Question:

My five-year-old granddaughter has a serious peanut allergy. I would like to know if you could suggest any menu and lunch box ideas.
Patricia A. Barton

Answer:

When one thing is taken away from your diet, it can be hard not to focus on what you cannot have. But there are quite a few kid-friendly options for boxed lunches beyond peanut butter.

There are other nut butters on the market — including almond and cashew — that you could substitute in a PB&J. Before swapping any of them for peanut butter in a PB&J, there are, however, several things to seriously consider. First, many people who suffer from peanut allergies also have reactions to all tree nuts, so you would want to have your grandchild tested to determine if she has any allergies in addition to the peanut allergy. Second, beware that some nut butters may be processed on machinery that is also used to make peanut butter. And finally, because of the increase in peanut allergies, many schools now ban children from bringing lunches or snacks that contain any tree nut product; check school policy before packing a lunch. A potentially safer alternate is soy nut butter, which you can find near the peanut butter in some health food stores.

As for boxed lunches beyond a PB&J, if you prefer to stick with a sandwich, there's nothing wrong with a classic ham or turkey sandwich. Or throw together a grilled cheese sandwich in the morning before school; it may be slightly soggy come noon, but it will still taste good. And don't forget some less common alternatives to bread and standard fillings; take a few extra minutes one day to slowly explore your pantry or the aisles of the grocery store. You may be surprised at all of the alternatives to sliced bread and cold cuts. English muffins. Bagels (or mini bagels). Pita bread. Flour tortillas for roll-ups. Graham crackers. Cream cheese and jam. Hummus. Even cold chicken from a rotisserie hen. (As you try new products, carefully read the ingredients and the other fine print on the packaging; packaged convenience foods may contain peanut oil and/or be processed in a plant that also processes peanuts.)

Or forgo the sandwich and cater to kids' instinctive desire to be playful. Roll some lunch meat into cylinders and pack them with some crudite and crackers, rice cakes, or muffins. If the school has a refrigerator, take advantage of it and send individual-size containers of yogurt, fruit, and graham crackers. Or cube some cheese and pack it with grapes or an apple and some tortilla chips or crackers. And don't forget leftovers; whether fried rice, spaghetti, or a slice of cold pizza, they can be welcoming reminders of home come lunchtime.

Renee Schettler
Food Editor