What Do They Take For Lunch Now?

[glutenfreegirl]

Hi there

So now my 2 children have been diagnosed with gluten sensitivity my DD is not as bad as my DS yet!!! we finally figured it out after my poor DS broke out in this terrible itchy hivey like rash it was awful for him...then had the test doen adn bingo....but now what?? what on earth do I send them for lunch they already do not have dairy the schools are nut free and now no gluten I am so thrilled we now know but I want this to be as easy and fun for then as possible I do not want them to feel like there whole world has changed theya re still young 11 and 9 and are good eatters and open minded but I was up most of last night trying to figure out what the heck to send today...any other moms with advice would be so thankful and appreciated please help...

Big Hugs

[missy'smom]

Click on my name to find my profile. There you'll find a link to what we do for lunches. Some of ours are CF as well. There is a link there to a group of moms(Kid Eats) that share lunch ideas. Feel free to leave a comment there or here to ask any questions that you have. You may want to learn about bentos for fun ideas on how to pack a lunch. This site offers alot of info. and links about bentos(packed lunches). Open Original Shared Link

[celiac-mommy]

I pack lunches every day for both my kids. Our lunches always contain a main dish, fruit, veggie, and little "treat" if the other stuff is finished. Main dishes could be leftovers heated up and put in a thermos, sandwiches, "super" quesadillas (cheese, black beans, chicken, chopped spinach), homemade "lunchable" lunchmeat, crackers and cheese. I usually ask them the night before (because that's when I prepare them) what they'd like and I give them 2 or 3 choices. Fruit is cut up fruit (dd has braces), unsweetened applesauce, pineapple cups (only cup-o-fruit in own juice and not syrup) or dried apricots, apples, etc... Veggies are cut fresh veggies-cukes, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, etc... The treat might be some pirates booty, pudding cup, tortilla chips, etc... dd buys milk at school-no juice.

[taweavmo3]

My kids are all gluten and casein free....and lunches are definately my biggest challenge.

I just bought them each a FUNtainer by Thermos, which has been great. I preheat with boiling water in the morning, and food is still smoking hot at lunchtime. We do leftover spaghetti, Dinty Moore beef stew, chicken and rice, Thai Kitchen rice noodles (they come in a package w/seasonings, similar to Ramen noodles), chicken nuggets, etc.

We also do alot of sandwiches, my kids love them. For my bread, I use the recipe by Annelise Roberts in "Baking Classics". I just sub rice or almond milk and it still comes out soft and delicious. My kids are happy with the same thing each day...they want a sandwich, fruit, chips and a cookie. It isn't the healthiest meal, but they eat a good breakfast and dinner, so I don't stress about packing in the nutrients for lunch.

We also do raw veggies with dip, my kids favorite dip is Ken's Steakhouse Honey Mustard. It's good with practically everything. Hummus is also a nutritious dip that goes great with chips or veggies.

Lunches have gotten easier over time, I used to pack WAY too much food. After going up to the school to eat with my kids a few times, I realized they were only eating about half of what I was sending in. They chat so much, and are so distracted most of the time, that they hardly ever finish the whole thing, lol. Good luck!

[buffettbride]

We swear by Open Original Shared Link. We also have a thermos for chili and soup on cold days.

Right now, my dd is on a quesadilla kick. I make her a cheese quesadilla between two Mission brand corn tortillas. You can put chicken or beef in them as well. We buy a variety of gluten-free cookies by Glutino or Kinnickinnick to pack, also. Some fresh fruit like an apple or grapes or something. She also likes nuts, so I'll put in some peanuts or pistachios.

I also do taco salad in her lunch quite a bit. Cheese bread sticks using Kinnickinnick pizza crusts. Leftovers from the night before go over very well--usually chicken or pork and some rice.

Lunches get easier. I promise.

[lonewolf]

I do gluten-free lunches for 5 of us almost every day. It can be a chore, but it does get easier. The hardest thing is the "main dish". Here are some things that we do regularly.

Juice box

Piece of fruit (apple, banana, orange, grapes, sometimes 100% fruit leather or fruit cup)

Chips or popcorn or pretzels

Carrot sticks or celery or pepper strips or cherry tomatoes

Homemade cookies (lots of options besides peanut butter)

A sandwich made with homemade bread, corn tortillas, rice tortillas or just lunch meat rolled up in lettuce leaves with mayo or mustard. Most deli meat is gluten-free, just read the labels.

I make myself salads regularly with chicken or turkey, avocado, cherry tomatoes and dressing.

I try to buy large bags of chips or pretzels and package them in snack bags on Sunday night. We do the same thing with carrot and celery sticks.

It helps to get everything ready the night before.

[Fiddle-Faddle]

Whatever they took before (assuming it was reasonably healthy)--just make it gluten-free!

If they took sandwiches before , make bread and send them to school with sandwiches. I make the flax skillet bread recipe on this site, but I make it in 4" cake pans, 12 at a time--they come out just a tiny bit smaller than hamburger buns, perfect for sandwiches.

Sometimes I make pizza on corn tortillas, and my sons love taking that to school.