I am helping with a classroom party with the following allergies. I have asked for a safe list but I have been told to READ labels.
Here are the allergies - peanuts, eggs, soy beans, sesame seeds, shellfish, and beans.
Soybean oil seems to be in a lot of items. Can someone please give me somewhere to start.. Any suggestions.
Everything we bring in has to be store boughten and it is a party so i was hoping to have "treats"
Fresh fruit with whipped cream, chocolate and/or yogurt based dip.
Popsicles, or other ice cream treats (check the labels, sorbet/fruit ice is yummy and safe.) The teacher can put the frozen stuff in the staff fridge until lunch/snack time.
Hard candies, or gummy bears.
Pretzels and cheese. Fruit, veggies. Crackers and almond butter. You have tons of choices - just make sure the ingredient list doesn't contain soy (or the other allergens... but those are all easy to avoid).
Fruits and veggies, maybe? Wow....... that seems to be a tough list to work with. Peanuts and tree nuts you can keep away from, but soybean oil is in so much these days, as well as textured vegetable protein in some things.....
Good luck!
If this is one or two children, I would call the parents and ask what is safe. My daughter has allergies and I know I would love for someone to be so concerned as to ask. I'm not sure who you asked, so that is why I suggested that. If it's 6 different kids, then try the following:
Try whole, organic foods. I recommend organic for lots of reasons, but in this case, the labels will be clearer and ingredients should be easier to understand.
Small boxes of raisins- but do read the labels to make sure about the oil. Usually these are safe.
Apples, oranges or clementines, bananas. Organic no-sugar-added fruit cups might work- applesauce, peaches, mandarin oranges, etc.
Baby carrots or other cut-up veggies in bags. Read the bags to make sure it is only the veggie in the bag and nothing else.
Trader Joe's has bags of freeze-dried fruit (bananas, etc) that is crunchy and has only 1-2 ingredients and might work.
Try brands that specifically cater to allergies. Stores like Soup To Nuts or other health-food markets can help too. (There is a fantastic one in Winfield called Nutrition Network.) If there is nothing like this around you, try the gluten-free, sugar-free, or raw/vegan section of the grocery store. Usually there are brands there that are marked for multiple food allergies. "Enjoy Life" is a brand of snacks that might be safe, and "Yummy Earth" candy and lollipops would probably work for you. There is an M&M type candy called SunDrops that might work. (Regular candy is going to be contaminated with peanuts and probably soy.)
Hopefully, this gives you a start. Obviously, you could make your own items to take, but I know most schools won't allow that these days, so I tried to stick with store-bought items.
