Hi Moms!
I have twins in 2nd grade (separate classrooms) and this is the first year that we have to be careful of the peanut allergy because during their snack time, all of the 2nd graders switch classrooms for math workshop. I've been reading through all of the ingredients in everything in our cupboards. Can anyone tell me is sunflower oil has "peanuts" in it? I need some ideas about snacks for lunches. These are the things that I already have: yogurt raisins, yogurt, string cheese, fishy crackers, pringles, cereal bars, fruit cups, fresh fruit, etc. Any ideas would be great. Thanks!
My son loves the mini bagels with and without cream cheese (depending on refridgeration options).
Carrots and grape tomatoes with ranch dressing.
Grapes, bananas
I didn't look at the responses you have already received, so I apologize if any of this is repeated. We were given a list of snack ideas that were peanut free and they included the following: jello cups, pudding cups, cheese/crackers, vanilla wafers, teddy grahams, goldfish, applesauce, fruit cups, graham sticks and animal crackers. Just make sure you read the ingredients for the animal crackers because some brands DO contain traces of peanuts. Hope this helps.
Sunflower seeds are not nuts (they just look like them when they're shelled). If your twins have a peanut butter craving, you could try switching them to SunButter (I believe that's the name). It's made only from sunflower seeds. The taste is a little different, but it's fairly close.
Sunflower oil generally does *not* contain peanuts but you should *always* read the label to make sure.
As for peanut-free snacks, the best guide I've found by far can be found at SnackSafely.com. Their list is also tree nut, egg and sesame seed free as well, so it's great for a classroom setting.
My daughter has nut allergies and, as far as I know, sunflower oil has no nuts. As for snacks, just read the ingredients and at the bottom in bold letters it will tell you any allergens. It will also tell you if it has been manufactured on the same line as nuts and you want to stay away from those too.
This is the list that I use. I hope it helps...
There is a great product called "soy nut butter" I can't remember the name, but it's sold at Hillers, Whole Foods and Arbor Farms and has a blue cap and wrapper; there's a check list on one side of the wrapper; it is perfect because it's designed to be in places where a nut allergy may be. I make my kids' lunches for while they're in day care with this stuff; it tastes similar to peanut butter; my picky son hasn't even noticed a difference. Good luck!
grahm crackers and teddy grahms are also good ideas. You can do triscuit and wheatthins with hummas on them too. My kids also like dry cereal for snacks. Pretzels adn raisen/dried cranberries is another good idea. Good luck with it.
Try this site....
www.snaxxbox.com
My daughters preschool is peanut free and here are the suggestions they gave us for snacks
Vegetables and dip
bagels/cream cheese
finger sandwiches
pudding
jello
apple sauce
pizza - lunchables
cocktail sausage or hotdogs
popcorn
pretzels
Hope that helps - it can be hard
K.
Hmmmm...I don't know where the best places to find peanut free snacks is however I can tell you that you should for sure make sure that your snacks are not made in a place that also produces peanut products. Some children are SO allergic that even if something was NEXT to a peanut they'll have an attack.
Most packages will have a little warning lable that says something like "this product may have been produced in a factory that contains peanut products."
Good luck! I would check organic and whole foods stores too. They usually have all kinds of food allergy specific foods.
IFyou ar eonly peanut free and not totally nut free, just look for the words peanut on everything. Entemanns baked goods (but read the ingredients)have several varities, fruit roll-ups, most fresh foods, are not made with peanuts or peanut oil. What you have to get in the habit of is reading the ingredients on everything that can be brought to school, and soon you will learn which brands are safe and which ones aren't. I wouldn't rely on what someone te4lls you about a particular brand because they change the processing all the time.
