Birthday Guidelines

We welcome birthday treats for your child’s class for his/her birthday. Please send in enough treats for the entire class. Treats must be nut and dairy-free. They must also come along with a list of ingredients. If your birthday treats contain dairy, nuts, or don’t have an ingredient list, they will not be distributed to the class. Whole Foods has no-nut, eggless cake and frosting mixes. Please check with your child’s teacher about specific allergies and an appropriate time to send in the treats. If you have any questions, please contact the school nurse.

HELPFUL HINTS

Fresh Baked Goods, Cookies and Other Treats Which Are From Dairy and
Nut-Free Companies:

• Divvies (www.divvies.com ) 914-533-0333. Located in Upper Westchester, NY. Please mention that you are a Mandell family. Overnight shipping is available. Products include cupcakes, cookies, candies, popcorn and chocolate bars that are delicious and can be themed for holidays. Receive 10% discount online with the code “Mandell” at checkout. All of their products (except cupcakes) are frequently available at Whole Foods at the bakery counter or in the bakery section. Please ask at the bakery counter if you do not see them.
• Cookies…For Me (http://www.cookiesforme.com/catalog/). Based in Pennsylvania but sold in Whole Foods’ bakery department frequently, this company makes cookies & brownies shaped like cupcakes that are Nut-, Dairy- & Egg-Free. Not all of their products are Dairy-Free so please read ingredients before purchasing.  Please ask at the bakery counter in Whole Foods if you do not see them.

• A&J Bakery (www.aandjbakery.net) 401-228-8696. Based in Rhode Island, they ship nationwide. Great selection of cookies, biscotti, brownies and cakes. Be sure to choose from the “Egg and Dairy Free” Section (all items are nut free as well).

• Amanda’s Own Confections (www.amandasown.com ) 440-570-6359. Based in Ohio. Large selection of chocolates and confections.

• Home Free Treats (www.homefreetreats.com/t- homefreeourtreats.aspx). This company is peanut, tree-nut, egg and dairy free. They make cookies and coffee cake and are based in New Hampshire.

• Enjoy Life Foods (http://www.enjoylifefoods.com). This company offers a wide range of cookies and snack bars. All products are Nut- & Dairy-Free (as well as Egg-Free).

Store Bought, Pre-Packaged Cookies:
• Nabisco Teddy Grahams (all flavors)
• Nabisco Oreos
• Nabisco Ginger Snaps
Please note that all cookies and candies listed are a specific brand and not a generic brand. Each of these companies has verified, as of September 2010, that these products do not contain any nuts or dairy or traces of nuts or dairy.

Ingredient lists change! It is still important that prior to purchasing any of these items which you bring to school that you read the ingredient list first. This list is provided only as a guide and is not a guarantee that the product you purchase is 100% nut-free & dairy-free at the time of purchase.

Candies:
• Nerds (all flavors and rope)• Sweetarts • All Wrigley Starburst Products • DumDum Lollipops & Candy Canes • Mike and Ike candy & jelly beans • Peeps Marshmallow Chicks ?Hot Tamales • Swedish Fish • Skittles • Sour Patch Candies (all types) • Push Pops • Welch’s Fruit Snack Pouches • Jet Puffed Kraft Marshmallows • Kellogg’s Fruit Fruit Flavored Snacks (NOT Yogos) • All Smarties Products

Cake Mixes:
Cherrybrook Kitchens – Cake, Cookie & Brownie Mixes are completely Nut- and Dairy-Free (as well as Egg-Free). Cherrybrook also now makes pre-made boxed chocolate chip cookies that are delicious. Available in most Health Food Stores, at www.cherrybrookkitchen.com and at www.peanutfreeplanet.com.

 

A Note About Baking:
If you plan to bake cupcakes or cookies at home, it is absolutely necessary that you take very good care to insure that the bowls, utensils, baking pans, and work surfaces are free of nut & dairy residue. If you cannot ensure the safety of the food for the children with peanut, tree nut & dairy allergies, we ask that you not bring baked goods to school.