Hi! My name is Cory and I am a high school freshman. There are often some problems with having PKU and attending school. Usually, you have to bring your lunch since the cafeteria doesn’t serve special meals for kids with PKU. I bring lo-pro pasta in a thermos, a juice pouch, fruit and some kind of low protein dessert. But sometimes there will be something I can eat in a lunchroom like a salad bar or some French fries.

I’m not sure what your school has, but I avoid the vending machines at my school because I’m not sure how good or bad those drinks are. Some could easily contain aspartame.

I do not take my formula (Phenex 2) to school. I drink it before I go to school and when I come home and have it with a snack.  Another problem can be birthday parties at school. I’ve never been in a circumstance where
I couldn’t eat what was passed out as a birthday treat. These days, because of
peanut allergies, you can easily avoid treats with nuts. There is also the matter
of holidays and candy. When I come back with candy from Halloween, me
and my parents go through and take out what I can’t eat.

School field trips and summer camp can also be a problem when it
comes to PKU, but my parents and I have always talked to teachers
and camp counselors beforehand to let them know that I have a
special diet and they are more than happy to prepare my special meals
for me.

I sometimes get asked why I have my lunch at school every day. I have
no problem sharing the information that I have PKU because it’s something
people with PKU can’t help. I’ve also found that when I explain PKU to
people they accept it and I’ve even given presentations on PKU in class.

Kids in my school have all kinds of things that make them different from
everybody else andyou shouldn’t let anyone make fun of you or pick on
you because you have PKU. Tell them that you won’t pick on them
for their differences, so why should they make fun of you. 
I’m a very unique person in the world because of PKU.
We’re all important.