Food Allergies

[bice99]

Okay, so I have a 2 year old (friend's kid) who seems to be allergic to wheat, like her 7 year old sister is. Nothing huge, just random bumps like bug bites. Teacher family. So this summer is when they took her off of wheat. She only comes once a week in the summer. 3 days once school starts. I am gluten intolerant, but that food is expensive! Do I have her bring all meals and snacks each day in a cooler or do I provide the food and charge extra? I'm leaning toward charging more because kids always want what the other kid has at the table. We all eat the same thing. Today we did mac and cheese. Luckily I have a gluten free box, but it costs $3 for a box that has less than a normal mac and cheese box. Food program doesn't pay me enough to cover that. I would love any ideas/advice. I'm not sure how much to charge. Not just to cover the cost of the food but for my time making it ahead of time. That's what I would do - make it and then freeze in portion sizes so I can pull things out based on what the other kids are eating. I don't plan my menu ahead. Depends on the weather, what I have and what the kids would like. I have a small crew of toddlers/infants so that is easy to do. Today was supposed to be lunch meat sandwiches, but it's barely 60 degrees and we were all chilly so mac and cheese it was. Thanks

[meganlavonnesmommy]

My daughter has Celiac disease, and cant eat Gluten. So I can relate. I would ask them to bring her food from home. Eating gluten free is HORRIBLY expensive. But not only that, its so hard to keep things from getting cross-contanimated. For her safety, its better that she bring her food from home. With my daughter we have to have a seperate toaster and waffle maker. I have to keep seperate containers of peanut butter and butter, cause if I make a sandwich and then dip the knife back into the container, it leaves crumbs of bread in the container. If I make grilled cheese, even using gluten free bread I have to make hers first, or wash the pan well between using the wheat bread and her bread. I have to use seperate serving utensils and plates. Its a nightmare. Plus its a lot to ask for you to keep all that seperate food on hand, it takes up a lot of extra space in your cupboards and fridge/freezer.

I know its hard when one child has different food than the others, but they will adjust. The kids in my care sometimes ask for what my daughter has, but they have learned that she gets different food. Yesterday we had hot dogs on buns, she got a hot dog with a gluten free dinner roll. All the kids wanted her dinner roll, but they are $6.99 for a package of 4 rolls. No way am I giving those to the daycare kids! I just tell them that she cant eat what they can cause she will get sick, so sometimes she has to have different food. They all accept it, and move on.

I would ask them to bring a seperate "main dish" item, as the fruits and veggies are almost always gluten free anyway.

If you want to make yourself ahead of time and freeze, I would charge them an extra $20 per week. It sounds like a lot, but honestly its super expensive. From my point of view as a parent, I would rather make her lunch at home, since eating gluten free is so difficult. That way I know she is safe. But then I tend to be a control freak. :-) Can you tell. Hee Hee.

[Auntie]

We have all kids with allergies provide their own meals and snacks. It is also a form of a comfort for the parents of these children as well.

If there is a special snack that comes in we just have the parent check it over and say yes or no to thier child having it. Then have them intial the container.

[DaisyMamma]

It sounds like a good idea to have her bring her own. Even if you charge more, that won't cover the cost of feeding the other kids the same diet.
Here's an idea too. Give her mom your menu the week before so she can try to match your meals and snacks so everyone has the same most of the time.

I'm about to get a girl with a peanut allergy and I think ill do this with her.

[bice99]

I have Celiac Disease myself, so that's why this mom thinks I can just provide everything for no extra charge. I TOTALLY understand how expensive every gluten free product is. This girl (and her sister) eat spelt bread and everything at there house is CC'd. In my house, every product that I can eat is labeled. No double dipping. Lots of scoop and dump. One small counter is where all wheat products are worked with. Separate cupboard for all wheat. Main counter has my toaster on it. My dad bought me my own waffle maker for my birthday this year

This girl comes 3 days a week. I was thinking $15-$20 per week for making all of her food. Yes, kids learn to deal with what life throws them (our 9 year old went wheat free for 7 months) but I have all toddlers and younger. They don't quite get why they aren't eating the same food. And yes, sometimes they want the GF if it's different than what they are eating.

[Meyou]

I think $20 a week is a reasonable charge if you're up to the task of preparing gluten free for her.