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Here are a week’s worth of gluten-free school lunch recipes that add variety, kid-friendly flavors and nutrition to school lunchboxes. High protein sandwiches, pizza, warm comfort foods including convenient leftover entrees and veggie-rich soups and salads will keep even picky eaters and those with multiple food intolerances happy and healthy all through the school day.
Be sure to read Lunchbox and Lunch Bag Safety from Kevin Weeks, our About.com Guide to Culinary Arts.
1. Sandwiches, Wraps and Pizza!
- Build a healthier gluten-free peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
- Gluten-Free Sandwich Filling Recipe,
- Gluten-Free Turkey Crêpe Wraps
- High Protein GFCF Bread (a nice sandwich bread for kids who need to avoid gluten and dairy.
- Waldorf Chicken Salad Sandwich Spread
- Crunchy Chicken Salad Sandwich Spread
- Gluten-Free Cheese Pizza
Find more gluten-free bread recipes and gluten-free pizza recipes.
2. Soups and Salads
Soups and salads add comforting homemade flavor and a nutritious boost to lunchbox fare.School Lunch Soup and Salad Recipes
- Navy Bean Soup with Corned Beef
- Gluten-Free Matzoh Ball Soup
- Gluten-Free Potato Leek Soup
- 5 Cream of Vegetable Soup Recipes
- Potato Salad with Green Beans (No Mayo!)
- Honeyed Fruit Salad
- Spinach Salad with GF French Salad Dressing
- Nectarine and Berry Fruit Salad
Make school lunch soups and salads really special- send along homemade gluten-free croutons and gluten-free cheese crackers!
3. Warm Entrees (Leftovers!)
Dinner leftovers make terrific and convenient school lunch entrees. After dinner pack school lunch-sized servings in appropriate containers that will keep food at a safe temperature from the time your child leaves for school until they are ready to eat lunch.Gluten-free leftover recipes
4. Small Sweets
It’s a good idea to pack “small” sweet treats in school lunchboxes. Away from the watchful eye of parents kids may be inclined to dig right into the cupcake first, leaving less room (and time) for nutritious foods. Think about purchasing a mini-cupcake pan for great-looking little cupcakes and muffins.Small School Lunch Treat Recipes
5. School Lunch Drink Recipes
Water, of course is a very healthy and easy drink to pack in school lunch boxes and bags. But when you want to send a high protein drink or a refreshing fruit drink try these kid-favorite drinks- they are much healthier and a lot more economical than commercial juice boxes and soft drinks.
6. More Nutritious Gluten-Free School Lunch Ideas
Need more ideas for nutritious gluten-free school lunchbox add-ins?
- Gluten-Free Muffins
- Make sandwiches with a delicious GF bun instead of bread
- Hard boiled eggs add protein and they’re easy to pack
- Send crisp gluten-free tortilla chips with a container of gluten-free taco-seasoned ground beef
- Send finger-sized slices of delicious gluten-free banana bread
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Author Information: Teri Gruss, MS
About.com Guide to Gluten-Free Cooking
Teri was diagnosed with gluten intolerance after decades of symptoms that culminated in malabsorption syndrome. Teri has written numerous health and nutrition articles for the popular website naturalnews.com and was a founding member and moderator of nutritioncircle.org, a nutrition forum for healthcare professionals and students. She is a member of the American Dietetic Association and supports the non-profit organization Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG) of North America as a member.
Email Teri Gruss, MS here.
Thanks for sharing all these great ideas!