5 Gluten-Free Twists on Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches for Kids

The new school year comes along every fall. And every year moms all over try their best to pack nutritious lunches their kids will actually eat. Some moms are even ambitious enough to try fun bento box lunches! But before long, the busy school year sets in and we’re throwing peanut butter and jelly sandwiches together day after day because it is after all one of the few foods kids prefer.

Does that sound familiar? It certainly is for me!

So I came up with 5 fun gluten-free twists on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Kids love peanut butter so why not? It doesn’t mean we have to throw it on bread day after day. There are just-as-easy alternatives we can whip together, both gluten-free and regular, that are both nutritious AND delicious.

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I partnered with Target to bring you this post. One of the (many) reasons I love shopping at Target is their large selection of organic and gluten-free foods, including Horizon and Santa Cruz Organic brands.

Horizon and Santa Cruz Organic offer non-GMO, organic foods with no antibiotics, no growth hormones, and no persistent pesticides. It’s food we busy moms can feel good about giving our kids. Plus kids love it; Horizon and Santa Cruz Organic are organic AND delicious!

From single serve milk boxes and snacking cheese to Good & Go! Snack Combos, Horizon has organic dairy and snack products, perfect for easy lunches.

Santa Cruz Organic has Applesauce in convenient single-serve packages, fruit spreads, and peanut butter.

DEAL ALERT: From 8/6 to 8/26, Target has an awesome Cartwheel offer where you can save 20% on Horizon with Cartwheel and go in-store for savings on Santa Cruz Organic! 

5 Gluten-Free Twists on Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches

Three of my kids, who are ages 6-10, helped me put these yummy peanut butter sandwich alternative lunches together. I’m all for teaching my kids to be independent and having a say because if they help cut out cucumbers with fun veggie cutters, they’re far more likely to eat it than if Mom did it.

That being said, these are not the prettiest bento box lunches you may have ever seen, but my kids LOVED them!

#1 Peanut Butter and Honey on Gluten-Free Waffles

You’ll need:

• gluten-free waffles
• Santa Cruz Organic peanut butter
• honey

We used mini waffles and put the peanut butter and honey mixed together in a small seal-able container for dipping the waffles in.

Also included:

• Santa Cruz Organic applesauce
• Horizon Organic Good & Go! Snack combo
• Horizon Organic DHA Omega-3 Vanilla Milk
• dates
• carrots

#2 Peanut Butter and Jelly and Bananas on Gluten-Free Bagels

You’ll need:

• gluten-free bagels
• Santa Cruz Organic peanut butter
• Santa Cruz Organic fruit spread

Spread the peanut butter on the bagel, add the jelly, and add sliced bananas on top.

My children loved the strawberry Santa Cruz Organic fruit spread the best, while I think the seedless red raspberry is amazing.

Also included:

• baby carrots
• gluten-free pretzels
• grapes
• Horizon Organic DHA Omega-3 Vanilla Milk
• Horizon Organic Good & Go! Snack combo

#3 Peanut Butter and Jelly Roll-ups

You’ll need:

• gluten-free tortilla wraps
• Santa Cruz Organic peanut butter
• Santa Cruz Organic fruit spread

Spread the peanut butter on a tortilla wrap along with some jam. Roll up tightly and gently cut into pieces. If you use a lot of jelly (like my children did), it might be a little messy.

Also included:

• Santa Cruz Organic applesauce
• dried strawberries
• granola with blueberries
• snap peas
• Horizon snacking cheese – organic Colby cheese stick
• Horizon Organic DHA Omega-3 Vanilla Milk

#4 Peanut Butter and Raisins on Apple Slices

You’ll Need:

• 1 apple
• Santa Cruz Organic peanut butter
• raisins

Slice the apple lengthwise; you should have about 4-5 slices for the whole apple, depending on the apple size. Cut out the core in each slice OR use a fun veggie cutter to make a shape in the middle.

Spread peanut butter on one or two apple slices and have your children place raisins on the peanut butter. You can even pack the raisins separately and let your kids do this at school later.

Also included:

• mini orange
• Horizon snacking cheese shapes
• almonds and raisins
• grape tomatoes
• Santa Cruz Organic applesauce
• Horizon Organic DHA Omega-3 Vanilla Milk

#5 Peanut Butter and Jelly Crepes

You’ll Need:

• 2-ingredient banana egg pancakes – get the easy recipe here
• Santa Cruz Organic peanut butter
• Santa Cruz Organic fruit spread

Make a batch of banana egg pancakes. One batch will usually make 3-4 medium-small pancakes. Let them cool a little, then gently spread peanut butter and jelly down the middle of each pancake. Roll them up a little and if desired, place a toothpick in each “crepe” to keep it together. (Only use toothpicks with responsible older children.)

This is a little messy but absolutely delicious (my kids said this was one of their favorites out of this bunch of peanut butter and jelly twists!). You’ll want to pack a fork as that will be easier than eating by hand.

Also included:

• blueberries
• cucumber slices
• Santa Cruz Organic applesauce
• Horizon snacking cheese shapes
• gluten-free pretzels
• Horizon Organic DHA Omega-3 Vanilla Milk

And that’s our 5 gluten-free twists on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I hope your children will enjoy these as much as mine do!

Which one will be your kids’ favorite?!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Horizon and Santa Cruz Organic. The opinions and text are all mine.