Packing a Gluten-Free Lunch Box |
School lunches don't have to stress you out this year.
The new school year is upon us and having a child that has to eat gluten-free makes it all a little more stressful. Fortunately over the past couple of years, things have become a little easier due to the availability of new gluten-free foods in the market. A lot of schools will provide a gluten-free meal for your child if requested. This topic will be discussed by fellow blogger, Maureen Stanley.
The easiest way for me to ensure that my son is eating safe at school is to pack his lunch with foods that I prepare. My son is entering high school, so how I handle his lunch is a little different than how I would handle an elementary school-age child. Many of the options I will share below can easily be adjusted to satisfy younger children, too.
The first thing I did when I started to pack my son's lunch daily was to invest in a thermos for keeping hot foods hot and an insulated lunch bag to keep cold foods cold. Depending on what time lunch is served, it is important that whatever I prepare that day is kept safe from food-borne illness-causing bacteria.
There are a few new gluten-free breads on the market now that don’t have to be toasted before consuming. These have been a godsend for packing school lunches. Previously I would toast the bread, then let it cool, and then make the sandwich. While I found a bread that worked well for the purpose, it was not as good as the newer varieties. Udi's Gluten-Free Bread*, Canyon Bakehouse*, Rudi's Gluten-Free Bread* and Nature's Own* are all making a shelf-stable bread that can be assembled & packed for lunch. When I mention a sandwich below, I am using one of the aforementioned breads.
*It is important to note that these are not all available nationwide yet. Please visit their websites for further information.
Main Course Ideas:
- PB & J (Skippy Natural is gluten-free; Smucker's Jelly/Jam is gluten-free)
- Turkey or Ham & Cheese (Hormel Natural's lunchmeat says gluten-free on the package)
- Mac & Cheese in the thermos (Annie's or Trader Joe's both have a boxed, gluten-free version)
- Spaghetti & meat sauce in the thermos (leftovers)
- Deli roll-ups (roll up cheese in deli meat and cheese or cream cheese)
- Pepperoni & cheese (Hormel regular & turkey says“gluten-free”on the package)
- Leftover cold pizza (Bob's Red Mill gluten-free pizza crust works well for this)
- Lunchables (Oscar Meyer Nachos Cheese Dip & Salsa is gluten-free)
Sides:
- Yogurt (See the list of Yoplait® gluten-free here)
- Chips (Many Frito Lay varieties are gluten-free)
- Blue corn chips & salsa
- Applesauce
- Fresh cut fruit
- Veggie sticks & salad dressing (carrots, celery, zucchini)
- Salad (add a protein – chicken, tuna, beans or eggs to make a meal)
Other Ideas:
- Tuna salad w/ gluten-free crackers
- Carrots & celery with peanut butter
- Cream cheese with celery
- Dried fruit
- Larabar® bars
- Yoplait® Greek yogurt + fruit + dried cereal or gluten-free granola
- Cheese & gluten-free crackers
- Gluten-free pasta or quinoa salad (add beans like chickpeas or black beans for protein)
Apples or other fruit with peanut butter
- Hard boiled eggs
- Nuts or trail mix
- Fruit Roll-Ups® or snacks
- Chex® mix made with gluten-free Chex (recipe ideas here)
Drinks can be packed or purchased. My son will often buy white milk or water to go with his lunch. Other options include:
- Juicy Juice juice boxes
- Capri Sun
- Horizon Organic Milk boxes
- Silk Soy Milk boxes
Last, but not least, don't forget dessert! There are a number of gluten-free packaged desserts available, or make & freeze homemade goodies to last for a couple of weeks.
- Pamela's cookies
- Kinnikinnick cookies
- Betty Crocker® Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie mix
- Betty Crocker® Gluten Free Brownies
Create healthy gluten-free lunches based on your child's likes and dislikes. Get creative. Just because it may not be“traditional" packed lunch fare doesn't mean it can't fill your child up. Start with a protein and then round the lunch out by adding fruits/veggies, dairy and a small treat.
Questions?
If you have any questions, please email Kim at
kim@glutenfreeislife.com.
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