by Ashley Gismondi
Great to see everyone back here for the Parent’s Corner! With the end of summer and beginning of Fall comes back to school, whether that’s the elementary school playground or a return to campus. If you’re just reading this section for the first time, I’m a parent living with Celiac Disease and the mother of a school-aged child. My daughter just started Junior Kindergarten and I have been thrown into the careful “art” of lunch making. While my daughter does not have any food restrictions, I’ve been living with celiac disease for nearly 20 years.
My celiac story began during my final year of high school, right before prom, after a year or so complaining about stomach problems to my physician. Some of my symptoms included unexplained weight loss, gastrointestinal upsets, cystic acne and fatigue, despite getting enough sleep every evening. I lived at home during my undergraduate years but I often wanted to try to eat on campus during longer days, which sometimes resulted in me getting glutened as a result of misunderstanding what exactly cross-contact was. I learned quickly enough that hot tables, buffets and shared deep fryers were my enemy. For my postgraduate degree, I lived off campus with two roommates and finally learned how to cook for myself. Due to limited options, I barely ate on school campus and started learning how to shop at the grocery store and cook for myself. One of my roommates was gluten intolerant so it wasn’t hard to ensure that all of our shared meals were made gluten free. I even had a separate gluten free freezer that my parents filled up with gluten free products and safe frozen dishes. As this was many years ago, I’m happy to say that time has brought about positive change on campus with respect to allergies and celiac disease, with both communication and advocacy being at the forefront of this shift.
There are different points to consider based on how old your children/teenagers are and they might require your guidance and support, regardless of their age group. Here are some general considerations and tips for each school stage:
Preschool/Elementary: This age group may be a bit too young to advocate fully for themselves and would not quite understand how encountering an allergen/gluten might impact them.
Make it known to the school upon registration that your child has allergies, celiac disease or any other health conditions that require extra vigilance in the classroom
Have discussions with your child’s teacher on the first day of school and let them know if they require an epi pen, medical alert bracelet, and so forth. In the case of celiac disease, the teacher might also want to understand what accidental ingestion looks like and that it might require unrestricted bathroom access
If any treats will be given out for events and/or birthdays, it might be helpful to provide the teacher with safe snacks with the child’s name on it so they do not feel left out
If other children in the class have allergies, please be respectful and mindful of school policies and do not pack those items, as they have the potential to be life threatening
Have your children help out making lunches and picking their snacks. Take them to the grocery store and ask what they’d like to see in their lunchbox. As the parent of a picky eater, this tip generally works!
Encourage your child’s teacher to check if craft supplies contain allergens (ie. playdoh, which contains wheat) and provide an alternative
With respect to pizza or hot lunch days - You could get involved on your child’s behalf to contact the supplier to determine whether or not there are things your kid can eat safely. In the case of celiac disease, are there gluten free options? How are volunteers/staff minimizing cross-contact? Are they changing gloves or using separate tongs?
Make lunches fun, “think adding googly eyes or fun shapes”. I recently picked up a book at a local bookshop for inspiration. There are Facebook groups and/or Instagram accounts like @feedinglittles that also can be extremely helpful
If your child needs to understand food allergies and need a book recommendation, I enjoyed reading “The Bugabees: Friends with Food Allergies” to my daughter Ariana
Above all, encourage advocacy and teach your child to decline food from others that can be unsafe
Middle School/High School - This age group should be able to advocate for themselves but it’s at the age where they want to fit in amongst their fellow classmates and not feel left out or different.
Similar to elementary level, the school administration should be aware of the student’s dietary restrictions and/or allergies, and teachers should understand bathroom access needs to be accessible without restrictions
At this age, you can help your child with label reading and learning how to use their EpiPen if they require it
Encourage your young adults/teenagers to prepare their own lunches
Typically there is a school cafeteria, and they should inquire with the service provider as to whether or not there are safe dietary options so that on occasion they can purchase lunches/snacks to feel less alone amongst their peers - students should be comfortable voicing their concerns and asking questions about the ability to prepare a meal safely
If some peers have a car, perhaps ensure that they are choosing restaurant or fast food options that might be able to accommodate their food restrictions
If food and nutrition options are offered as a course, perhaps discuss whether or not dietary restrictions can be accommodated or else offer an alternate assignment
Semi formals & Prom are a big deal for many students and they do not want to be hungry or get sick on their special day - caterers and banquet halls should be well-informed in advance about dietary restrictions
College/University - Although at this stage your children are looking to be independent and are likely good advocates and strong communicators, there are considerations here regarding meal plans, dorms and roommates, plus the introduction of alcohol once they reach the age of majority.
If living in residence for the first time, it might be prudent to speak with food services prior to purchasing a dining plan to see how they handle allergies and autoimmune conditions like celiac disease
Get comfortable having conversations with dining hall staff to see what food is safe for you to eat, perhaps your meals will get prepared separate from the typical buffet
See if it is possible to pair living arrangements with other students with similar dietary restrictions so there is mutual respect and understanding if they are living in accommodations that offer a shared kitchen
If living off residence, as some typically do after freshman year, consider living alone or finding friends or roommates that respect your dietary concerns. There might be the need for separate condiments, potentially labeling food, separate pots to prepare boiled water for pasta and a designated toaster for gluten free bread only in the case of celiac disease. You may even wish to have your own mini fridge. If your allergy is airborne, your roommates should be briefed on how best to assist you in the case of an emergency
With respect to alcohol, understand what is safe or not safe for you. In the case of celiac disease like me, that means sitting out for beer pong, but enjoying hard liquor, cider in bottles/cans, and wine - but as always, please drink responsibly!
The beginning of school is definitely an exciting time but it can also cause anxiety if you don’t feel safe or supported by those around you. As a parent, please ensure your child, teen or young adult is fully supported so that they can thrive and focus on their education and ease the stress off their food restrictions and/or allergies.
If you’re interested in connecting with me or have any questions, please email me at celiacandthe6ix@gmail.com or connect with me on Instagram: @celiacandthe6ix.
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