Pizza parties, cupcakes, cookies, OH MY

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Specializes in Telemetry, Gastroenterology, School Nrs.

OK! I am seriously just about at my wit's end with this one. I have a class that seriously has some kind of special parent provided lunch no less than 2-3 times each week. I'm talking pizza, cupcakes, cookies, more pizza, chips, ice cream, even Happy Meals. My struggle is the fact that one of my diabetic students is in this class, leaving me to figure out carb counts for all the little goodies. This is proving to be more and more difficult, sometimes leaving me guessing because I can't find solid nutritional information for the bakery provided treats or whatever else they are bringing in. I am getting ready to send a memo home to all parents, all grades, letting them know they must bring a copy of nutritional information with them when they are providing foods for the classrooms. How should I word the letter?

(My Nurse Ratchet voice just wants to say, Dear Parents: Stop sending in crap for your kid and their friends to eat.)

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Thankfully my school policies are only healthy snacks that have a nutritional label. NO FAST FOOD IS ALLOWED TOO. Makes my job easier!

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Specializes in School Nurse. Having conversations with littles..

I would think about wording the letter something like the Nut Allergy classroom parent letter. Let them know there is a student in the classroom who requires carb counting. Please be respectful of all students and provide nutrition information with foods that are brought in. Maybe a little thing about it becoming very complicated and if nutrition information isn't provided. The classroom parties will need to stop.

Hang in there. :)

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I could not be happier that we have a NO OUTSIDE FOOD policy- the only exception being 2 parties are year and, even then, only fruits and veggies. Birthdays are always food free. I would lose my mind over this!

Dear parent volunteers,

Due to recent concerns raised regarding the frequency outside food being served for lunch in the classroom, it is now required that ANY outside food be brought in with nutritional information to be reviewed by the school nurse. There are many reasons that this necessary; medical conditions, life-threatening food allergies, food intolerances, ect. This information must be given to the nurse for review prior to food entering the classroom. If nutritional information if not available, that food item will not be permitted in the classroom. My priority is the health and safety of all students and this policy will help to ensure that everyone is able to enjoy these special treats without worry.

Then make sure your administration is on board and include a line that says "Our principal (superintendent) will be happy to address any concerns over this new policy.

Good luck to you!

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Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..
Thankfully my school policies are only healthy snacks that have a nutritional label. NO FAST FOOD IS ALLOWED TOO. Makes my job easier!

Same as Zombie, if a "non-healthy" snack is brought in, it cannot be homemade and must have "peanut free" on the label.

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Dear parents/guardians,

Please note that any food or drink brought into the school to be shared needs to have an ingredient list and nutritional information provided also. Due to dietary restrictions, any food or drink without this information provided will not be able to be shared with the class.

Thank you for your understanding. If you have any questions please contact me.

Awesome School Nurse

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Specializes in Telemetry, Gastroenterology, School Nrs.

Thanks you Becky ESRN! This is perfect. Now, hopefully, I can get the blessing of the administrators. I don't think that will be a problem; however!

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Specializes in Telemetry, Gastroenterology, School Nrs.

Perfect DEgalRN! Thank you!

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Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..
Thanks you Becky ESRN! This is perfect. Now, hopefully, I can get the blessing of the administrators. I don't think that will be a problem; however!

Hopefully admins will be on board, especially with all of the sue-happy people now-a-days, and the amount of allergies kiddos are rumored to have.

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Specializes in retired LTC.
... There are many reasons that this necessary; medical conditions, life-threatening food allergies, food intolerances, ect.

May wish to add to the letter something about potential for food tampering.

Quite recently heard about something about MJ being added to some baked goods brought into a school. Just on the news again. Honest!

Alice B. Toklas strikes again, I guess.

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Thankfully my school policies are only healthy snacks that have a nutritional label.

Same here - all food items must have a nutritional label. No label = the food item is not given out in class. If there is a birthday celebration parents can drop off cookies, donuts etc at the front office and the food is handed out during the last 10 minutes of class. Parents are not allowed to just randomly come and feed the entire class and they are not allowed to bring food for other students during lunch unless prior arrangements have been made between both sets of parents and teacher.

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I could not be happier that we have a NO OUTSIDE FOOD policy- the only exception being 2 parties are year and, even then, only fruits and veggies. Birthdays are always food free. I would lose my mind over this!

Dear parent volunteers,

Due to recent concerns raised regarding the frequency outside food being served for lunch in the classroom, it is now required that ANY outside food be brought in with nutritional information to be reviewed by the school nurse. There are many reasons that this necessary; medical conditions, life-threatening food allergies, food intolerances, ect. This information must be given to the nurse for review prior to food entering the classroom. If nutritional information if not available, that food item will not be permitted in the classroom. My priority is the health and safety of all students and this policy will help to ensure that everyone is able to enjoy these special treats without worry.

Then make sure your administration is on board and include a line that says "Our principal (superintendent) will be happy to address any concerns over this new policy.

Good luck to you!

Very well worded. At the forefront is the health and safety of all students and nobody is actually being told they cannot bring treats at all. And really, 2-3 times a week?? When are the kids learning anything?

There is a lot of "food rewarding" at my middle school where I have over 150 students with food allergies. Several times a year, a student has had a mild reaction to their allergen (never major and requiring an epi-pen YET anyway.) Always exposure is in class never cafeteria and usually teacher provided food.

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