We’re grateful when parents of kids with allergies tell us how SunButter® helps them. Jenny is the mother of two girls, a freelance writer and the author of “The Nut-Free Mom” blog, where she writes about parenting with nut allergies. As school resumes around the country, Jenny and other parents face the unique challenges of school lunches—without peanut butter. We admire her creativity and optimism. We’re proud to share her story in her own words. Thanks, Jenny!
SunButter® makes school lunch fun again
It’s back-to-school time and like every other mother of an elementary school child, I’m asking myself what to pack for lunch. And since I’m the mother of a child with severe peanut and tree nut allergies, I’ve had to be creative at lunchtime. This isn’t always easy with a busy schedule. While I’ve done my best to offer non-peanut butter lunch alternatives (all kinds of deli products for sandwiches, pasta salad, veggies and yogurt dip, etc.), sometimes I’ve found myself wishing I could turn to peanut butter. Of course, that’s not an option for us.
Nut-free lunches
After my oldest daughter’s life-threatening reaction to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich when she was four years old, I removed peanut butter and tree nuts from our home to lower the risk of allergic reactions. I soon found that it became a challenge to find a non-perishable, non-peanut butter lunch for say, a field trip that requires outdoor activities on a hot day or a disposable “brown bag lunch” that didn’t permit me to include my usual cold pack. Lunch was sometimes stressful for me to create, and sometimes it seemed like a drag. Even after-school snack time was restricted. Ants on a log were out, as were peanut butter cookies, and anything that I was used to eating when I was a kid.
SunButter® snacks, meals and desserts
Enter SunButter®! My entire family has been thrilled to discover this wonderful product. All of a sudden, we have tasty lunch and after-school snack possibilities that didn’t exist for us before. Before her nut allergy diagnosis, my daughter loved sunflower seeds as a snack and hadn’t been able to enjoy them for years because of the allergy warnings. Now, with SunButter®, the taste of roasted sunflower seeds is back in her life. In fact, my daughter’s favorite Crunchy Natural SunButter® has become a favorite go-to sandwich. Rolled up in a tortilla, stuffed into whole wheat bread or eaten alongside sliced apples or as a topper to celery, SunButter® offers both of my kids a safe, delicious and even healthier snack than peanut butter. My oldest also has gotten creative and occasionally creates a hazelnut-chocolate spread substitute by adding some cocoa powder and sugar to her SunButter. We also use SunButter in cookie recipes. Delicious!
SunButter® for all
Best of all, since we are a peanut and tree nut-free home, my youngest daughter, my husband and myself have all had the chance to find a peanut butter alternative that we find we enjoy even more than peanut butter. We’ve recommended SunButter® to relatives, teachers, friends and classmates, making their homes and our schools safer for kids with peanut and tree nut allergies.
“SunButter® is safe for my sister”
It’s especially rewarding to see my youngest daughter (who doesn’t have any nut allergies) enjoy this peanut butter substitute so much. One reason she told me she enjoys it? “It’s safe for my sister.” So bring on the school lunches and snacks because now I’ve got SunButter® by my side!
Are you a parent or caregiver of a child with allergies? What’s your story? What works for you? We’d love to hear about your journey. Comment here or on our Facebook page.
Releated posts:
Food can be fun for children with food allergies
Food is fuel. Food is also fun! One of our weekly highlights is seeing photos of what Keeley McGuire packs in fun bento lunches for her lucky daughter, who also happens to have a peanut allergy. We’re proud Keeley shares her story here, and we love watching her daughter thrive. Thanks, Keeley! Look at this lunch: My name is Keeley and I have a little site called Keeley McGuire Blog. When I started blogging last year, I didn’t really know what direction I was headed – I just knew I needed a creative outlet. I started sharing some crafts, recipes, my love affair with my crockpot, and what I called “silly sandwiches” for my daughter, aka Little Miss. If you’re a mom looking to spice up your kiddos’ lunches, start simple. Use a cookie cutter on the sandwich! It takes the same amount of effort to cut a sandwich into a fun shape with a cookie cutter as it does to cut it in half. Then, get as clever as you’d like.
School lunch ideas from SunButter
We gathered creations and tips focused on healthy yet affordable foods that your students won’t trade away—and will fuel them through the rest of their day. Peanut butter is a cornerstone of kids’ school lunch ideas, but more and more schools are becoming nut-free to keep all kids safe. Other schools have a dedicated nut-free table in their lunchrooms. Solution: SunButter. It’s made solely from sunflower seeds in a totally nut-free facility. Yet it looks and acts like peanut butter. It also tastes great.
Caring for children with type 1 diabetes and celiac disease: A story from an RN who is also a mom
May 11 is National School Nurse Day, and SunButter appreciates school nurses, who help keep kids safe—including kids with allergies, diabetes, celiac disease and other conditions. One of newest acquaintances is Wendy, who chronicles her family’s journey at www.CandyHeartsBlog.com. Wendy is also a Registered Nurse, and here, she shares her story as a mom to a daughter with type 1 diabetes and celiac disease. Wendy also pays tribute to school nurses. As Wendy says, “We heart school nurses!” We heart you, Wendy, and appreciate you sharing your story here.
Children with food allergies: Help for moms
We continue to learn from amazing parents of children with food allergies. One of our favorite teachers is The Food Allergy Mom, a blogger who shares her experiences, recipes and refreshingly positive attitude. She frequently writes about how those with food allergies can safely navigate specific restaurants’ menus, school lunch menus and special occasions.
Holidays with food allergies | Six tips for kids with food allergies
Families who have kids with food allergies tell us this can be the most stressful time of year. This holiday season, ease the anxiety with these six tips to survive the holidays with food allergies. You’ll see that basically, it all comes down to clear communication. Take the lead, plan ahead a bit—and then take time to enjoy the holidays with your great kids. 1. Remind your kids about food allergies Kids with food allergies are smart and diligent. Even so, explain to your children that they must continue to be careful about what they eat at school, a field trip location and friends’ homes. Adult helpers and others may mean well in offering treats, so remind kids how to explain their allergies and that even one little bite can be harmful.
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