Any Normal Kiddo Food Out There?

[Noah Mc]

I know that there are a ton of items for kids like cookies, granola bars, cereal, etc. but it seems that it all tastes like cardboard. I appreciate companies making everything natural and organic but I have a 6 year old who has been gluten-free for almost five years and now when I make her school lunches (she started 1st grade this year) I try to pack her one of these granola bars or jumbo cookies because that's what all the other kids are having and she won't eat it because apparently she hasn't developed the taste for chewing up food that tastes like a multi-vitamin. I guess what I'm trying to say or rather ask is does anyone know of any truly normal junk food or snack food that, God forbid, may not be totally healthly? In my defense, I know I'm coming off like a parent who wants to stuff his kid full of junk, I am VERY adement about giving my daughter a balanced, nutritional meal but sometimes, rumor has it, kids eat junk food. Thanks for any help.

[bmzob]

Envirokids granola bars are good. i like the berry ones and the peanut butter ones. and you could always make a bunch of homemade cupcakes and cookies and just freeze them and pull them out for her lunches. becuase other than the granola bars i haven't found any good junk food items that are premade. oh and there is always candies like m&m's or reese's peanut butter cups!

[bbuster]

I make homemade chocolate chip cookies for my son and he gets 2 every day for his lunch. I use Pamela's Baking mix and the recipe is on the package. All of his friends and my daughter (non-Celiac) and her friends love these cookies. I just make up a batch and only bake 12, then roll the rest into a log and freeze until it's time to make more.

I also throw in a Snack-Pak pudding most days. That covers the sweets, then he gets a bag of chips, a piece of ham or turkey and a cheese stick.

Even though he eats the same lunch almost every day, he does not mind.

[Guhlia]

My favorites:

Kinnikinnick K-toos (like Oreos)

Midel Pecan sandies

Stretch Island Fruit Leathers

Homemade PB cookies (1 cup sugar, 1 cup chunky PB, 2 eggs at 350 degrees for 10 mins)

Homemade pumpkin pie cupcakes (I just posted this recipe)

ALL Lara Bars

Glutano lemon cream wafers

Kinnikinnick montana's chocolate chip cookies

Pretty much anything Kinnikinnick is good, IMO. We also eat Doritos (not nacho cheese flavor), Cheetohs, Tostitos corn chips with salsa, and lots of other normal foods.

[jerseyangel]

The Gluten Free Pantry brownies taste as good or better (I think) than Duncan Hines

[CarlaB]

Namaste makes great brownie and blondie mixes. I take them to dinners and the non-gluten-free people devour them!!! They're great!

You can make treats with Cocoa Pebbles and marshmallows -- make them like Rice Crispy treats.

Ruffles potato chips.

Corn chips, Fritos.

Envirokids bars.

Candy -- lots of regular candy is gluten-free.

[Izak's Mom]

Pirate's Booty "Tings" are like cheetos but healthier (taste just as good) - any of the Pirate's Booty booty stuff is great.

[rez]

The Gluten Free Pantry brownies taste as good or better (I think) than Duncan Hines

I agree. Those are awesome. I use fat free vanilla yogurt instead of oil and I make a homemade buttercream chocolate icing for them. They're awesome!!!!!! In fact, I overindulged on them this past weekend.

[Nic]

The Gluten Free Pantry brownies taste as good or better (I think) than Duncan Hines

This is really very true. Only my son is gluten free but when we do family celebrations (and I mean big family ranging in age from 60 + down to 4) everyone raves about those brownies and how much better they are than "regular" brownies. I think it is those chocolate chunks in there . I am getting carried away, I am hungry right now.

Nicole

[Guest cassidy]

I love the Michael's Season's cheese puffs. I think they taste just like normal cheese puffs, even my non gluten-free friends really like them. Jenny's macaroons are very, very good if she likes coconut. Pudding - kozy shack or kraft is good. Caramello bars are gluten-free and they have always been my favorite.

[Noah Mc]

Thanks to all of you. I have tried about 95% of your suggestions. I was under the impressiont that Fritos were on a cross-cantamination list. So far the best thing that we have found for good snacky foods are premaking goodies and freezing them until we need them. Thanks again!

[Guest nini]

my daughter eats Fritos, Cheetos and Funyons, all with no problems and she is very sensitive to any cc... also, Lays STAX she loves those, Glutino pretzels, Kinnikinick donuts, Enjoy Life Caramel Apple cereal bars and Envirokids Chocolate cereal bars. Hunts snack pack pudding cups, Kinnikinick cookies, Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks and Fruit Roll Ups, Cheese sticks... if I think of any others I'll let you know.

I know what you mean, I try to make sure my daughter eats a really balanced lunch but kids like to fit in with other kids so I don't mind the occassional junk food treat. It's not like I feed her nothing but cheetos every day!

[TCA]

don't forget snickers and reece's cups and all that other wonderful fattening chocolate! We do the fritos and stax and cheetos too with no problem and my son is super sensitive. I order the Enjoy Life Snickerdoodles in individual packs too. Also fruit roll ups, jello, dried fruit, raisins, cheese sticks, hormel pepperoni.......

[jaten]

I have had problems with Fritos and now avoid all Frito Lay products. I'm sure it depends on where in the run your bag of chips comes from. Twice burned (undeniably) and I'm done.

Here's a GREAT treat that chocolate lovers of all ages will love.....My dh found these for me at Wild Oats and I love, love him for it.....It's a treat...not really cookie called "Temptations" OMG!!! Temptations are made by Nana's but SO MUCH BETTER than her other cookies (and I like her others fine). There are 2 Temptations that are gluten-free and say so right on front of box, a Chocolate Rush, and a Chocolate Mint. It is THE chocolate taste and texture I'd been unable to find since gluten-free. It's almost like a very creamy brownie, but just hard to describe. The name, Temptations, is very accurate. I have to work hard to limit myself to a couple per week.

gluten-free Choc. Rush Temptations ingredients:

Tapioca flour, Fruit juice, Rice Dextrin, Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips (sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, soy lecithin-an emulsifier, vanilla) Coconut Oil, Imported Cocoa, Coconut, Non-Aluminum Baking Soda, Natural Flavors

Manufactured on shared equipment with equipment that may contain tree nuts and/or peanuts

My personal note: I don't like coconut and I LOVE these, the coconut must be a very trace amt, I can sort of tell it's there, but it is by no means an overwhelming ingredient.

They're expensive, but so worth it when you need a treat!