Acing the School Year – Easy as 1-2-Gluten-Free
Published July, 2022
It’s back-to-school time! A fresh new school year awaits with new classes, new teachers, and new activities. This is sure to be an exciting time in your child’s life, but some things might give butterflies in both of your stomachs. We understand. You might get nervous sometimes, especially when food is involved.
Bringing up a gluten-free kid means having to do a little homework at the start of the school year and putting plans in place to help them avoid gluten. We are here to help you get ready for a great year!
Teaching the teachers
When setting up your new school supplies, take a minute to prepare some things to address your child’s need to avoid gluten. Writing a letter to new teachers is a good way to explain what it means for your child to be gluten-free and how they can help keep your child safe. Check out a sample letter you can use to get you started.
Also, contact the school nurse. Provide them with basic information about your child’s diagnosis, your child’s dietary needs, possible symptoms they may exhibit if they get “glutened,” and the actions you would like them to take if that happens. You can also point them to GIG’s School Nurses Resource Page for more detailed information.
Mapping out meals
Ask your child to make a list of what they would like in their lunch box and plan a week’s worth of lunch menus ahead of time to make sure you have all the gluten-free ingredients you need. Remind them not to share lunch with their friends and especially not to accept food from other kids at school.
Encouraging the “conversation”
It’s important that the kids your child spends time with know about their dietary needs and limitations since food is so often involved in their activities. Ask your child to let their friends know how they need to eat a little differently and that there are some foods that make them sick. Reassure them that their friends will understand—and that they shouldn’t feel bad—if they can’t share a snack with others or accept a snack from someone else.
If your child makes plans with friends outside of school, get in touch with the other child’s parents to let them know about your child’s gluten-free dietary needs. Brief your child on how to politely decline foods offered to them if they are not sure it’s gluten-free. Supply your child with labeled or GFCO-certified gluten-free snacks that they can share with their friend, with the other child’s parent’s permission, of course.
Rocking the party
Class parties, school celebrations, and even birthday parties are sure to be a part of your child’s school year. There may be food at these events that your child can’t eat. Remind your child that parties are meant to be about taking time out for a little fun and spending time with friends. Food is just a small part of the experience. What can you do to ensure your child safely enjoys the party without feeling left out?
If there are parties in your child’s classroom, send a “personal snack box” filled with your child’s favorite packaged, non-perishable gluten-free snacks that the teacher can pull out at a moment’s notice. Some schools keep gluten-free snacks on hand, but it’s more likely that you will need to provide them.
If there is a pizza party planned at school or another event where food is the focus—like Halloween or Thanksgiving—ask your child’s teacher what is on the menu in advance so that you can make, or send, something your child can bring in. You could also give a list of safe food options to the teacher or suggest restaurants that would be safe to cater a party.
If the party is outside of school, ask the teacher what food will be served so that you can make choices in advance. Let your child know that it is okay to say no to food that is offered if it is not safe. Find out if it is okay to send food along with your child if gluten-free food is not available. Always ask what accommodations are being made for students with special dietary needs.
For more information about accommodations for students medically required to be on a gluten-free diet, check out our article about 504 Plans.
Gluten-free sports
Does your child participate in team sports? Snacks are often provided at team sports practices and games. Playing hard can make your child hangry. Food = Fuel. Find out if there is an opportunity for parents to send in snacks for kids with special dietary needs. Let your child’s coaches and team parents know about the foods your child can and cannot have.
Bake sale bonus points
Lots of schools conduct bake sales where you can bake up your child’s favorite treats and sell them to fundraise for class trips or donate to good causes. Bake sales usually include homemade cookies, brownies, and other sweet treats that typically aren’t gluten-free. Instead of skipping the activity, your child can join in by baking gluten-free favorites instead. Be sure to label the plate with a gluten-free label or sticker so it is clearly marked as a gluten-free choice so others who eat gluten-free can enjoy them too. Individually wrap gluten-free cookies, brownies, and even slices of cake or pie to avoid any chance of cross-contact with crumbs from gluten-containing treats.
Fantastic field trips
Class trips are a great learning opportunity for your child. Whether their class will be visiting a museum, an amusement park, or even going on an overnight stay, plan with teachers and trip chaperones so that you know what your child can eat and what they should avoid. Send along safe snacks and check out GIG’s sample School Trip Letter to help you inform any adult overseeing the students during the outing.
Bring on the banquets
Is your child attending a banquet or other more formal catered event? Food at banquets can be risky, but you will typically have a longer lead time to plan out meal accommodations if your child is attending. Contact the person who is organizing the event—or even the location where the event will be held—and ask questions. What is on the menu? Are there any gluten-free foods being offered and how are they being served? Buffet-style setups will be riskier than plated meals.
Can they make your child a special meal that is safely gluten-free? If the event is a buffet, ask if a gluten-free plate can be prepared in advance and covered to prevent cross-contact prior to serving.
A lot of venues are getting smarter about preparing and serving gluten-free options, so you may find you won’t have to come up with other food arrangements. Being prepared means your child can enjoy the celebrations without worry.
Here’s to a great school year for you and your gluten-free child!
If you have any questions along the way, contact us at Generation GF (generationgf@gluten.org). We’re here to help!