Nathan's lunch time at school/daycare

Today, while I was at work I got a call from daycare/school. I was unavailable and my husband got the call. This is the second time they called about Nathan not eating his lunch and then getting very upset and even sick.

The first call was a few weeks ago, about how Nathan is not eating his lunch and then he gets upset and will even cry, cough, gag and vomit a little. This is what he does when he gets upset. Well the director goes on to tell me that maybe I should try sending foods that the other kids are eating, so if they are having chicken nuggets to send some allergy-free chicken nuggets for Nathan. She seems to think the reason that Nathan is having a hard time eating lunches is because he wants to eat the same thing as other kids. Maybe, maybe not. As a result, this call made me feel like a bad mom and Nathan was feeling left out.  I sat at my desk at work in tears. When I picked him up that day I told the director I would try to find foods to match the daycare menu but I also told her not to call me at work about this. It is something that she can tell me when he is picked up.

Last week I sent chicken nuggets, he didn't eat them. He hasn't liked them at home, I don't know why she thinks he will eat them at school. But then she seems to think she knows everything.

Fast forward to today. My husband gets the call from the director about how Nathan didn't eat his lunch again (a lunch that is the same as the other kids) and he got upset. She tells him that Nathan is small and how he needs to eat more, he is acting out at lunch and she can't have that, etc. My husband calls me at work to tell me this and again I sit at my desk in tears wondering if he isn't getting enough to eat, am I bad mom, what am I going to do?


Then I get a little angry, this is something that she doesn't need to call us about at work, it can wait until we pick him up, who is she to tell me what to feed my child. She isn't a doctor. Things were better at lunch time until she told me to make lunch items to match her menu. I guess I will bring this up to our pediatrician next week at his 4yr old appointment.  And send Soy nut butter and jelly sandwiches every day. He is a picky eater, I thought most kids were.

I am looking forward to Nathan starting a 4k and a new daycare next fall. And I am sure new problems.

Email from a Reader...

Hello,

My name is Victoria and I was reading your blog today and found so many things that are so useful.  My daughter Kaelyn is going to be 1 in a few weeks and she is allergic to milk, eggs, peanuts, brocoli, and has eczema.  I just started a mommy group in my area here in Florida because there is nothing at all for moms like us. I had joined several mommy groups in the area but it's so hard when they all bring snacks that Kaelyn cannot be around.  Just the other day we went to the mall to see a puppet theater and one of the moms pulls out a bag of peanuts for her son who was sitting next to Kaelyn.  I made her aware of the situation but she just nodded and went ahead in giving them to her son.  I see that you have done a lot of researching and also started a local playgroup in your area if I'm correct.  I wanted to get your opinion on how to get the word out.  It seems that although there are not groups like mine around I can't find other moms in the area that go through the same things I do everyday with Kaelyn.  Any help would be much appreciated!  Oh, and I love your pretzel recipe.  I'm going to try it for Kaelyn's first birthday! 

Thank you!

Victoria

FL

Nathan's 4th Birthday Party

Tonight we had Nathan's 4th birthday party at Flabbergast and it was a good time. He had so much fun playing with his friends.

They offer parties with food and just cake. I decided to do a party with just cake from 6pm-8pm as an after dinner party. I didn't want to deal with food and making sure Nathan had something he could eat and have to be different so I got cupcakes and all the cupcakes looked the same. You couldn't tell which one was allergy free. I bought plain chocolate cupcakes and frosted them myself.
        

THE DIVVIES BAKERY COOKBOOK

THE DIVVIES

BAKERY COOKBOOK:

No Nuts. No Eggs. No Dairy. Just Delicious!

By Lori Sandler

When Lori Sandler’s son Benjamin was diagnosed with severe food allergies to dairy and nuts at a young age, she decided to take action. While she wasn’t trained as a pastry chef, she had many fond memories of visiting bakeries as a child and wanted Benjamin to experience those same warm moments and treats. And so after years of testing, tasting, and refining, the Divvies Bakery was born in 2005, a bakeshop dedicated to peanut-free, tree nut-free, milk-free, and egg-free products located in South Salem, New York.

Since then, the company has thrived, with their signature pastel blue and white-packaged products sold to thousands online, as well as through retailers, including Whole Foods, Balducci’s, Blooomingdale’s, and Disney World. And Benjamin went from being the “kid with food allergies” to the one who always has fun treats to share with his friends and classmates. Now in THE DIVVIES BAKERY COOKBOOK (St. Martin’s Press; August 2010; $25.99 hardcover), Sandler shares her story, mission, and the recipes that have made Divvies a beloved and winning brand.

I have my own copy of this cookbook and I love it!! I made the fudge recipe and the chocolate covered pretzels using Nathan's wheat free pretzels as his class birthday treat. It was a big hit!!

You can WIN a copy of The Divvies Bakery Cookbook!!!

Please complete the entry form below.

Your email will only be used for this contest and will not be sold or used for any other reason. This giveaway will close on July 31st at 11:59 CT time. I will pick a random winner using random.org After a winner is picked, I will email the winner and the winner must respond within 72 hours with mailing information. The book will arrive directly from the publisher. Winner must have a US or Canada address. Must be 18 years or older to enter.

If you can't view the form below, you can email me with your name and subject line use "Cookbook Giveaway". Please only enter once.

Nathan's Birthday Treat

At school/daycare I needed to make a treat for Nathan's class and I usually make Rice Krispy bars but Nathan doesn't really like them anymore and is more into chocolate. I got this idea out of the Divvies Bakery Cookbook by Lori Sandler. I had to use gluten/wheat free pretzels instead of regular pretzels, a dairy free chocolate and sprinkles. It was pretty easy and all the kids loved them.

Defensive v.s. Rude

Background: We had T-Ball last night and after there is always a snack. I sent an email to all the parents on the team to let them know Nathan has food allergies and we would provide a snack.

When the game ended, Nathan (almost 4) ran over with the kids to get drinks and snacks. A mom handed Nathan a bag of MM Chocolate Chip cookies. I grabbed the bag from Nathan and handed it back to the mom and said, "No Thank You, he has Food Allergies" and we walked away.

My husband was there and saw the incident and told me I was being "rude," I said "no I am protecting my child" - I felt very defensive. My husband said "we should have took the cookies." "No," I said, "Nathan has never seen those cookies and I didn't want him to have them." Maybe my husband wanted them? And then eat them in front of Nathan. That is rude.

Was it rude for me to not accept them? I was a little mad that she even handed them to him. All the parents all got an email about his allergies (I mean, know that is not their priority to remember). What if they weren't packaged and then he touched them and started reacting.

Maybe I am over reacting or maybe I am defensive or even just a rude mom.

Food allergies and festivals

It is hard to go to festivals when you have food allergies. When we go we usually get Nathan a plain hot dog, corn on the cob (no butter) and chips. Usually that is the easiest.

Today, we were at a local festival that had more food and more choices. They had burgers, chicken, fries, etc. I wanted to get Nathan something different then the usual. So, I asked the cashier if the burger meat had anything other then meat or if they cook it in anything like for example butter. She looked at me as if I am just being picky. Then I said I wanted one plain no bun or anything on it. Again the look. Then I asked about the fries (Nathan really wanted fries). So, I asked the cashier again, "are the fries cooked in peanut oil?" again the look then she asked someone else and answers to me "no". Then I ask "are they regular potatoes, no wheat seasoning or anything?" again the look and she asked someone else. The answer was "no, just plain fries." Then I said "I just want to make sure, my son has food allergies and I don't want him to end up at the hospital." She had a look of shock and said "no, of course not!!" in a friendly manner. He ate it and was fine.

In the photo: Nathan sitting in the firetruck at the festival.

4th of July Fireworks

We went and watched the fireworks on the 4th of July at a local lake by our house. We met up with friends and Nathan's friend who also has the exact same allergies and the is the same age was there. They had fun watching the fireworks together. Nathan had his cotton candy and corn puffs, he was happy.

4th of July Parade

We went to the 4th of July Parade this morning and it was great, except - there was tons of candy. Nathan had a bag full and he was excited about it. He gave me every piece he got. I told him not to eat any of it unless he asked. As he gave me items he couldn't eat, such as Toostie Rolls, I would give it to our neighbors' kids.