Tag Archives: School

Gluten-Free School Lunch Recipes and Tips

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!

Gluten-free sandwiches, wraps and pizza slices are easy to make and to pack in school lunchboxes and bags. Use your favorite gluten-free breads to make sandwiches with gluten-free deli meats, nut butters and delicious chicken and turkey salad sandwiches. It’s amazing just how many Read More »

Lucy’s Introduces NEW Gluten Free Brownie Cakes and Snack N’ Go Packs

gluten free cookies by lucy'sDoes your family love Lucy’s gluten-free cookies as much as mine does?  If so, you will be happy to hear that Lucy’s has added two new lunchbox-friendly products to its baked goods line… Lucy’s Snack N’ Go cookie packs and Brownie Cakes.  Both products are now available in stores!

I greatly appreciate the convenience factor of Lucy’s new Gluten Free Brownie Cakes and Snack N’ Go Packs; being that I pack my daughter a gluten free lunch for school each day it is a blessing when Read More »

Interview with Genevieve Fraser: Growing up with a Peanut Allergy

Gluten Free Works Author Jennifer Leeson


Working with people diagnosed with food allergies and Celiac disease has opened my eyes to the world around me.
Prior to this, the only person I knew with severe food allergies was a younger cousin of mine whom I spend very little time with.  But, when you start paying attention, you figure out there are many people living with food allergies, Celiac disease or other food related intolerances or restrictions.

Peanut Allergy GenevieveOne day, I came into work and a co-worker, Genevieve  Fraser, asked if I was the one with the food allergy therapist magnet on my car. When I said yes, she informed me that she has an anaphylactic allergy to peanuts, and has since she was very young.  Suddenly, it was in my awareness that I had been bringing peanut butter to work almost every day that I am in that office, not even realizing my office neighbor, just across the hall, has to carry an Epipen everywhere she goes because of peanuts!  Boy did that get my attention!

I didn’t stop bringing peanut butter to work at first, but I noticed I felt nervous and worried every time I did, so I finally stopped bringing it.  However, I noticed being concerned about others using her office when she was not around, and wondering if people were taking peanuts in there.  I finally decided that I should learn more about what it is like living as an adult with a severe anaphylactic food allergy, rather than just going off what I read and my own assumptions.

When I asked Genevieve if I could do a feature interview on her, she was so great and willing to share her story. I have to say, this interview was so informative, empowering, emotional, and motivating, that it really helped put some aspects of living with life threatening food allergies into perspective.  Genevieve not only survived her childhood, despite bullying and being different, but has gone on to complete her college degree and is working on her master’s.  She has dedicated herself to helping others overcome challenging obstacles in their lives so that they can live a full life, despite whatever challenges they might be facing.  I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did! Read More »

Pack a Healthy Gluten-Free School Lunch for Your Gluten-Free Child

istockphoto

There are lots of ways to pack a healthy gluten-free school lunch. Start by including your gluten-free child in the weekly menu planning process- this will increase the odds that he or she will actually eat what you pack for them!

Good quality proteins, complex carbohydrates and healthy fats are key to improving your child’s diet. These tips and resources will help you plan and pack healthier gluten-free school lunches for your gluten-free child.

Suggested Reading:

Gluten-Free School Lunch Recipes and Tips
School Lunchbox Safety


Difficulty:
Average
Time Required: Varies – Plan ahead to save time!

Here’s How:

  1. Start with a healthy protein
    • High quality gluten-free deli meats (See tips for product links)
    • Gluten-free cheeses and cheese spreads
    • Chicken and turkey salads
    • Left-overs (homemade chicken gluten-free noodle soup, vegetable beef soup, macaroni and cheese, spaghetti, lasagna, tacos, fried rice with eggs, etc.)
    • Nut butters and jam sandwiches Read More »

UConn’s Gluten-Free Food Program a National Model

Freedom from gluten is becoming easier than ever, especially if you happen to be eating at the University of Connecticut.

Are you gluten-intolerant?

If you are not, odds are you know someone who is.

And if you are – as are an estimated 1 in 100 people who have celiac disease – you know how hard it is to eat gluten-free.

But it is getting easier – especially if you are dining at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, where the gluten-free menu is state of the art.

I sampled some of UConn’s gluten-free food the other day with Dennis Pierce, UConn’s director of dining services, and Robert Landolphi, manager of Read More »