The Allergy Friendly and Gluten Free Lunch Box for Kids

The Allergy Friendly and Gluten Free Lunch Box for Kids

I have been packing allergy friendly lunches for my son for nearly 7 years.  I have known about his allergies since he was 4 months old, so I have been packing him lunches for awhile.  The journey has had its moments of frustration, desperation, and aggravation.  But it has also had its joys in what I call victories.  The victory of finding something for him to eat!

The lunch box of a child with food allergies or GF needs can be filled with all kinds of cardboard tasting foods and limited choices.  The challenge is to fill it with nutritious, yummy, kid friendly foods that will meet their nutrition and caloric needs.



The gluten-free, allergy friendly lunch box (before photo)

1.   The Sandwich:  A sandwich is a classic and its easy.  My son's sandwich has not changed much in 4 years. 

• The bread: My favorite bread is from the GF and allergy friendly bakery in Colorado Springs, CO called Outside the Bread Box.  I also use Energy-Life Tapioca Bread. 
• The meat: Hormel Natural Choice is GF and comes pre-packaged to reduce cross contamination from the deli.
• The cheese: Go Veggie! Rice Vegan slices. 
• Extras:  Hummus, mustard, lettuce, etc.

2.   The Wrap:  Like a sandwich, but a little more hip and stylish.

• The wrap bread: French Meadow Bakery GF Tortillas, Food for Life brown rice tortilla, or a corn tortilla.
• The filling: My son's current wrap only includes hummus, meat (deli, grilled chicken, bacon), and a slice of his cheese.  I hope to someday introduce: lettuce, carrot sticks, cucumber sticks, avocado, etc.  Have I mentioned that he is a picky eater?

3.   The Baked Potato:  New on the menu this year and it's a big hit!

• The Potato: Bake extra potatoes the next time you turn on your oven and keep them in the refrigerator for the week.  Reheat the potato in the morning and place in the thermos with your choice of 'goodies'. 
• The goodies:  Diced lunch meat, shredded cheese, allergy friendly 'butter' spread or olive oil, sliced olives, crumbled bacon.

4.   The Mac and Cheese:  I will make a batch of this yummy GF/allergy friendly dish and reheat as needed and serve with roll ups.  Check out my recipe under the Main Dishes tab.



Creativity will turn that cardboard tasting lunch into something special!
(after photo)

5.  The Roll Ups:  Not a high fructose corn syrup fake fruit roll up, but a lunch meat roll up with a piece of cheese, secured by a toothpick. 



6.  The Rice and Beans:  Try combining whole beans, rice and allergy friendly cheese with tortilla chips on the side.  Heat up the beans and rice and place in a thermos.

 

7. The Frito Pie:  Vegetarian refried beans with allergy friendly cheese heated together served with Fritos.  Add salsa for the adventurous eater.

 

8. Pizza Muffins:  Make these muffins using the GF flour mix, your favorite pizza toppings, and a recipe for corn bread muffins.  Freeze and reheat as needed. *Thank you to my friend, Bree, for this great idea!