vNUTS continued from page 21 says it wasn’t too difficult growing up with the allergy. “My only real threat was peanut butter. Kids are pretty simple when it comes to food.” As Jackie grew older and times changed, she has noticed more issues with not just food items but everyday items. As society moves into a natural craze, more products are containing some type of nut oil and it’s being used a lot to cook with as it’s a healthier substitute to oils like vegetable oil. This is also the scariest part for Nichole, it’s almost an unknown exposure. Nichole mentioned that things like lotions, tooth paste, cleaning products, health and beauty products, etc. are containing these nut oils. Then there’s foods that can be cooked in nut oil that may escape notice. It’s not just food items anymore; there is a world of non-food items. Right now Nichole knows they are safe under her roof but as they grow older that can all change. Moving out on their own and even dating are big worries for her. “If the boy just ate a PBJ sandwich and she goes to kiss him…you just don’t know.” Nichole and Jackie both noted that people are still always looking at food when it comes to peanut allergies and they don’t expect a non-food item to be dangerous as well. Yankton School District and Sacred Heart Schools are more than willing to work with parents and their kids’ food allergies. Sandy Kramer, of Yankton School District, informed me that there are special diet order forms for parents to fill out and it has to be signed by a doctor. Sandy also told me that each school has a different system concerning allergies. For the elementary schools, once the menu has been filled out it is double-checked to make sure that no food allergies were missed. For the middle school and high school, there are separate menus for those kids and the server will set aside trays for them. The servers know these kids and will provide them with their meals with no production so there is no embarrassment. Sacred Heart’s Sherry Rockne says that parents should note food allergies on the registration form and that the teachers have copies so that any snacks or treats do not contain any allergens. The school lets their food service know of any issue with the menu and a substitute is sent in place of the allergen. The school also has EpiPens in a cupboard, and most students with allergies carry them as well, and there are extra snacks in case another child brought in a snack that contains an allergen. Sherry says there is definite communication between the school and parents. Nichole stresses for her kids to read labels for themselves and ask if they don’t know, and Jackie said her parents drilled that into her head as well. “This all sounds scary, but knowledge is the key,” Nichole told me. Both Nichole and Jackie told me though that the hardest part is when people don’t understand the severity of a peanut allergy. “They don’t understand it’s not intolerance, this is life or death,” Nichole said. Jackie suggests for parents to be straight with their kids about their allergies. “Kids are messy and sometimes unaware of a situation. And the teacher can’t watch every kid every second, it’s not possible.” Nichole also suggests that the parents of kids with food allergies should make themselves available for questions, and that other parents should ask as many questions as they need. “Communication is key.” Especially since there can be an emotional and social side to allergies; kids can feel left out of things because of their allergy. Whether it’s not being invited to a party because their allergy is misunderstood or having to sit aside because they can’t eat what everyone else is eating. “Kindness and compassion go a long way,” Nichole said. Nichole does note that her kids’ allergies are theirs, and not anyone else’s. She stays proactive, she packs extra snacks or asks what treats are being offered. She talks with her kids about not eating anything they don’t know the ingredients to or using a product they don’t know the ingredients to. Most parents will call or text her with questions if they don’t know about snacks her children can eat. She said most of the parents keep that communication open, which she says is a true blessing. She notes that most labels will include allergens now and if the plant processes nuts. If the label says “May Contain Nuts” they pass on the item, but if it was just “Processed in Plant Containing Nuts” they go for it. “At a certain point, you just have to live.” vBy Brandi Bue Honoring the life of your loved one... • Sensitivity • Compassion • Respect We’re here for you... Guiding and serving families with compassion and trust. Funeral Home & Crematory, Yankton Memorial Resource Center, Tyndall Memorial Chapels, Tabor, Menno & Tyndall 665-9679 | 1-800-495-9679 www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com Tami Penny Somer HERVOICEvMARCH/APRIL 2016v31