Do you have a Celiac kid in the Cupertino school district?

March 23, 2009

I do. I was really excited to find a list of gluten free items on the

district website the other day

(

ices/Gluten-free+Menu+Items

), so I called Student Nutrition Services to see what the procedure

was for getting my daughter a gluten free hot lunch on occasion. The

woman I spoke with didn't quite know what to tell me (I think I caught

her off guard), but did say that she's only had ONE other parent call

about GF lunches all year, and that they don't currently provide them

to any students in the entire district. Wow - this is a big district,

too! She mentioned several times that it is very cost prohibitive to

provide them for just a few students, and that if there were more

people asking for them it might be easier, etc. It was more of a

fact finding phone call for me, so I didn't get into the whole legally

required to accommodate my kid regardless of her medical condition

part of it...

Anyway, she took my name and number and promised to be in touch if

they had more interest or any idea what to do with this. I thought it

might be nice if they heard from others in the district and could get

a plan together to offer hot lunch to our kids, even if it was just

once a month. My daughter is only in kindergarten, but she studies

the lunch menus each month and asks wistfully if I think they'll ever

be a day that she might be able to get hot lunch like her friends

do... I know the food's not great, but the social aspect - sigh.

If you're interested in calling, the number for Student Nutrition

Services is 408-252-3000 x302

-

March 24, 2009

Hi , I too have a young celiac who was diagnosed just last

year. Not being able to participate in the school lunch program was

very difficult for her. We approached the lunch lady and asked if it

was possible for her to bring a frozen Amy's meal to have heated up

in their warming box. This option is great for her self esteem- she

gets to participate and yet, I feel like it is the safest option. It

costs us about the same as a school lunch.

Good luck-

Nell

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