Expectations

[Jogeephus]

My wife volunteered to take on some work for the school and in so doing I was volunteered to do so by default. This work consists of arranging for meals for the band members and the football team on away games as well as cooking at the home games with the profit going to the band for equipment an uniforms. I enjoy the cooking part and we have been turning a tidy profit for the cause but what has taken me by surprise are the expectations of some of the students regarding their dining requirements. On away games my thinking was we would purchase a bunch of sandwiches from Chic-Filet or some other establishment but one student is allergic to something or other and can't eat food from fast food joints so we have to make a special trip to another place so we can purchase what is needed for this person. Then there is another student that has chosen to be vegetarian and MUST have a salad from a specific establishment. If there aren't enough irons in the fire is we have to go out of our way an extra hour on top of the hour and a half it takes to arrange all this to meet these kids needs or it might be wants because I haven't seen any medical confirmation that this child is allergic to anything so it might just be some ploy to get what they WANT. Its a free meal.

I don't know. Got mixed feelings on this. Personally, if it were my child with the special needs/wants, I think I'd see to it myself they got what they needed but maybe I'm not enlightened enough so I was wondering what your take is on this.

 

[Ouachita]

Sardines and crackers

 

[bbirder]

A note sent home in advance. We will be furnishing a free meal consisting of " blah, blah, blah". If any person has a different preference, please make arrangements to bring your own meal.

 

[M5farm]

Sardines and crackers

Or ham sandwich. The vegetarian can have a mayonnaise sandwich.

 

[Craig Miller]

My younger son is allergic to all the good foods. We alays ask what will be served and supply him with something similiar. We NEVER ask anyone to accomodate for him. Thats our job.

 

[Alan]

Jo, it seems like when someone tries to do a good thing it gets messed up by a ...... Choose your word. Unforunatly In today's world you give a kid a peanut butter sandwhich a they are allergic to peanuts it's the good guy getting the headache. The only way to handle it is to send a letter to be signed by parents, any special menu request must be supplied by parents. Unfortunately parents are not that smart these days. You're doing a good thing, just dealing with idiots.

 

[Jogeephus]

My younger son is allergic to all the good foods. We alays ask what will be served and supply him with something similiar. We NEVER ask anyone to accomodate for him. Thats our job.

That is how I would handle it as a parent too. I like the idea of the note also. There is just so much that needs to be done and its just difficult to accomplish these additional requests along with all the other things. Just so many volunteers if you know what I mean. The "vegetarian" at 80 lbs overweight is the fattest vegetarian I've ever seen so I don't buy the veggie business but I will agree I'm a bit jaded.

A few weeks ago I was cooking at a game and we had a nice spread and were very busy when this student comes to me and asks if we are cooking or preparing anything with cinnamon. She informed me that she was deathly allergic to cinnamon and she couldn't be around it and she said she was certain she smelled it. I told her I would find out and I checked with some of the other people but no one was aware of anything with cinnamon in it. I relayed this to her and she said she was glad but she maintained that she smelled cinnamon. As she walked away I realized I was chewing Big Red chewing gum. :shock: :???:

 

[Fire Sweep Ranch]

Or, as I know high school kids, they are getting away with it and the parents have no clue! Could be they figured they could get what they want, and no one is wiser. I think the note home is an excellent idea. Your kid has special dietary requirements make sure they bring it with them, otherwise the menu is .....

 

[greybeard]

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished.

 

[highgrit]

If the kids need something special to eat they should bring it from the house. Mine gets a bagged lunch everyday, she has never liked school food. Some parents need to do more parenting.

 

[Commercialfarmer]

Last I checked, the school doesn't provide special options at lunch, why should this be different?

My oldest has a peanut allergy, and when young an egg allergy. That wasn't easy to deal with, you don't realize how much stuff gas eggs or peanuts in them until you have to know.

I, her mom, and more than a couple relatives tried to off the girl on accident. Luckily, she can smell peanuts a mile away or taste them instantly and isn't as sensitive as she once was. I don't expect others to do it for her, and I don't expect snacks and other things to change because of her. She has the attitude that the only thing she is missing is a swollen tongue and vomiting, so she doesn't mind missing out on a few treats. ;-)

She has outgrown the egg deal (tested ok). But still had a mental issue with eating them. (which I understand) But, I finally told her that if she could eat brownies, french toast wasn't going to do her in. I think we worked past that this week.

But I've always felt her issues were our concern, not the schools.

 

[Jogeephus]

Last I checked, the school doesn't provide special options at lunch, why should this be different?

According to someone in the administration since this is considered a school function and since the school takes the federal money then we have to make arrangements for the person with the allergy. The vegetarian we don't. Not arguing, just saying what we were told by someone who is supposed to know but you know how that goes.

 

[Ouachita]

Last I checked, the school doesn't provide special options at lunch, why should this be different?

According to someone in the administration since this is considered a school function and since the school takes the federal money then we have to make arrangements for the person with the allergy. The vegetarian we don't. Not arguing, just saying what we were told by someone who is supposed to know but you know how that goes.

That sounds right Jo. Allergies are probably a type of disability in this case. Now, I still say sardines and crackers. You ever hear of anybody allergic to sardines?. And the vegetarian, she can eat just crackers, unless you can convince her that fish isn't really meat.
Imagine the bus ride back home

 

[Commercialfarmer]

Last I checked, the school doesn't provide special options at lunch, why should this be different?

According to someone in the administration since this is considered a school function and since the school takes the federal money then we have to make arrangements for the person with the allergy. The vegetarian we don't. Not arguing, just saying what we were told by someone who is supposed to know but you know how that goes.

I am sure you are completely correct. I just remembered, the girl was in a private school when we were dealing with the egg allergy. :dunce: :lol: I probably would have just sent her with sack lunches anyway, even if given other options.

 

[lavacarancher]

I sympathize with you Jo. One of the local Boy Scout troops comes up every year and we had to modify the menu three years ago to accommodate all the different needs. We cook burgers and hot dogs on Friday night so that they don't have to stop on the way up. We now have veggan fixin's and make sure all the meat is 100% beef (no pork) and everything that can be is Kosher.

Wonder what they ate when they stopped at Mickey D's to eat?

 

[I luv herfrds]

There is a boy in my daughters class that has an allergy. His folks pack him a lunch on class trips and special snacks when they know if is someone's birthday. Works out well for everyone.

Definitely send a note home. Being a volunteer does not mean you are their special go-fer!

 

[Howdyjabo]

I understand that you may be required to have something on hand to feed the allergy kids because of rules(which are stupid).
But there is nothing saying that they get to choose what is available.
Find something that is easy to keep on hand for anyone that wants something different- but make sure its not anything someone would really want instead.

Talk to the cafeteria manager- they should have some training in making a generic meal that won't kill anyone.

I am allergic to coconut, at functions if I can find who made something, I'll ask if they put coconut in it before I eat it. If I can't find confirmation I just don't eat it. You would be amazed at what processed foods are out there with coconut in them. Its my job to avoid them, not anyone elses.