Safety first for lunches

It's a relatively recent phenomenon and one that shows no signs of waning. In fact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that food allergies increased 18 per cent from 1997 to 2007, to a total of more than three million kids in the U.S. In Canada, current estimates are that food allergies affect as many as 6 per cent of young children and 3 to 4 per cent of adults. And it all means a different approach to packing back to school lunches.

"Often in the first week or so of school, something will be sent out to say exactly what the school policy is," says Laura Bickle, Managing Editor at Today's Parent magazine.

Bickle advocates talking to the school "because it will depend on the students in the school and what allergies they're dealing with and what specifically is happening in your classroom."

Rather than look at it as a burden, Bickle says it should be seen as an opportunity to do away with the "same old" for school lunches.

"We can send soups in a thermos, we can send hot dogs in a thermos or even chicken fingers," Bickle notes as she outlines different meal options. "We can buy rotisserie chicken at the deli and cut it up and send it for a few days. Or even throw a bunch of chicken drumsticks (in the oven) and bake them and then you have four or five days of lunches right there."

Bickle says she understands that peanut butter and jam sandwiches are easy and convenient but she insists that we make a bigger deal out of this than our kids do. Bickle says, in her experience, kids are quite compassionate when it comes to schoolmates who are dealing with a food allergy.

"There are lots of things available now that you can send to school and feel happy that your child is going to have a good meal and no children are going to be threatened," Bickle says.

Aside from getting a little more creative in the kitchen, Bickle believes dealing honestly with food allergies can also be a way of spending more time together as a family.

"Depending on the age of your kid, you can get them involved as well," she suggests. "You can take them along on the weekend grocery trip and say 'okay, let's figure out what we're having, let's make some choices here.'"

Bickle stresses that sending food to school with your children is simply a matter of common sense. Just like you watch for other students when you're driving your car near school property, you should be equally aware of the impact of your food choices.