Teacher Gift-Giving Tips (Food Allergy-Conscious)
Holidays are a great time of year to show appreciation for the teachers that help shape the learning and development of our children. During the pandemic, many schools instituted “no food” policies in the classrooms (including for birthdays and favor exchanges) to limit the number of ways a virus can travel and spread. Some schools have since eased those restrictions, inevitably allowing for increased exposure by individuals with food allergies. While giving gifts to teachers and school staff, be mindful that they may have food allergy or other dietary restrictions. Here are some tips and ideas to make holiday gift-giving more inclusive of food allergy considerations:
When planning your teacher gifts, it may be useful to send out a short “favorite things” survey in advance for teacher(s) or staff to fill out. Below is a short survey that includes a question around food allergies highlighted at the end. Feel confident that the items you gift will be enjoyed and, more importantly, safe to be consumed.
“Favorite Things” Survey (inclusive of food allergies)
Gift baskets often contain an assortment of items, many of them containing nuts or other top 9 allergens. (milk, eggs, nuts, fish, crustaceans, shellfish, wheat, soy and sesame). If you are unaware of your teachers’ food allergies, it’s best to avoid baskets containing items with the top 9 food allergens.
Be mindful of soaps and lotions that contain top 9 food allergens (for example, with nuts/coconut added to oils). Here is a basic guide on how to read nutrition labels properly.
Food items are great, but there are plenty of non-food items that will certainly please, such as hand-made crafts, experiences (museum visit, dinner, shows) or traditional gift cards so they can purchase what they want.
Your gifts are sure to be appreciated, especially when you are thoughtful about food allergies. Happy gifting!
