What not to put in a lunchbox?

Avoid processed snacks and sugary drinks. It's important to pack the lunch box with foods that are easy to eat, appealing to the child's taste, and promote their growth and development.

At what age should you pack your own lunch?

In fact, says Ellyn Satter, a leading expert on feeding children, around 10 or 11 years old is when kids naturally start developing good food management skills, which includes packing their own lunch. Before then, they just might not be ready.

What foods are not suitable for packed meals?

Sweets, chocolate, crisps, cereal bars, fruit bars, toffee/salted popcorn, squash and fizzy drinks will not provide your child with a healthy diet and must not be include in the packed lunch. Other foods and drinks high in fat and / or sugar must not be included.

What foods should children avoid?

Children younger than 24 months old should avoid added sugars . Foods high in salt (sodium), such as some canned foods, processed meats (e.g., lunch meats, sausages, hot dogs, ham), and frozen dinners should be avoided. Some snack foods and store-bought packaged toddler foods are high in salt.

30+ Gluten-Free Lunch Box Recipes - Don't Mess with Mama (2024)

Home » Blog » Gluten-Free Recipes

ByTracey BlackPublishedJune 18, 2013January 20, 2024UpdatedJanuary 20, 2024

4 Comments

Do your kids get tired of taking the same things over and over in their lunch box? Here are 30+ Gluten-Free Lunch Box Recipes that are so easy to make and delicious. The kids will love them!>

30+ Gluten Free Lunch Box Recipes

Soups & Salads

Creamy Sweet Potato Soup with Maple Cream and Bacon by Don’t Mess with Mama
Creamy Rueben Soup by Peace, Love and Low Carb
Creamy Veggie Soup for the Thermos by Raising Generation Nourished
Instant Pot Clam Chowder by Don’t Mess with Mama
Sweet ‘n Tangy BBQ Bean and Quinoa Salad by MIX Wellness

30+ Gluten-Free Lunch Box Recipes - Don't Mess with Mama (2)

Snacks

Gluten-Free Cheese Crackers by Don’t Mess with Mama
Homemade Potato Chips by Don’t Mess with Mama
Crispy Salted Almonds by Raising Generation Nourished
Allergy Friendly Energy Bars by Raising Generation Nourished
Cinnamon Raisin Granola Bars by Raia’s Recipes

Pasta

Gluten Free Pasta Primaverafrom Fit & Fed
Gluten Free Chicken Spaghetti by Real Food Whole Health
Macaroni and Cheese with Turkey Meatballs by Don’t Mess with Mama

Main Dishes

Breakfast Tacos and Burritosby Don’t Mess with Mama
Paleo Fish Tacos by Don’t Mess with Mama
Black Bean Tostada by Kula Mama
Gluten Free Chicken Piccata by Real Food Whole Health
6-Ingredient Popcorn Chicken by Kula Mama
Grass-Fed Beef Chili by Real Food Whole Health
Asian-Style Meatballs with Cilantro and Green Onions by The Savory Lotus

30+ Gluten-Free Lunch Box Recipes - Don't Mess with Mama (3)

Breakfast for Lunch

Gluten Free Pancakes by Don’t Mess with Mama
Gluten Free Zucchini Fritters by Don’t Mess with Mama
Gluten Free Egg Burritos by Don’t Mess with Mama

Side Dishes

Homemade Tater Tots by Don’t Mess with Mama
Hummusby Don’t Mess with Mama

30+ Gluten-Free Lunch Box Recipes - Don't Mess with Mama (4)

Sweet Treats

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cookies by Oh Lardy!
Gluten Free Banana Breadby Don’t Mess with Mama
Gluten Free Pumpkin Breadby Don’t Mess with Mama

Smoothies

Apple Pie Smoothie by Green Thickies
PB&J Smoothie by 100 Days of Real Food
Sneaky Breakfast Smoothie for Kids by Real Food RN
Coconut, Almond and Banana Smoothieby Don’t Mess with Mama

More Gluten-Free Recipes You Might Like

50+ Grain Free and Gluten Free Breakfast Ideas
50+ Gluten Free Mexican Recipes
20+ Gluten Free Holiday Cookie Recipes
How to Make Gluten Free Recipes for Kids

Did you try this? Don’t forget torate itand comment below to let me know how it went. You can alsoFOLLOW MEonFacebook,InstagramandPinterest.>

Want More Recipes?

Check out my new book,Gluten-Free, Real Food Recipes for Kids. >

I wrote this book with YOUin mind. Parents who want to provide kids with wholesome meals without artificial colors, preservatives and other additives. >

All the recipes are gluten-free – with many options for grain free or Paleo, dairy free, egg free and vegetarian.>

What’s Included In This Book

It’s filled with130+ pages of content and recipes, including:>

Real food nutrition 101
Detailed information onhow to properly soak and sproutnuts, beans, grains and seeds
A guide onhow to spot chemical additivesand what to avoid
Kitchen essentials and cooking tools
Tips onhow to get kids to become better eatersand help in the kitchen
70+ gluten-free recipes– such as snacks and appetizers, beverages, condiments and dressings, main meals, desserts and more

Take a peek what’s inside Gluten-Free, Real Food Recipes for Kids.

Photo credit: Bigstockphoto.com /flaffy /NatashaBreen /nata_vkusidey /Elena Veselova>

Tracey Black

Tracey Black, BA, is a writer, recipe developer, and creator of Don’t Mess with Mama. She has a background in health care, research, and publishing, and has been featured in The Huffington Post, Redbook Magazine, Yahoo, Women’s Day, CNET, and Today.

At DontMesswithMama.com, Tracey shares how simple it can be to make easy gluten-free meals and live more naturally, including making your own DIY skincare and cleaners, on a budget. She is also the author of the books Natural Beauty Made Simple and Instant Pot Recipes Made Simple.

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What great ideas!! I wish lunch programs were more health conscious. I don’t have school children needing a healthy lunch anymore but if I did I would sure use these ideas instead of the school lunches. (My baby is going to be a senior this year. She thinks she’s too old to eat in the cafeteria. Lol.)
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We’re actually doing gluten-free for our son this summer to see if it might improve his health. This is coming in very handy! Love the celery and wrap ideas.
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Tracey- Thanks so much for sharing my Bento box lunch post! The muffins are actually grain-free, but gluten free crackers work great too!
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1. Thanks, Alison. I’ll make an update to note they are grain free. Looks delicious!
  Reply