The kiddos are heading back to school and if you are like me and have a kid with gluten or any food allergies, packing a gluten-free lunchbox can get quite challenging. If the thought of finding gluten-free options stresses you out – don’t worry, you are not alone! Even though it may seem like everything has gluten in it, we have way more gluten-free options than we did ten years ago. Here are five gluten-free lunchbox ideas for back to school!
What is gluten anyway?
I had to do my research when the doctor told me that my 8-year old should start avoiding gluten. Gluten is a general name for the proteins found in wheat (wheatberries, durum, emmer, semolina, spelt, farina, farro, graham, KAMUT® Khorasan wheat, and einkorn), rye, barley, and triticale – a cross between wheat and rye. Gluten helps foods maintain their shape, acting as a glue that holds food together. It can be found in many types of foods, even ones that would not be expected. So we definitely have to double-check the labels these days to be sure they are gluten-free.
Signs of Gluten Sensitivity
Signs that you or your child may be suffering from gluten sensitivity may include but are not limited to abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, headaches, weight loss, fatigue, and nausea. It took months of testing and observations to determine that he should avoid gluten. Now I am always reading labels and asking questions at restaurants. Sometimes it is hard to identify gluten sensitivity in kids but if your child shows any of the symptoms be sure to tell your pediatrician. You can learn more at beyondceliac.org.
Mix Things Up
Since I am not the most creative momma in the kitchen, I am always looking for new ideas to make sure that my son is getting a nutritious and tasty gluten-free lunch. I don’t have a lot of time in the mornings so I try my hardest to plan ahead. Most of the time my son wants the same thing every single day but this year I plan to try and mix it up. Thanks to Pinterest, I can get my creative mom brownie points and not disappoint my kid at lunch. Here are five great gluten-free lunchbox ideas that will not only fill your kid’s tummy but also put a smile on their face. If you have any gluten-free lunchbox ideas that you would love to share please add them in the comments below.
The Stew Crew’s Gluten-Free Favorites:
- Brown Rice Bread
- Rice Pasta
- Brown Rice Chips
- Gluten-Free Pretzels
- Gluten-Free Chicken Nuggets
- Oatmeal
- Kind Bars
- Cookie Dough
- Fruit Bars
- Sorbet Pops
