Jump to content
Home
Forum
Articles
About Us
Tapestry
This is the EYFS Staging Site ×

Recommended Posts

Can anyone answer this?

 

At times we have offered red lentils etc as an alternative to sand for pouring and spooning.

When we went to open the packet this week we noticed that it says "do not eat uncooked", the same wording is on split peas and other alternatives.

Whilst we do not allow our children to eat them, as a special needs nursery, we cannot be sure that someone won't attempt to put them into their mouth.

 

Does anyone else use lentils? Is there a way round this? What is the problem, is there a health and safety requirement that I have overlooked.

 

We do of course offer textures of a more edible nature like pasta but we do like to vary our options.

 

Having said that we offer lentils and an alternative to sand, there is always someone who will try to eat the sand!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you stick lentils and toxic into Google you do get sites telling you they are toxic when raw. It also says you can be allergic to them but I have never heard of anyone that was.

It can't be all that dangerous, we have definitely had children who ate them and didn't show any effects!!

J x

Link to comment
Share on other sites

"If you stick lentils and toxic into Google you do get sites telling you they are toxic when raw. It also says you can be allergic to them but I have never heard of anyone that was.

It can't be all that dangerous, we have definitely had children who ate them and didn't show any effects!!"

J x

 

Hi, (sorry I don't know how to highlight the above)

Just wanted to say that we have several children in school who are very allergic to lentils, so much so that they require an epi-pen.

 

Yas x

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In my previous job my foundation stage manager wasn't keen for me to use lentils or kidney beans in nursery but I love all those different things like soup mix, split beans, dried peas etc. I have used them to make musical instruments because of the colours in bottles. When I use them we have a good chat about putting things in our mouths and the dangers.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Same as Yas. We have a child who has an epipen and is allergic to peas and beans as well as the usual nuts and eggs. We therefor cannot allow lentils as they are part of the legume family.

Is it worth running the risk? Could dried rice be an alternative for your pouring activities?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hmmmm. That would explain why the mice who once climbed up my wall display ate all the sunflower seeds from the collages and NOT the red kidney beans. Not only more agile than an olympic gymnast but damn clever too!!!!!!

 

Do you think they read the packets or just googled it on the internet?? :o

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Do you think they read the packets or just googled it on the internet?? :o

Nope. This sort of knowledge has been incorporated into rodent DNA, following years and years of disseminating health and safety information by word of mouse...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the replies. I knew about red kidney beans but never connected the same issue to lentils.

We do not have any children with allergies at present but it is not worth taking the risk. It looks like being rice again, pity I do like the natural colours of the various lentils and peas - coloured rice just isn't the same!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think keep things in perspective, yes legumes has toxins which are reduced with cooking, however, I thought How many lentilws would you have to eat for it to be dangerous to health?

 

I found this discussion HERE (the tomato avatars (sorry forgot name) comments)

 

In another discussion I read that yes toxins are there ut the human body is able to cope with it, and in fact did you know tap water has Arsenic in it, a toxin too. :o

 

Allergies are concern but a severe allergy to any substance is possible by any child, not known until they come into contact with it. If known then safety measures are in place, if unknown then hopefully 1st aid training has addressed how to cope with allergic reactions, or at least this should be in settings operational plans.

 

Are there any statistics to help measure the risk, how many children, (apart from ones with a known allergy) have experienced harm from 'playing' with lentils, beans - ie: legumes in a preschool setting?

 

Peggy

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi

I just pour some rice into a bowl then tip a little food colouring into it. Then give it a good stir around and leave it to dry off. Works really well and doesn't stain little fingers (unless it gets wet!) We have had red and yellow rice for the last 3 weeks! I work with pre school special needs children and they have loved it. Especially when we put the water/sand wheel in the tray too. Very theraputic for the children and also for the staff!!!

 

Gem

Link to comment
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. (Privacy Policy)