Meat Suggestions For My Son's Lunchbox

[Jacob's Mama]

My son is two and a half and has a gluten sensitivty/allergy. I, of course, have to send lunches with him to daycare, and and constantly looking for new meats and healthy proteins that he will eat right out of the lunchbox. Any suggestions? We already eat chicken salad, hotdogs, chicken viennas, lunchmeat. Thanks for any help!

[Lisa]

All of Boar's Head meats and cheesed are gluten free. Hillshire and Oscar Meyer will clearly list all forms of gluten on their labels.

You could cook a turkey or chicken and send him with slices. Smithfield hams do not contain gluten. But ALWAYS reads the label, because ingredients can change without notice.

Here is a listing of companies who will clearly disclose all forms of gluten: (the good guys)

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[missy'smom]

Meatballs work well as long as they don't have too much sauce. I send some that are coated in a thin sweet and sour sauce and also porcupine meatballs. Chicken nuggets or strips either homemade or purchased. Chunks of leftover roasted chicken or crockpot cooked beef with rice on the side. Pepperoni tossed into some pasta. My son doesn't like tomato sauce so I toss the pasta with olive oil butter and parmesan cheese, pepperoni and steamed broccoli or chopped deli ham and frozen green peas.

[wschmucks]

I just bought some Kroger's Ham and it said Gluten Free right on the bag. It was only .98 cents and tasted pretty yummy!

Also, from the above post , I thought there had been some controversy with Hillshire Farms...wasnt there an article where thier gluten-free products were very unreliable? It could have been another brand...sorry to confuse if it was, I have just been avoiding Hillshire farms.

[missy'smom]

I just bought some Kroger's Ham and it said Gluten Free right on the bag. It was only .98 cents and tasted pretty yummy!

Also, from the above post , I thought there had been some controversy with Hillshire Farms...wasnt there an article where thier gluten-free products were very unreliable? It could have been another brand...sorry to confuse if it was, I have just been avoiding Hillshire farms.

Are you think of Welshire Farms? They're the ones whose products caused allergig reactions and were tested to have significant amounts of gluten in corn dogs, nuggets and such.

[Ahorsesoul]

I've found a lot of help on the Bento Box sites. I really like this one because it has a blog and a forum.

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[amybeth]

Hormel "naturals" deli meats are labeled gluten free.

Tunafish or tuna salad

Hatfield Ham Slices, cut up into "finger food"

Hormel pepperoni with some cheese?

hard boiled eggs?

[Lovey25]

Meatballs work well as long as they don't have too much sauce. I send some that are coated in a thin sweet and sour sauce and also porcupine meatballs. Chicken nuggets or strips either homemade or purchased. Chunks of leftover roasted chicken or crockpot cooked beef with rice on the side. Pepperoni tossed into some pasta. My son doesn't like tomato sauce so I toss the pasta with olive oil butter and parmesan cheese, pepperoni and steamed broccoli or chopped deli ham and frozen green peas.

missy'smom,

I'm just shocked that someone else has even heard of Porcupine Meatballs! It's one of my family's heirloom recipes that's been handed down, and definitely one of my favorites since childhood! You're not from Pennsylvania, are you? My family's from Erie and Marienville (sp??).

[missy'smom]

missy'smom,

I'm just shocked that someone else has even heard of Porcupine Meatballs! It's one of my family's heirloom recipes that's been handed down, and definitely one of my favorites since childhood! You're not from Pennsylvania, are you? My family's from Erie and Marienville (sp??).

That's funny. When I've mentioned them in the past I was always a little suprized that people asked what they are. But I know this is a big country. I've lived alot of places but spent most of my growing up in Nebraska and Iowa. My parents are both from NY state-Dad near the tristates area. But I think the porcupine meatball one I use is from the midwest. I used it alot after going gluten-free because it was so easy to convert.

[Lovey25]

That's funny. When I've mentioned them in the past I was always a little suprized that people asked what they are. But I know this is a big country. I've lived alot of places but spent most of my growing up in Nebraska and Iowa. My parents are both from NY state-Dad near the tristates area. But I think the porcupine meatball one I use is from the midwest. I used it alot after going gluten-free because it was so easy to convert.

I was always told they were a Pennsylvania Dutch recipe, but who knows if that's true. My family's not Dutch per se, but that general area in PA has alot of Pennslyvania Dutch families with really yummy recipes.

Anyway, it's funny to hear someone outside of my family acknowledge the recipe!