Lunch Situation

In the previous post, I wrote about snack in the classroom and how I handle it. Well, today I'm going to talk about lunch the same way I did for snack!

Lunch has a few more challenges than snack, because kids are allowed to bring in whatever food they want. To keep me safe, I eat at the end of the table so the lunch/recess aids can keep an eye on me. I also eat lunch and keep my lunchbox on a tray. The tray is bright red and it has my name on it. Unlike the navy blue trays the school lunches come on, mine looks different so everyone can tell it apart. Anyone can sit next to me or across from me, even if they have one of my allergens.

Kids act extra cautious when I ask them to sit next to me. They usually say something like "No, I have cheese on my sandwich. I don't want to kill you!" I tell them then, "You won't kill me. Just don't touch me and I'll be fine." I just have to explain it to them. Then they understand.

Of course, I have to have a plan on what I would do if something spills on me. Usually, that doesn't happen. But it has. What I do is I go to the nurse, wash it off, and get some medicine, called Benadryl, on the spot that my allergen touched me. That's all there is to it!

In the past few years, I've sat at the special peanut-free table. But, then I couldn't sit with any on my friends. In older school years, I've sat with my tray, but nobody could sit next to or across from me. So, I like it the way it is this year because my friends can sit with me.

Who knows what it'll be like when I leave elementary school and go to the middle school next year. New challenges await me. But for now, I've got plenty of challenges in 6th grade. Talk to you later!

Snack Situation

Hi guys! Sorry I haven't written since December. I guess you could say I've been a bit busy with the holidays and school.

In 6th grade, we have snack-time right after that day's special class: P.E. (gym), art, music, or media (library). Of course, students aren't allowed to bring in chocolates, goldfish, trail mix, cheese puffs, etc. So, how my teacher, my parents and I keep me safe is that we made a snack list. The list had treats and foods that the class is allowed to bring in. Each snack, from fresh fruit to gummy snacks, my mom had specified what brand(s) are safe and what brands aren't. She's talked to each of my teachers since first grade (or possibly before that!) and worked out a way to maintain the kids bringing in safe food for eating. The way it is this year is my teacher stands outside in the hallway, close to the door of the classroom, with me. As kids get their snacks from their locker and walk into the room, I check to make sure that the snack is safe. If I know it isn't, I say, "Save it for lunch time!" If I'm not sure about the food, then I read the ingredient label to determine if it has anything bad in it. If it doesn't have an ingredient label, then I say, "Nope, sorry, not allowed!" When we have a substitute teacher, I do the same thing as if the real teacher was there, but I do it completely on my own.

So, sometimes snacks are a challenge, but I can handle it!