Gluten Free foods for Picky Gluten Eating kids

[Ennis-TX]

So I have a bit of a challenge next week, I have to baby sit a 10-12 year old cousins. They each have their own quirks, and unaddressed health issues but I leave that to their parents. But they are both picky eaters, they dislike seasonings, they dislike condiments, they dislike combination foods (soups, lasagna, casseroles, stews, omelettes, anything they can see "different" things in)...they will pick apart anything and eat each part separate....I did a gluten-free pizza...they said the crust was too soft they ate the toppings, the cheese then the hard crust edges....same follows with any food they eat each ingredient separate. I have learned they dislike gluten free bread but love my cookies, and muffins as long as they are fresh...they will not eat them next day. Menu is looking like
Snack Trays of fruit slices, cutie orange, candied nuts, gluten free cookies, and veggie stick (unsure if they will eat the veggies) with Sunbutter and almond butter to dip in
Muffins or scrambled eggs and turkey bacon for breakfast seems to work, maybe chex cereal also for snacking?
Lunch I have always had mixed results they like something one day hate it the next. thinking ore ida french fries, breakfast for lunch, their dad says they like chili...anyone know a safe canned one? I might try some fish stick, hot dogs, or chicken tenders if I can find some corn free ones...dang allergy...even the tyson strips have corn starch...really?! Need to do some shopping around. I am open to any suggestions here My house is Gluten Free, Corn Free, Dairy Free, Peanut Free....I can live with other intolerance in the house I just have to avoid them exact brands here.
Be nice if kids would eat stir fry, soups, stews, omelettes, roast, baked fish, gluten-free Pizza, Toast, etc. But these will not.

[ravenwoodglass]

With kids this fussy can you get the parents to supply their meals? I know you have a very restricted diet so feeding picky kids may be really tough. The parents could bring you foods they will eat and are used to eating. Just have them sit at a table to eat and use parchment paper or tin foil on any pans that go in the oven. You should be safe as long you don't eat any of your problem foods and clean up well after meals.

[cyclinglady]

Hormel chili.  Serve on Fries or corn chips.  Good luck!

[Ennis-TX]

12 minutes ago, cyclinglady said:

Hormel chili.  Serve on Fries or corn chips.  Good luck!

Ora Ida Chili fries, sounds great.
 

 

1 hour ago, ravenwoodglass said:

With kids this fussy can you get the parents to supply their meals? I know you have a very restricted diet so feeding picky kids may be really tough. The parents could bring you foods they will eat and are used to eating. Just have them sit at a table to eat and use parchment paper or tin foil on any pans that go in the oven. You should be safe as long you don't eat any of your problem foods and clean up well after meals.

Hmm Gluten...I would rather burn my house and collect insurance lol. Corn....its only an allergic  rash if it touches my skin, Might do some gluten free cheap chicken nuggets or hot dogs that still have corn in them and do like you say and line a pan or use a disposable baking sheet to cook them on then serve with disposable utensils. ....I dread letting others bring stuff into my house and my trust of others with food....I could tell some stories that justify my paranoia. PS kids with allergens and gluten...I still give a bugged out look at kids with Twizzlers or doughnuts...they will CC stuff and smear things in ways only a horror movie could describe .....IE my experience about 4 years ago helping out my mother at her school with pre-k students at a party....

[cyclinglady]

Line the pans with parchment or foil and wash afterwards.  Make them wash their hands immediately.  Flu is another concern!  My kid washes, (we all do),  when we return home.  

[Ennis-TX]

Follow up, well it went great, NOTE HORMEL chili is not gluten free....the one with beans is but not the plain one.
I went with scrambled eggs, butter ball turkey sausage, Butter Ball Turkey bacon, Ore Ida Hasbrowns patties, and one day found that Hormel pepperoni was gluten free and even did along side eggs (would been great chopped and scrambled topped with dairy free cheese but they do not like mixed foods) for breakfast on rotation.
Lunch we went with different meats, baked some chicken cut into strips, butter ball turkey sausage sticks, Jenno-O ground sausage browned, Browned turkey meat with light seasoning,  sides of veggie sticks, and would go with either Beanitos bean chips or ore ida crinkle french fries with a dip.
I kept various snacks on the table like fresh baked cookies, muffins, pepperoni, chex cereal, veggie sticks, dried fruit, etc. in catering platters for them and this seemed to work well.
One thing I noticed that really concerned me but they dad said was normally....they do not drink liquids much. I would offer them water, tang water, almond milk, chocolate milk, juice, etc. But they would only take one sip 2-4 times a day never drinking more then 4oz of liquid all day......really bugged me seeing this.

 

[cyclinglady]

I am glad it worked out!