|
"Our school, like many primary schools now, has several children
attending who have severe allergies.
To make our canteen accessible to as many children as possible,
[voluntary canteen managers] Kate and Paul Santa Maria have
initiated both a nut free and egg-free kitchen. None of the
snacks or lunches sold at the canteen contains either of these
items.
There are also several children with other food sensitivities,
to foods including citrus, dairy and gluten.
While these children are identified in the canteen for all
the volunteers, it is a lot to take in for new parents. When
classroom lunch order baskets [were] returned to the canteen,
parents had to be vigilant in identifying any child who may
have food issues.
To avoid any of these children having an inappropriate, or
even dangerous food being substituted for an unavailable requested
food, Paul and Kate have initiated the Allergy Basket. This
bright orange basket is used only by children with food concerns
to deposit their lunch orders.
The orders in this basket are processed separately, and double
checked.
It has relieved new volunteers of the fear of making a mistake
with a child's order who has any allergy or food problems,
and has streamlined the running of the canteen as well.
It is an idea that would benefit most primary school canteens
today."
- Pam McGuinness, President, Parents and Friends
|
