Oh boy, we're getting ready for back to school and I think I'm more nervous than the kids. I had wanted to give homeschooling a try this year - for lots of reasons, but one of them being to make it easier for my 5 year old daughter to follow the very strict Specific Carbohydrate Diet (similar to Paleo) for her crohn's/celiac disease. For lots of other reasons, we decided to give it another year and see how things go.
There is going to be lots of food in kindergarten...gluten and more...that she can't go near. Her intense sensitivity doesn't allow for any cross-contamination without it making her sick. She also won't be able to have the pre-packaged snacks and goodies either, since most contain either gluten, grains of some kind, dairy, or loads of sugar.
The answer to keeping her (and my other kiddos) healthy and able to learn and grow is to make it and pack it! This sounds like a lot of work for me, but by spending one day making everything, I won't have to worry about it again for a while.
After a day or two of prep and a spot in the school's freezer with Miah's name on it, as well as a good long talk with her teacher and a writen short novel about her diet plan at school, has put me a little more at ease.
Whenever there's a treat, snack, or occasion for food the teacher can find something similar from Miah's homemade stash of goodies.
* Even though the fruit leather doesn't normally require refrigeration I chose to have them kept in the freezer along with everything else so they will stay good longer. Since there are no preservatives this is the safest way to ensure that all my prep work stays fresh and good to eat for anywhere from 3 - 6 months.
These treats can be used as a snack when everyone else has a package of fruit snacks, or for days when someone brings cupcakes for a birthday, there's a class party, etc.
Make Ahead Treats For The Child With Food Allergies...
a.k.a The Pre-Made, Teacher-Ready Snack Stash For My Child
These treats are all dairy free, gluten free, grain free, soy free, peanut free, preservative free, and all but the cookies can be made nut free. (I'm sure you could make the cookies nut free too, I just haven't experimented with that, so if you do let me know how they turn out!)
Cherry Chocolate Energy Bites
Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chia Seed Fruit Leather
Homemade Fruit Snacks
In addition to all of these yummy things, here's some super easy and healthy snacks to send to school with your littles for the everyday munchies....
Fruit:
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Fresh fruit like grapes, apple, pear, banana, peach, kiwi, strawberries, blueberries, pomegranate, etc.
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When pomegranates are in season a bag of the sweet little seeds make an excellent replacement for "fruit snacks".
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Pureed fruit-to-go like GoGo Squeez applesauce
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Or dried fruit, such as raisins, pitted dates, cherries, banana or apple chips.
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Toss the dried fruit with some pecans or almonds, shelled sunflower seeds, and coconut flakes for a simple trail mix.
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Veggies:
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Fresh veggies like, carrot sticks, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, snap peas or snow peas, etc.
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Here are our favorite healthy ways to enjoy some pre-packaged veggies: (the following links will take you to the gluten free brands)
Sweet Potato Chips
Roasted Seaweed Snacks
Kale Chips