Do You Know Your School’s Peanut Policy?

Parents who recently answered a call for school lunch box ideas on some of our Patch Facebook pages said the lunch box challenge is made even tougher these days by the quest to find items that are somewhat healthy, maintain their freshness and meet ever-changing school district peanut allergy guidelines. 

Facebook users in East Penn School District had a conversation about food allergies and lamented their inability to pack that old standby, peanut butter and jelly in the school lunchbox. “Sadly you are in Emmaus so you can't go with peanut butter and jelly,” says Jessica Lichtenwalner. “I work in Emmaus but kids go to Kutztown and we can. So that is oldie but a goodie. Sometimes will do peanut butter and banana.”

That’s right folks, the day of the PB&J sandwich is over. 

Tamarya Heminitz says the food allergy issue actually causes her to support her kids in purchasing lunch at their schools. “I personally let mine buy,” she explains. “Too hard to pack anything when you have to watch with allergies of children in the school. And (my son) has someone in his class with a nut allergy so things are definitely not allowed in his class.” 

Beth Loring notes that the school lunch menu where she is offers sun butter sandwiches and asks for opinions from other moms. Sun butter is a sandwich spread made from sunflower seeds and is used similarly to peanut butter. 

Have you tried sun butter in your kids’ lunches? Thumbs up or thumbs down? What peanut-friendly lunch options have you come up with? Tell us in the comments below.