what do you give your gluten free kid for lunch?

[Anonymous]

It's tough. We are not allowed to send peanut butter to school or any nuts. I feel like all I give the kid is dairy... a yogurt, a cheese stick and a cream cheese sandwich (on Udi's gluten free bread). He is in preschool and they do not heat things up. Does anyone have suggestions? I do not have a lot of time and I am spending a fortune on bread. BTW, I am celiac (but it is easier as an adult and I am not picky!) and my son is as well. Any suggestions would be great. The combo of a picky eater who has celiac is tough!

[Anonymous]

I send in lots of veggies. Also sunflowerseed butter is great.

What do you do for breakfast, that is the one I struggle with

[Anonymous]

For breakfast, what about GF muffins made with one of those mixes? Add some blueberries or raisins.

Re. lunch, we really like those brown rice cakes with a touch of salt or crackers with Laughing Cow cheese.

[Anonymous]

When DD was younger I used to send GF macaroni and cheese or spaghetti in a thermal lunch container.

[Anonymous]

I'm not gluten free, nor is my child, but I've had a number of gluten free kids in my class as a teacher. Here's what I see in their lunch boxes, as well as some things I pack for my own kid, that I happen to know are gluten free, and that my kid, at least, will happily eat cold

Sandwiches on rice cakes (You either need it to be something sticky like sunflower butter, or use something like cream cheese as glue to hold turkey or something on)
Cut up chicken breast or other meats, left over from dinner
Chicken nuggets, or hot dogs (both come gluten free, I believe)
"Roll ups" with lunch meat and cheese
Rice, either plain or fried
Yogurt
Hardboiled eggs
Potato chips
Corn on the cob (just zap it in the microwave and wrap it in foil)
Breakfast cereal (big hit for lots of kids, rice chex are particularly managable)
Baked oatmeal with lots of fruit mixed in (you could make it with gluten free oats), slice it up like brownies)
Frozen peas (they defrost in the lunch box and keep everything else cold)
Fruit
Soup in a thermos
I think you can get gluten free tortillas (made of corn?) If so quesadillas have been a big lunch time hit for us, especially with salsa to dip, dipping is key to getting kids to eat.

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much for your ideas. For breakfast we either do gluten free oatmeal (expensive though) or eggs....

[Anonymous]

DC cannot tolerate gluten, soy, egg, and dairy (soy is the least problematic for her). We use rice cakes with veggie slices cheese; Amy's pizza (gluten free, dairy free, egg free); toasted "safe" bread with ham or turkey (either grilled or in a separate container); hummus (you can find "safe" hummus); g-f pretzels and rice cakes (Hahn's). We can also send in hamburgers and I've been able to do hot dogs. We also do g-f "safe" pasta with Veggie sprinkle cheese (which she loves -- it's like a mac and cheese for her). Salsa and corn tortilla chips. Quesidilla (corn based) with veggie slices. I hope this helps -- as you can see, we've coped well with it -- I'm not mentioning veggies and fruit but those are staples too as are "enjoy life" cookies and other sweets for special occasions.

[Anonymous]

My son likes ham rollups, cheese sticks, GF crackers, Salami sandwiches, carrot sticks with dip. Lately he's into toast.

[Anonymous]

What is veggie sprinkle cheese and where do you buy it?

[Anonymous]

My daughter is gf/cf.

For her protein, she gets either cut-up chicken teriyaki, which I make that morning or soy yogurt. The sugar in the yogurt is high, but the soy means the protein and fiber are pretty good. Then fruit or veg (like sliced cucumber) and a treat.

I've also sent her with cold noodles (we like the quinoa/corn kind), but I try to give her more variety, since she's a bit of a noodle-holic.

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP for veggie sprinkle cheese. It's "fake" parm and you get it at MOM or the co-ops (both in TP and in SS). We love it and it's great for homemade vegan g/f pizza as well as mac and cheese (which I make with g/f vegan pasta, g/f vegan "butter" and the veggie sprinkle cheese and veggie slices).

Good luck!

PS If you've not found Sticky Fingers, I recommend it for special occasions. Sophie's Choice is the cookbook you need to order -- lifesaver for all kinds of food

[Anonymous]

Sandwiches, or lunchmeat rollups or chicken salad and GF crackers or pretzels. GF crackers and cheese and/or lunchmeat. Pizza strips (leftover GF pizza), GF chicken tenders (can be eaten cold, or sent in a Thermos chopped up). Leftovers from meals the night before (also in a Thermos) such as pasta dishes, pasta salad, different rice dishes, etc.

If you preheat them with hot water, Thermos' can keep foods warm for a while. That may be an option.