My son takes his lunch everyday.  His aide heats up foods that need to be
heated.  Usually in the teachers lounge after wiping out the microwave.  I
looked at the cafeteria menu and just couldn't stick the cafeteria staff with
that responsibility.  Too many chances for cross contamination.  Since my
Husband has been out of work my son qualifies for the free lunch/breakfast
program, but I just can't do it.  I do let them provide juice with his lunch,
but the aide washes the outside of the containers before James drinks from
it.  He does not go through the cafeteria line.  Because a meal has to be
served for the school to be paid for the free lunch, a tray goes out to his
table with foods that others can eat at his table and he shares.  Example:
Most times it is a sandwich, but we never know from day to day if the bread
and/or meat is safe.  This way if a friend wants to eat lunch with him but
has something in his lunch that James shouldn't be to close to (the dreaded
cheetos/doritos dust), he can mix and match with what came out on the tray
that day.  The decision of what is and isn't allowed at the table is left to
his aide, but I spent years training her so I am comfortable with this.  In
the beginning I was called almost daily with questions.

E.J.