Packing a lunchbox can be a challenging task for anyone, especially when your lunch needs to be gluten-free. Usually this time of year my kids start to ask for new lunch choices and complain that their school lunch box selections are boring. As a parent it’s a constant struggle to find healthy foods that your children will eat and enjoy. When a food allergy, gluten intolerance or celiac disease is added to the mix the task of finding nutritious foods can feel daunting. But it doesn’t have to.
Udi’s Gluten Free sent me a sampling of their gluten free products to help inspire creativity for gluten free delicious lunch choices. We are not a gluten free family, but we do incorporate gluten free products into our diet. We have plenty of people in our lives that are gluten free so I always try to have safe products around.
Tackling Back-to-School Gluten-Free
I thought I would share a few ways we have tried out Udi’s gluten-free products in our lunch boxes since going back-to-school.
Udi’s Millet-Chia Bread
After reading a lot about the health benefits of chia seeds I finally added them to my diet-and I love them. I was very excited to see that Udi’s has a Millet-Chia Bread. We used it this week to make my son’s famous lox sandwich, which he takes to school most days. I find most gluten-free breads to be very dry. Udi’s wasn’t as dry as others I’ve tried, but it was still a little to dry for my kids. They liked the White Sandwhich Bread better than the Millet-Chia Bread.
Gluten-Free Granola Mix
Some form of granola makes it into our lunch boxes a few days of the week. My kids love granola and they add all sorts of mix-ins to it to make it unique. Some days it’s raisins and other days it’s cereal. Udi’s has an Au Naturel Granola that’s gluten-free and worked perfectly for the mix-ins. My kids love to use Kids Konserve Stainless Steel Mini Food Containers
Veggie and Fruit Combos
We love using our LunchBots stainless steel containers
Raspberries and Glutino gluten-free pretzels
Organic carrots (unpeeled), celery and Glutino pretzels
Dessert
Not every lunch comes with a dessert, but once in a while a cookie or special treat makes its way into our lunch box. Udi’s Snickerdoodle and Chocolate Chip cookies are a great gluten-free alternative.
How do you make your lunch gluten-free? I would love to hear your suggestions.
Disclosure: Udi’s generously provided me with their products for review. The opinions are my very own.
One of my friends has Celiac Disease as well as her young son. I don’t like them having to bring food to my home when I have parties, so I always try to have many GF options available. This post was times perfectly, as we are celebrating my son’s birthday this Sunday and I need to make sure I have GF snacks and treats available! Thanks!
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My Son and I are both gluten, dairy and soy intolerant. So lunches can be a challenge for us. My secret is leftovers! We enjoy leftovers all the time. My son does enjoy Udi’s Breads, but we avoiding eating too much of these products as they are high in starchy carbohydrates, which can lead to weight gain. Left over cooked meat, vegetable and salads are a staple. GF Pizza bagel, with GF meats, veggies and pineapple (no cheese for us). Fritata and salad. GF Sloppy Joe (loaded w/ Veggies) filling in a separate container and a bun, my son assembles at lunch time. Homemade hamburgers with a GF bun. Home made Pesto w/rice pasta and veggies. Homemade fruit leather, or dried fruit. And occasionally a GF Cupcake, cookie or muffin. We make lunches the night before and refrigerate, I then use ice packs in insulated lunch bags. While my kids cannot warm up their lunches, thy don’t mind the food being cold. Hope this gives you some ideas!
Chriss recently posted..Natural Vegan Gypsy Hemp Upcycled Hemp Jersey and Banana Silk Crochet Chain Statement Scarf Necklace Cowl in Wildflowers by TheArtofZenCrochet
Hi Chriss!Leftovers for lunch are fantastic. Thanks for all of the great lunch suggestions. Would love to see your fruit leather recipe. We use thermoses and LunchBots to carry many of these things to school. What type of containers do your kids carry all of this good stuff in? Thanks so much for stopping by with so much great info.
Hi Jennifer, Glad you found the post helpful. It’s always tricky having safe snacks on hand for friends with food allergies or sensitivities. Happy Birthday to your son!
The boys often use the metal lunch containers inside their insulated lunch bags.
Fruit Leather requires a Food dehydrator, we have an Excalibur. Love it! I just kind of wing it really, I add raw cut up fruit and berries. About 2 cups blended smooth will make one sheet. Blend until smooth, you may need to add 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of water. Poor on to the parafex sheet, spread to an even consistentcy about 1/8″ thick and dehydrate on medium heat for 12-14 hours. We sometimes add cinnamon. Dehydrated pears are our favorite.
Chriss recently posted..A Bit of Lace Hemp Triangle Scarf in Sprout Green – Eco Friendly earth day organic scarf shawl Summer Scarf Eco Chic Vegan by TheArtofZenCrochet
Hi Chriss, I’m tempted to try a food dehydrator-I think I would love it, as would my kids. You make it sound so simple.
All GH breads are dry (except my corn bread, but that has eggs) – Udi’s are OK, though we do tend to eat them toasted at breakfast.
Sushi rice is a favourite lunch at my house (topped with steamed edamame). Or else rolled oats with sliced apples and nuts, almond milk on the side: sort of a lunch muesli.
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