Here are a week's worth of gluten-free school lunch recipes that add variety, kid-friendly flavors and nutrition to school lunchboxes. High protein sandwiches, pizza, warm comfort foods including convenient leftover entrees and veggie-rich soups and salads will keep even picky eaters and those with multiple food intolerances happy and healthy all through the school day.
Be sure to read Lunchbox and Lunch Bag Safety from Kevin Weeks, our About.com Guide to Culinary Arts.
Be sure to read Lunchbox and Lunch Bag Safety from Kevin Weeks, our About.com Guide to Culinary Arts.
1. Sandwiches, Wraps and Pizza!
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Gluten-free sandwiches, wraps and pizza slices are easy to make and to pack in school lunchboxes and bags. Use your favorite gluten-free breads to make sandwiches with gluten-free deli meats, nut butters and delicious chicken and turkey salad sandwiches. It's amazing just how many vegetables you can disguise in chicken salad spread!
Gluten-Free School Lunch Sandwich, Wrap and Pizza Recipes
- Build a healthier gluten-free peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
- Gluten-Free Sandwich Filling Recipe,
- Gluten-Free Turkey Crêpe Wraps
- High Protein GFCF Bread (a nice sandwich bread for kids who need to avoid gluten and dairy.
- Waldorf Chicken Salad Sandwich Spread
- Crunchy Chicken Salad Sandwich Spread
- Gluten-Free Cheese Pizza
2. Soups and Salads
Photo © Teri Lee Gruss
Soups and salads add comforting homemade flavor and a nutritious boost to lunchbox fare.
School Lunch Soup and Salad Recipes
Make school lunch soups and salads really special- send along homemade gluten-free croutons and gluten-free cheese crackers!
School Lunch Soup and Salad Recipes
- Navy Bean Soup with Corned Beef
- Gluten-Free Matzoh Ball Soup
- Gluten-Free Potato Leek Soup
- 5 Cream of Vegetable Soup Recipes
- Potato Salad with Green Beans (No Mayo!)
- Honeyed Fruit Salad
- Spinach Salad with GF French Salad Dressing
- Nectarine and Berry Fruit Salad
Make school lunch soups and salads really special- send along homemade gluten-free croutons and gluten-free cheese crackers!
3. Warm Entrees (Leftovers!)
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Dinner leftovers make terrific and convenient school lunch entrees. After dinner pack school lunch-sized servings in appropriate containers that will keep food at a safe temperature from the time your child leaves for school until they are ready to eat lunch.
Gluten-free leftover recipes
Gluten-free leftover recipes
4. Small Sweets
2009 © Teri Lee Gruss, licensed to About.com, Inc.
It's a good idea to pack "small" sweet treats in school lunchboxes. Away from the watchful eye of parents kids may be inclined to dig right into the cupcake first, leaving less room (and time) for nutritious foods. Think about purchasing a mini-cupcake pan for great-looking little cupcakes and muffins.
Small School Lunch Treat Recipes
Small School Lunch Treat Recipes
5. School Lunch Drink Recipes
2009 © Teri Lee Gruss, licensed to About.com, Inc.
Water, of course is a very healthy and easy drink to pack in school lunch boxes and bags. But when you want to send a high protein drink or a refreshing fruit drink try these kid-favorite drinks- they are much healthier and a lot more economical than commercial juice boxes and soft drinks.
6. More Nutritious Gluten-Free School Lunch Ideas
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Need more ideas for nutritious gluten-free school lunchbox add-ins?
- Gluten-Free Muffins
- Make sandwiches with a delicious GF bun instead of bread
- Hard boiled eggs add protein and they're easy to pack
- Send crisp gluten-free tortilla chips with a container of gluten-free taco-seasoned ground beef
- Send finger-sized slices of delicious gluten-free banana bread
