littlemommy 09:50 AM 10-22-2013
I am working on moving my license since we have relocated. I can't remember from before what the rules are on food intolerances. Our son is wheat free, but has never been diagnosed with an allergy. We did an elimination diet and have found that he gets very gassy and doesn't sleep well when he has wheat. Will I need a Dr's note for him to be on the food program?
I also have several kids who drink almond milk instead of cow's milk. None of them have actual allergies, but it's their parent's choice to have them drink almond. I don't remember almond milk being on the list of milk. I'm not sure if they can get Dr's notes or not.
melilley 09:59 AM 10-22-2013
I have a dcb here who has a gluten intolerance (they think he does because his brother does) and also only drinks almond milk-he is dairy free. My food rep only had me fill out a form that she gave to me and the doc signed it, but for intolerances, any medical pro like a nurse can sign it, but if it's a life threatening allergy, a Dr. needs to sign. I'm not sure if almond milk counts or not (I want to say no but, I'm not sure), my food rep might just be letting me slide on that one. My dcp doesn't want soy because of the hormones in it.
Also, it depends on income, but you may not have to count your own child in the fp if your household makes too much. I can't count my children.
littlemommy 10:07 AM 10-22-2013
I will be Tier 1, and have the same rep as I had before (who was suuuper nice!!) These parents also want to avoid soy because of the hormones. I don't blame them! I just don't want to go through the hassle of getting licensed for the food program and then not have any of the kids count because of the almond milk!
The rep I had before never even looked to see what kind of milk I actually served, she just took my word for it. I always served cow's milk before though
butterfly 10:20 AM 10-22-2013
In my area, there isn't an almond milk available that fits the nutrition guidelines necessary to claim almond milk as a milk substitute.
I have 3 with milk allergies. I give them soy milk. My own son who qualifies for the food program when present during meals (SA), is gluten free and dairy free. I just had to have a doc sign a form. If the parents are ok with soy, just a note from the parents was acceptable - since the soy milk meets the nutrition requirements.
If the milk option doesn't meet the nutrition requirements then a dr's note is necessary and it's at the food program's discretion if they will allow it or not.
I went round and round with the food program here. I didn't think it was legal for them to tell me that the dr's note wasn't good enough. I wasn't going to go against dr's orders... the other option is not claiming those children's meals and giving them the almond milk per the parent's or dr's request.
MissAnn 10:14 AM 10-22-2013
Originally Posted by melilley:
I have a dcb here who has a gluten intolerance (they think he does because his brother does) and also only drinks almond milk-he is dairy free. My food rep only had me fill out a form that she gave to me and the doc signed it, but for intolerances, any medical pro like a nurse can sign it, but if it's a life threatening allergy, a Dr. needs to sign. I'm not sure if almond milk counts or not (I want to say no but, I'm not sure), my food rep might just be letting me slide on that one. My dcp doesn't want soy because of the hormones in it.
Also, it depends on income, but you may not have to count your own child in the fp if your household makes too much. I can't count my children.
You are right, almond milk is not credible. I use lactose free milk. Not sure if soy is credible. Has to have the same nutrition or higher than 1% and had to be either 1% fat or nonfat.
melilley 10:27 AM 10-22-2013
Originally Posted by MissAnn:
You are right, almond milk is not credible. I use lactose free milk. Not sure if soy is credible. Has to have the same nutrition or higher than 1% and had to be either 1% fat or nonfat.
That's what I thought. My fp rep must not care because I told her that dcb drinks almond milk because his mom doesn't want him to drink anything else and she said ok. Believe me, I wish dcm would have used the lactose free milk. Dcb has had almond milk (when he didn't have or ran out of breast milk) since he was like 9 months old and, well, that's a whole other story.
JoseyJo 12:58 PM 10-22-2013
Our fp will also not allow almond milk. We have one who is lactose intolerant whose mom doesn't want to have soy. We serve her goat milk.
heyhun77 08:11 PM 10-22-2013
I have 2 kids who are gluten free and the parents don't want them drinking soy milk. My food program rep found it in the book that i can serve them kefir as a milk alternative. It actually has more protein than soy or regular milk.
Unregistered 10:23 AM 10-22-2013
Originally Posted by littlemommy:
I am working on moving my license since we have relocated. I can't remember from before what the rules are on food intolerances. Our son is wheat free, but has never been diagnosed with an allergy. We did an elimination diet and have found that he gets very gassy and doesn't sleep well when he has wheat. Will I need a Dr's note for him to be on the food program?
I also have several kids who drink almond milk instead of cow's milk. None of them have actual allergies, but it's their parent's choice to have them drink almond. I don't remember almond milk being on the list of milk. I'm not sure if they can get Dr's notes or not.
Almond milk does not have protein
Unregistered 01:17 PM 10-23-2013
Originally Posted by Unregistered:
Almond milk does not have protein
WRONG. So Delicious brand Almond milk has 5g protein. Soy and Dairy free.
However almond milk does not qualify on our fp. Two of my families serve it here, I do as well. My kiddo can not have any other milk besides almond, (no soy, no dairy, no coconut etc). I just serve it and leave well enough alone. My other kids get cows milk and my lady has never asked.
As far as a doctors note goes, our FP requires a doc note saying modified food plan but it doesnt require a reason or diagnosis. Our primary doc has one for my kiddo if we needed it. But I havent even addressed it with my other families. IF it becomes an issue I will.
And GF shouldnt present an issue as there are many alternatives to G available most everywhere.