Same these all sound good and healthy and i cant wait to try them!

Actually, the burden does fall on the parent/child with allergies. When you drop your child off at school, you only have the inconvenience of not being able to pack certain items in your child's lunch. I, on the other hand have to spend my day in fear that my child will come in contact with another child who has eaten peanut butter and forgotten to wash his hands. I, the parent of the child with allergies, have the wonderful experience of having to meet the ambulance at the ER, wondering if my child is going to survive another careless exposure. No, it's not fair that Johnny can't bring trail mix to school. It's also not fair that my child could die from eating a peanut. And yes, I have found an alternative that works for us. He no longer attends public school.

Where is your compassion for a little 5 year old boy that has to sit at a table by himself at lunchtime? He won't eat his lunch at all or just one item? Hard for the little guy to understand. Count your blessings lady.

I think your response is the most sensible I have seen about allergy free zones. No one can totally control an environment with hundreds of people bringing foods (and other allergens)that might be unsafe for someone else. Unfortunately, I think the burden should fall on those with the allergies versus complete restrictions on those who don't have allergies. One teacher at my son's elementary school had an allergy to citrus (including odors), so, the entire school was restricted from bringing anything citrus to school. Sorry, this just seems like PC insanity to me. If my children had deathly allergies, I would find an alternative that worked for them rather than asking everyone else to accommodate them.

An alternative to homeschool in many states is a charter virtual school. It's considered public school, but the vast bulk of the work is done at home. Check out K12.com or Connections Academy. This is a great option for children with allergies or academic needs alike. And you don't have to deal with the sending meals, worrying about snacks, etc, etc.

Now, my kids are in school and there's a nut free table in the cafeteria for lunch. One of my son's has several nut allergies in his class and the teacher asked that kids don't bring products with nuts for snack, but just in case they have a strict hand washing policy and take other steps because they know they can't guarantee there won't be anything peanut related in every child's snack for the entire school year. I think is is much better than a false sense of security that comes with a "peanut free" sign on the door. It also protects the school from any liability. There's no reason why a balance can't be reached for everyone. Life is all about compromise and give and take and I think it's great for kids to learn to think of others.

Natalie, I know it has been a while since you wrote this and I hope you are all well. My kindergarten daughter doesn't eat meat, so I was dismayed when her pre-school and then her primary school went nut-free.
However, along with my dismay, I realized that we have it easy. For most people, eating nuts it is a matter of habit and convenience rather than health.
Now, a year and a half in to nut-free lunches, my daughter has become a more more versatile eater and I use a little more creativity sometimes. I absolutely agree that it is a situation that teaches children (and hopefully adults!) compassion and empathy. She does have kids with nut allergies in her class and I would be horrified if we somehow caused a health problem for one of them.

I just want you to know that not ALL parents of nut-eating kids resent those with allergies or harbour hostilities. I think there are quite a lot of us who are sympathetic.

All the best -

I am not sure, which boxes you bought, but I can tell you that the zip lock ones that we use fit in Lands End and Old Navy rectangular lunch boxes.