Newly diagnosed child

[kickingfrog]

Newly diagnosed child

Posted by Emma on 10/12/2014

GF Board

... I would suggest a meeting with the school to explain her needs, her diet can affect not only affect lunchtimes but cooking lessons, school trips, treats handed out by teachers etc.
I wrote a letter and followed it Up a meeting to clarify the importance of the situation. I have found both his schools have accommodated it well. He has been offered a medical needs plan which outlines all the relevant info.
For school trips where he is catered for I have dealt directly with the residential place to confirm how he will be fed. Teachers were fine with this.
Cookery lessons, more senior school age usually, will need some sorting. We organised with school for him to have a separate work area and send in items like wooden spoons, baking paper to line trays, clean oven gloves etc to be sure he can safely eat what he cooks at school. Gf recipes aren't too far off the normal ones now so the actual cooking isn't too hard, it's more the handling issues in a Shared class room.

Schools have to cater for the diet but whether packed lunches are easier is personal choice. We have had one issue at lunchtime with cross con from kids messing, not bad in a few years of being gf.
Tea at friends houses can be a challenge. Before my son was too young to sort it himself, I gave parents that were feeding him some written info of cross con things to be aware of and also some branded items they could buy with confidence to feed him. Armed with a list of possible items they were happy to only have to worry about handling but all did this willingly. They just fed all kids concerned gf food. So items like oven chips, waffles that all kids will eat. that way my son never felt he was left out as they all ate the same. Kids are so adaptable too, his pals consider him all the time and read ingredients for stuff they buy him or have to share. They just get on with it I find!
We did a few shopping trips with my son reading ingredients etc but me checking. Mostly stuff he would buy unsupervised like sweets and treats, it gave him confidence to read labels and know he was making good choices. I have involved him in all areas so he learns by watching what we do.
Stuff like clubs where treats are given I just send a selection of packaged labelled items in a box just for him.
good luck with it all!