So, it’s back to school around here. Of course, it’s not traditional “back to school” since we home school our kids, but after a summer off, we’ve kicked it back into gear. Getting back into a schedule is always kind of a bittersweet thing…anyone else feel like their kids start crawling the walls and incessantly arguing when there isn’t any structure to their day? So, while I mourn the end of summer, I welcome the structure of the school year with assignments to complete, field trips to enjoy and a {flexible} schedule to run by.
One of the main questions I get asked by people going gluten-free is: What do I feed my kids for lunch?
Especially once school starts, packing lunches that will sustain kids as well as delight them can seem daunting.
I obviously have a bit more flexibility in what I can give my kids since we are typically home at lunch. Our midday meal can be anything from leftovers from the night before to lettuce wraps, to a hot meal.
I often let my oldest son (who’s 12) be in charge of making lunch for everyone, and I like to have some “convenience foods” on hand for when that happens. One thing my kids missed the most when we went gluten-free was mac ‘n cheese. Even though this isn’t something I give them every day for lunch, I’m human and sometimes need something easy that can be thrown together quickly and can be prepared by my kids if needed.
One of our favorites is the Horizon gluten-free macaroni and cheese. 
It definitely passed the taste test of my kids. They loved it! Knowing there are minimal ingredients and it’s a simple meal that even my son can prepare makes it worth having in the pantry!
Our kids take classes at a local business on Tuesdays, so I’ll often pack their lunch on those days. I love to include one of these little notes in their lunchbox!
Some other ideas for when you have to pack lunches:
Deviled eggs
Lunch meat wrapped around avocado (if you’re kids like avocado)
Fried sweet potato cubes (or any other version of sweet potato)
Fruit (fresh or dried)
Veggies
Nuts/SeedsBaked goods (see the “dessert” tab on the blog for lots of great treats!)
Tuna or salmon salad
Ground beef “tacos” (with lettuce instead of a tortilla)
Applesauce
Almond bread sandwiches (I usually do almond butter and honey)
Some snack ideas for lunch:
Boiled egg w/mustard (my kids really like the Annie’s Organic Dijon)
Toasted Coconut Pecan Snackies
Sweet potato fries (Just cut into wedges, toss in olive oil and garlic salt and bake in oven for about 20-25 minutes, until soft on the inside, crispy on the outside!
Blueberry Muffins to Die For (these are awesome made ahead and refrigerated!)
Salted Cinnamon Walnuts
Cardamom-Spiced Frozen Bananas
Nutty Banana Coconut Bites
Carrots
Apples w/almond butter
Celery w/almond butter
Raw Choconut Bites
Caramelized Coconut Chips
olives (make sure you buy the kind with no added ingredients)
Ultimately, my kids are pretty involved with what foods they eat. I just make sure to stock our pantry with lots of healthy foods I know they’ll enjoy. When we go shopping, I will often take them to the produce section and tell them to pick out a new fruit or veggie they haven’t tried. (They’re much more likely to try new stuff if they picked it out!) It’s then their responsibility to look up how to prepare it in a way they think they’ll like it.
Interested in learning about more Horizon gluten free products? You can follow them on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram!
This conversation is sponsored by Horizon. The opinions and text are all mine.
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