Lunch Ideas

[Lorna Doone]

I am new to this site since my husband found out about 2 weeks ago he was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. I do the majority of shopping so this has been a real change for me. He used to eat Lean Cuisine for lunches but now I'm at a loss! He has never been one for sandwiches and you can only eat salads and gluten-free mac and cheese for so long! Has anyone in their shopping advenutes- seen gluten-free frozen meals? I have not yet made it to Whole Foods and just been to Hy-Vee but wanted to know if there is such a thing! Thanks!!

[skyepie]

Hi -

HyVee has a great organic section, and (at least my store) has some frozen entrees that are gluten-free. I've heard mixed reviews about Amy's entrees on this site, some people react to them, others don't. I'm lucky and don't have a reaction. I love their mac & cheese, and cheese enchilada meal. My local health food co-op has other entrees as well, so there are some out there!

I buy the HyVee Chicken & Wild Rice soup in the can. That's gluten-free. HyVee also prints a gluten-free product list that I've found helpful. I tend to do leftovers for lunch a lot though, but I do eat out a fair amount as well.

I recently discovered that Jimmy Johns makes "unwich" subs which are any sandwich done in lettuce leaves. They understand celiac and will change their gloves and even reach for the lettuce from a special sealed container, rather than their regular bins.

Hope that helps!

[RiceGuy]

Do you have time to cook? If so, that opens up a lot of possibilities. All sorts of casseroles, gluten-free lasagna, stews, etc. I'm sure it would be cheaper too.

[cyberprof]

Frozen Amy's are good, but expensive and limited. Try some of these:

Tasty Bite Indian curry (comes ready-to-eat in pouches with or without precooked rice). These are vegitarian so add some cooked leftover chicken, shrimp or perhaps turkey lunchmeat.

Thai Kitchen noodles- Pad Thai, noodle soup etc. Add chopped peanuts, veggies (bean sprouts, snow peas, carrot curls, chopped bell pepper) to serve with along with chicken, pork, shrimp, etc.

The Tasty Bite and Thai Kitchen can be kept in a desk drawer and heated in the microwave. Put some pre-cooked frozen shrimp in a ziplock bag in the morning and it thaws in the fridge or lunch bag by lunch.

Make double homemade dinners and pack in individual frozen tupperware/ziplock containers to reheat: chili, lasagne,

pot roast with mashed potatoes, chicken enchiladas, chinese stir-fry with rice (careful, most soy sauces have wheat but some are gluten-free) , teriyaki chicken with rice and veggies, beef stroganoff with gluten-free noodles (cook noodles until not quite done if you are going to save/freeze, if you over-cook they will be mushy when frozen), oven fried gluten-free chicken strips (use gluten-free cornflakes, pecans with a honey-mustard dip) (careful, not many cornflakes are gluten-free) with veggies in a side dish.

Main dish Salad meals are also good and healthy: Greek salad with shrimp and cucumbers, salad nicoise (anchovies optional) Open Original Shared Link

caprese salad (fresh mozzarella, vine-ripened tomatoes, basil, dressing); shrimp salad (shrimp, peas, chopped bell pepper, olives, shell pasta, pesto, italian bottled salad dressing)Open Original Shared Link

Try a rice salad or use a couscous recipe substituting guinoa for the wheat couscous.

~Laura

[GlutenGalAZ]

I use to get Amy's frozen meals but was reacting to them. They are really good if you do not have a problem with them. I was getting for a while Lean Cusine Glazed Chicken, it was the only one that I saw that did not have any wheat/gluten ingredients (keep in mind CC issues and change in ingredients).

I like Delimex Beef Taquitos (some are gluten free and some our not you have to read the ingredients). I cook them in the microwave and then put them in a salad or just eat them.

Dinty Moore Beef Stew is labeled gluten free on the can (I like to add cheese and pepper).

You can make meat wraps with lettuce or Mission Corn tortillas (they will saw gluten free on the package).

Hormel's website has a long list of gluten free items.

Hormel and Del Monte (I think it is) make meals down the regular aisle (not frozen) some are gluten free (not that many) -- you just put them in the microwave for like 90 seconds.

Thai Kitchen noodles (posted above) are really good. They sell single servings with add in stuff, watch out some are mild and some are a little spicy. They also sell just the noodle so you can make soup, spaghetti etc.

Pasta Salad with gluten free noodles yumm

Gluten free pizza you can make ahead of time.

There are a lot of foods at the regular grocery store that are gluten free you just have to read the label. Took me a while to understand/know completely what I was looking for. Looking for food does get easier as time goes on

GOOD LUCK

[Juliebove]

My daughter likes these:

Open Original Shared Link

Not all of them are gluten free so you have to be careful.

She also likes Hormel chili and tamales, Beanie Weenies, Shelton's chicken and wild rice soup, garlic chiken in a pouch (Bumblebee), served with some pre-cooked brown rice from Trader Joe's or leftover rice that I've cooked. I have to send things in for her in a thermos. She does have the use of a microwave this year, but that hasn't always been the case. She also likes the Organ pasta and tomato sauce in a can, but it's not a lot of food.

Ian's makes gluten free fish sticks and chicken nuggets. We both like these patties:

Open Original Shared Link

I had one today for dinner, along with a cob of raw corn. I love raw corn!

Hummus is another good lunch option. It can be used to dip raw veggies, gluten-free breadsticks, crackers or pretzels in.

We have additional food allergies, but if you don't, you can have cubes of cheese or hard boiled eggs. One thing I used to eat for lunch a lot was a hollowed out cantaloupe filled with cottage cheese and a few berries. Or some cottage cheese with canned fruit. Stuffed tomatoes are another option. Fill with chicken or tuna salad, or cottage cheese. A stuffed baked potato can be heated in the microwave.

And of course there are leftovers. I often make an extra serving or two of something to send in my daughter's lunch. She likes casseroles of all kinds, mashed potatoes with chicken, turkey or hamburger gravy. Meat and noodles, meat and rice, or soup.

[Lorna Doone]

Thank you all for the great ideas! We did buy some frozen meals and the chicken nuggets so this will last us for at least 2 weeks! My next step is to buy a gluten-free cookbook.

[A-Swiss]

Thank you all for the great ideas! We did buy some frozen meals and the chicken nuggets so this will last us for at least 2 weeks! My next step is to buy a gluten-free cookbook.

And make some more of those apricot pork-chops!

[Simona]

My next step is to buy a gluten-free cookbook.

That's exactly what I did. I was at a loss. My lunches were usually sandwiches, pizza or anything quick from the food court in the building I work in.

I also bought 2 rice cookbooks and a rice cooker and I havent looked back since. I dont miss the foods I used to eat. The rice cooker is really convenient and quick and I pack my lunch every day and dont have to worry about CC.

I found out that Patak's line of Indian sauces offers gluten-free products and I love them! I love Indian food and the sauces offer some convenience. You can mix up the ingredients you use - fish, chicken, vegetables...etc... it offers something new and delicious every day!

[BFreeman]

I am new to this site since my husband found out about 2 weeks ago he was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. I do the majority of shopping so this has been a real change for me. He used to eat Lean Cuisine for lunches but now I'm at a loss! He has never been one for sandwiches and you can only eat salads and gluten-free mac and cheese for so long! Has anyone in their shopping advenutes- seen gluten-free frozen meals? I have not yet made it to Whole Foods and just been to Hy-Vee but wanted to know if there is such a thing! Thanks!!

They're not the best things in the world (I try to do homemade stuff put in refrigerator containers for lunches), but when you're rushed Hormel has started labeling some of its microwave containers of scalloped potatoes and ham, southwestern chicken stew, beef stew, etc., as gluten free right on the container. Also, Progresso has just a very few microwave containers of soup (I believe chicken and wild rice is one that is gluten-free, but you would have to check). Also gluten-free-labeled deli ham rolled around string cheese and then rolled up in a romaine leaf.

[orbitsgrl]

I am new to this site since my husband found out about 2 weeks ago he was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. I do the majority of shopping so this has been a real change for me. He used to eat Lean Cuisine for lunches but now I'm at a loss! He has never been one for sandwiches and you can only eat salads and gluten-free mac and cheese for so long! Has anyone in their shopping advenutes- seen gluten-free frozen meals? I have not yet made it to Whole Foods and just been to Hy-Vee but wanted to know if there is such a thing! Thanks!!

[orbitsgrl]

My 12-yr-old daughter has celiac, and goes to public school. The cafeteria cannot serve her, so here's what I've come up with. She eats better than any kid at her school! Maybe it will help you help your husband.

-- Amy's frozen gluten-free mac and cheese in a thermos. Prepare the thermos by adding boiling hot water and let it sit, covered, for five minutes, before adding the hot food. Works great for gluten-free soups, too. Add some gluten-free crackers and fruit.

-- If frozen gluten-free foods are too expensive, spend a Sunday evening with the music on and package and freeze your favorite gluten-free macaroni and cheese, or meat lasagna, in individual servings. To take these to lunch, just reheat (microwave is easy) and put in the hot thermos as detailed above. Or make gluten-free pasta and add your favorite homemade or jarred gluten-free sauce; Newman's is good. (A glass of good California wine helps these evenings move along!)

-- Invest in a good lunch box with sections that can accommodate both hot and cold foods. Lands End makes great ones. Go to www.landsend.com. Buy some good plastic, reusable containers of different sizes.

-- There's just no getting around it: you two have got to cook. For Sunday dinner, roast two chickens. Eat one with mashed potatoes and vegetables for Sunday supper and use the other one during the week for chicken salads -- a chopped salad with chicken, celery, dried cranberries, walnuts, diced apples, and halved grapes is one of my daughter's favorites. Serve with separately-packaged fresh greens if you like. Add some cheese, or a hard-boiled egg, a fruit salad, or some gluten-free crackers, and it's a great meal.

-- Invest in a few good gluten-free cookbooks. "Gluten-Free Girl" has some good recipes; good website, too, at www.glutenfreegirl.com. Epicurious also has a good gluten-free section on its website.

--The healthiest food out there is gluten-free. Homemade soups, stews, fresh green salads, fresh fruit salads -- in season tastes best and is cheaper. We blanche fresh green beans. Try "baby" carrots with gluten-free hummus, or a fresh spinach salad with a little cooked gluten-free bacon and grated hard-cooked egg and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Or a "Caprese" salad: little bits of mozzarella cheese, cherry tomatoes, some basil leaves, a little extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper. gluten-free food at our house is elegant, easy, and cheap!

[purple]

Hi, I am 4 months new. I had to change to "scratch" cooking alot. It is healthier b/c there are few additives. Whenever I cook I make extra and drop some in a sandwich size ziploc bag then put it in a plastic container that is stackable. I label the container with freezer tape and date them, then stack them up in the freezer. You can grab them and go or heat them up at home. Just cut the bag open and put the entree into a glass or microwave safe dish and heat. Buy the containers that will hold at least 2 sandwich size entrees then you have 2 servings and you can choose the one you like from whichever container you want. I freeze homemade entrees: pot pies both meat and fruit, pizza slices, spaghetti, lasagna, enchiladas, rice dishes, beanie wienies, chili, soup, meats for a couple of tacos or sloppy joes or bbq chicken to put on a tortilla or bread, waffles, etc. then if there is extra space in the container I put in cookies or muffins or brownies or scones. A great way to get rid of your leftovers, while they are fresh, before they are leftover. Its fun after you get started and you usually always have something good to eat at a moments notice.

[slmprofesseur]

I usually cook from "scratch" and freeze leftovers or take them for lunch the next day. I make salmon or tuna salad and have it with Gluten-free crackers, soup, chili, pasta with different sauces. I don't know how you feel about daiy but yogurt is nice also. Sometimes I make quesadillas, or taco salads.

If you don't want to spend a ton of $$$ up front on gluten free cookbooks check out the public library. Ours was a true blessing, I photocopies recipes that I liked. The librarians now tell me when they get new Gluten-free cookbooks!

[purple]

I made a bean salad with peppers and onions today...Does he like those ingredients? Protein, fiber and no cooking. Keeps well in fridge for days.

[purple]

Tried something new. Make a batch of muffins. I made jumbo sized banana. Fill the tins. Then in each tin put in your favorites to make them different and according to what each person likes. Stir in a bit of raspberries or blueberries. Make a well and add a T. of jam and cover the jam. Stir in chocolate or p.b. chips, raisins, coconut or nuts. Just whatever, then you have an assortment all at once. It worked great. Bag 'em up to take to work and freeze some for another day (if there is any left).

[Sha515]

Here's a couple of lunch items that my husband takes: Progresso soups have several wheat/gluten-free choices, which he takes ALOT. He also likes to spread pnut butter on a corn tortilla and wrap that around a banana. He eats alot of yogurt and nut thins (yummy little crackers made from various nut flours that our whole family loves) with pnut butter. He actually keeps the nut thins and a jar of pnut butter in his desk. Another staple that he keeps on hand to have in a pinch is the Nature Valley pnut or almond bars (these are the only two to my knowledge from Nature Valley that are gluten free). He really likes the Mrs. Mays nut products too, which can be found in individual packages at BJ's. And, of course, he takes leftovers quite a bit too. Fortunately for me, he doesn't require anything fancy for lunch, as long as dinner will be a little more hearty!

[Juliebove]

Ian's makes a gluten free kid's meal. It has 3 chicken nuggets, a bit of corn, a bit of mashed potatoes and a small chocolate cake. My daughter likes them. We've also found some from Amy's and Organ at various stores. And there are My Own Meals, some of which are gluten-free.

Open Original Shared Link

We also eat canned Orgran pasta.

[amybeth]

As a teacher, we are not allowed to leave school for lunch and cafeteria food is out for me, so I pack often.

I really try to give myself variety but it does get...tiresome.

Here are some of my stand bys:

Bell and Evans gluten-free Chicken Nuggets (hot or cold) with Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Sauce

Tostitos Gold Chips with homemade chicken or tuna salad

Hormel's Kid's Kitchen Beans and Weiners (Microwavable container)

Hormel Naturals lunch meat rolled up with cheese slices and dipped in mustard

Apple slices and grapes with sliced cheddar cheese

Prepackaged - Yogurt (Yoplait has many gluten-free flavors); Applesauce; Dole Fruit cups

LEFTOVERS!

Healthy Choice Chicken and Wild Rice Soup (Microwavable container)

If you're in a real rush Minute Rice now sells prepackaged servings in a microwavable container, which I add leftover meat to (This is good to keep in a desk drawer in case of lunch emergency)

If you're cooking - Taste of Thai Spicy Peanut Bake is a quick and easy chicken coating (only 25 min in oven) and reheats well (I have troubles finding it sometimes - but Amazon has it)

Hope this helps.

[gfmolly]

Here's a couple of lunch items that my husband takes: Progresso soups have several wheat/gluten-free choices, which he takes ALOT. He also likes to spread pnut butter on a corn tortilla and wrap that around a banana. He eats alot of yogurt and nut thins (yummy little crackers made from various nut flours that our whole family loves) with pnut butter. He actually keeps the nut thins and a jar of pnut butter in his desk. Another staple that he keeps on hand to have in a pinch is the Nature Valley pnut or almond bars (these are the only two to my knowledge from Nature Valley that are gluten free). He really likes the Mrs. Mays nut products too, which can be found in individual packages at BJ's. And, of course, he takes leftovers quite a bit too. Fortunately for me, he doesn't require anything fancy for lunch, as long as dinner will be a little more hearty!

Can you be specific about which brands of Nature Valley Bars are gluten free? The crunchy or soft? I was under the impression that since there are oats in it, they are out....any comments on that?

Thanks.

[gwen.8278]

My bf has been diagnosed with Celiac disease and it is weired how many things have changed now - especially about our eating habits. We generally cook a little bit more and freeze it so that he can take it to work some time or the other.

We're both not the biggest fans of instant meals, but we have gone for some Asian noodle dishes and Indian dishes that are quite good and gluten free.