I'll trade you a pudding snack for those cookies!
How often does that phrase ring out at the lunch tables of every school in the country? Do your kids ever have tasty treats in their lunch box that would warrant such a question?
For many kids eating a gluten free diet, that is one question they never hear. Sadly, many people have the misconception that gluten free is taste free, boring, nasty and not anything to be desired, let alone trade for. The gluten free world of food has come a long way from the days of few choices and and even fewer satisfying treats.
Today’s gluten-free kid CAN have the lunch kids want to trade for. While that may be something that strikes fear in the hearts of many parents, thankfully this also means that your kids won’t WANT to trade!
How is this accomplished? How do I know this can be your kids reality? Because my kids got that very question during their lunch time!
Our first school year eating gluten-free free was a challenge to me. I struggled through that first year, and so did my kids, with the food choices I had available. My poor kids. I think they thought they would never eat “normal food” again. Thankfully, I found that I could play with recipes that didn’t satisfy the need my kids had for “normal food”.
What kid wants to take a sandwich on corn tortillas every day? There were few bread choices on the market that were worth buying, in my humble opinion. I knew I had to find a better option for my kids and my strained budget.
Snacks were a whole other issue. Every cookie or bar recipe I tried left us disappointed on one level or another. I knew I had to find a better solution.
Thankfully, today there are so many amazing options for you and your kids. From ready made snacks that kids actually want to eat, to amazing recipes that you can make in your own kitchen. Being a from scratch cook all my life, buying a mix is not something that I do often, but there are plenty of them out there that work wonderfully as well.
The food industry has come a long way in a very short amount of time. The options available to you are almost limitless!
So, where to start? If I asked my kids where, they’d say dessert. What kid wouldn’t? It is the most important component in any lunch box, right?
Our favorite cookie, by far has got to be chocolate chip. Second on the list would be peanut butter. Both of these recipes are very easy to whip up and completely portable in any lunch box. Most important aspect to these two recipes is the fact that no kid, gluten-free or not, can resist them.
Sandwiches are a bit tricky for the gluten-free lunch packer. In many cases the bread is best heated or toasted. I have found a few options that are great as is and don’t end up leaving my kids feeling left out of the “bread world” around them.
Our top two go to recipes for sandwich bread are both tasty and super easy to make. Flat bread is an amazingly easy bread to make in a very short amount of time. It’s great for sandwiches or even a pizza crust.
Who does love a soft loaf of potato bread? This recipe is absolutely amazing! The first time I made it, my husband and I almost ate the entire loaf hot out of the bread machine with butter. This bread is amazingly moist the day you bake it and even several days later. Makes great sandwiches too.
How do you feel about your kids lunch options now? Even if you are not a baker, these recipes are quick and easy. There are so many tasty options out there, awesome recipes and products just waiting to be put into your kids lunch boxes.
Going back to school should be a fun time for your kids. How many kids do you hear saying that lunch is their favorite subject? How fun would it be to have a gluten-free kid say that?
