Some schools are stocking refrigerators with gluten-free snacks, and others are experimenting with gluten-free recipes in the kitchen.

Change is never easy and it usually does not happen quickly, but I encourage parents of gluten-free children to start asking questions. Research your school districts policies and procedures for accommodating special dietary needs in the cafeteria and classroom. Contact the foodservice director and ask what provisions they provide for children who are gluten-free. School foodservice departments continue to learn how they can provide a safe eating environment and enhance the experience of gluten-free students.

We all know that schools are continually wrestling with budget cuts and working with less, so offering more may seem like an impossible task. However, change occurs by making others aware of the needs at hand, and helping them set goals towards providing a better learning environment for our children. When a child does not have pack a lunch every day or worry if there is food in the cafeteria that is safe for him to eat, he can better concentrate on tasks in the classroom. Many schools have already made changes to their menus and they provide inspiration for those of us striving to better meet the needs of our children.

I encourage you to read about the mom in Minnesota whose questions to a foodservice director have transformed the school lunch menu so it is now offering gluten-free meals every day.