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60 Gluten-Free Lunch Ideas for Kids (Even Picky Eaters!)

By Erika in Back to School

back to school gluten-freeI was compensated for this post; the opinions are all my own.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

gluten free lunch ideas for kids
gluten free lunch ideas for school
gluten free school lunches

Looking for gluten-free lunches for your kids? These back to school gluten-free lunch ideas are easy, allergy-friendly, healthy, and delicious that even picky eaters will like!

gluten-free lunch box ideas for kids this idea now...

My whole family was on a gluten-free diet at one point and I know how tricky it can be to pack a variety of gluten-free school lunches for your kids and keep it simple. That’s why I’ve created this list to give you lots of ideas.

Now, you don’t have to research for hours to find something your child will eat and is allergen-friendly; you can find all the yummy easy ideas you’ll need right here!

Of course, you could have your child order school lunches (most public schools have to accommodate dietary restrictions and provide gluten-free lunches), however, if your child has celiac disease and is extremely sensitive to gluten, that may be a risk you’re understandably not willing to take.

Or if your kids aren’t that sensitive, you may find the cafeteria school lunches boring, not as nutritious, and expensive for what you get. Personally, that’s why my kids never bought lunches from school.

chalkboard with ABC, apple, and gluten-free school lunch for kids

Packing a Gluten-Free School Lunch

How do you pack a gluten-free lunch for school?

This was one of the overwhelming questions I had when my kids first started eating gluten-free. But it’s really not that hard.

You can pack a gluten-free lunch very much like a regular school lunch except you’re substituting gluten-free ingredients.

Just be sure you always check the labels before you serve your child a new food. You might be surprised at the random foods that DO contain unexpected gluten.

gluten-free lunch ideas for kids with macaroni and cheese

Gluten-Free Lunch Ideas

Let’s start with the main protein part of your child’s lunch.

Protein:

Deli meat roll-ups with a cheese stick *choose lunch meat that is gluten-free. You’d think they all would be, but some brands may have a sneaky ingredient or two that isn’t wheat-free

Eggs – hard-boiled, scrambled, egg salad / add a cooked cut-up hotdog for more flavor and protein

Peanut butter or sun butter and jelly on a corn tortilla or gluten-free bread.

Mikey’s Pockets

These tasty Hot-Pocket-type pockets are not only certified gluten-free, they are also dairy-free and certified Paleo-Friendly as well.

Mikey’s sent my family a few samples to try out, including Mikey’s Pizza Pockets in both Cheese and Pepperoni and their new Egg, Cheese, and Ham Breakfast Pockets. We absolutely LOVED them!

Mikey's gluten-free paleo pockets

As a busy mom, I was happy with how quick and easy they are to prepare. Mikey’s Pockets are frozen and you simply pop them in the microwave for 2 minutes and they’re ready! They are PERFECT for busy school mornings when you’re rushing the kids out the door to get to school on time.

layout of printable recipe binder pages

It’s not easy to find convenient food when you have dietary restrictions and Mikey’s not only has both convenience and allergen-friendly food, it’s also delicious!

Mikey's breakfast pockets ham cheese and egg on a plate

And Mikey’s Pizza Pockets make a perfect delicious filling gluten-free lunch idea for kids! So easy and yummy. My children all loved them and couldn’t decide which flavor (pepperoni or cheese) they loved best.

Either way, if you’re looking for an easy gluten-free lunch idea, Mikey’s is a delicious option and we highly recommend them!

Learn more about Mikey’s food here. Find a store near you that carries Mikey’s by visiting their “Where to Buy” page.

mikey's pepperoni pizza pockets gluten-free lunch

Hotdog, by itself or with a gluten-free bun

Leftover taco salad

Sausages (check for gluten-free)

Tuna salad on a gluten-free sandwich or with lettuce as a salad

Deli meat wrap with a corn tortilla or gluten-free bread

Grilled cheese with gluten-free bread or try this Grilled Cheese, Ham, and Broccoli

grilled cheese broccoli and ham sandwich

Gluten-free macaroni and cheese – try this instant pot homemade mac and cheese  – or you can stick with boxed mac ‘n cheese. My kids love Walmart’s brand.

Waffle peanut butter sandwich (use gluten-free waffles)

Gluten-free chicken nuggets (buy frozen or make them yourself)

Zucchini Sausage Egg Mini Quiches

Tasty Taco Muffins

Hawaiian Cauliflower Pizza (my kids never guessed it had cauliflower in it!)

Hawaiian cauliflower pizza crust recipe, cauliflower pizza recipe, paleo cauliflower pizza, how to make cauliflower pizza crust

Leftover pumpkin chili

Leftover sloppy joes on a gluten-free bun, bread or plain

Leftover Tuna Patties

tuna salad

egg salad

2-ingredient banana pancakes – breakfast for lunch and easy!

With 2 eggs and 1 banana, these quick-and-easy pancakes are naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and Paleo-friendly. The bananas add natural sweetness while the eggs give you a nice amount of protein that will keep your family satisfied longer than typical pancake recipes. This breakfast is both kid-friendly and mom-approved!

leftover enchiladas

waldorf chicken salad with blueberries and grapes

ham and cheese apple wraps

sandwich on a stick

Fruit & Veggies for Gluten-Free Lunches

Banana sliced with peanut butter or sunbutter

Celery with peanut butter or sunbutter and raisins – check out this post for a more creative idea

Raisins, craisins, or dates

Sliced apples with peanut butter or sunbutter

Any fruit (grapes, melons, apples, strawberries, berries, etc.) with this tasty peanut butter yogurt fruit dip 

This quick and easy Peanut Butter Fruit Dip is a tasty way to add protein to a fun snack for kids. With dairy-free and nut-free options, you can easily tweak this recipe for almost any dietary needs.

Homemade fruit salad in a container

Acai smoothie bowl in a sealed container – send the fruit in a baggie or other container to be added at lunchtime

Applesauce in a pouch or container

Vegetables with hummus (baby carrots, snap peas, cherry tomatoes, celery, sweet peppers)

Carrot pasta

Yogurt

Cottage cheese with fruit

strawberry banana smoothie in a covered mason jar

Snacks to include for School Lunches

Gluten-Free Apple Oatmeal Muffins

Need a satisfying healthy snack for the kids? Soft and delicious, bursting with apple flavor and sweetened only with honey and banana, this Gluten-Free Apple Oatmeal Muffins recipe is kid-approved and easy-to-make!

Peanut butter snack balls or energy balls

Peanut butter date energy balls

Blueberry Energy Bites

blueberry energy bites in a bowl

Gluten-free Gingerbread Muffins 

Banana Snack Balls / Energy Bites

Chocolate Protein Balls

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Streusel Muffins

Cranberry Granola Bar Squares

Cranberry Granola Bar Squares are a nutritious, moist, chewy granola bar square filled with oats, crispy rice, and dried cranberries. This is an easy, delicious, gluten-free and dairy-free snack recipe kids love!

Granola bars

Gluten-free crackers

Rice cakes

Gluten-free tortilla chips

fruit roll-ups or fruit chews

gluten-free banana bread

Related: more gluten-free snack ideas for kids.

Gluten-Free Lunch Treats

Gluten-free Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

gluten-free peanut butter cookie recipe

Gluten-Free Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Gluten and dairy-free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Gluten and dairy-free Chocolate Chip Bars

Gluten and dairy-free Fudgy Brownies 

Chunky Monkey Banana & Chocolate Bites

With chocolate, peanut butter, and banana, tasty Chunky Monkey Bites are a hit with kids. They're a perfect less-processed treat for a special treat or even an after-school snack. This recipe is gluten-free too!

Raspberry Oatmeal Bars

gluten-free krispy rice treats

Strawberry rice krispie treats

Supplies for Packing Gluten-Free Lunches

I do NOT recommend:

  • expensive bento boxes – they’re usually too small for anyone older than toddlers and way too pricey especially if you have multiple kids as I do
  • cheaper plastic bento storage boxes – I’ve purchased at least 4 different versions and they all leak with the lids not snapping on or breaking after a couple weeks of use. They may be cheaper but it’s still a waste of money.

I DO recommend these back to school lunch supplies:

  • quality lunch bag
    • for preschoolers-elementary age, we love Lands’ End lunchboxes and this style from Amazon
    • for tweens-high school, my daughter loves this style while my high school son prefers this larger lunchbag.
  • slim reusable ice packs
  • reusable storage containers – perfect for sandwiches/wraps or bringing leftovers to school – these containers are inexpensive and have lasted us a long time.
  • thermos container for leftovers
  • generic plastic sandwich bags or (if you prefer) reusable storage zippered bags
  • reusable cutlery (I’ve given up on these as my kids lose them and it’s too pricey to keep replacing 4 sets, but if you prefer reusable utensils, this set is very nice.)
  • water bottle – there are tons of options now so you’ll want to see what works best for your child, but we’ve had good luck with these styles:
    • leak-proof BPA-free 16oz bottle – great for younger-elementary kids
    • nalgene 12 oz bottles – harder to close for younger children, but have worked well for my kids 7+
    • 18oz Pogo – we’re trying these this year, so far they’ve been great


What are your favorite gluten-free lunch ideas for kids?

gluten-free lunch ideas for kids

This post is sponsored by Mikey’s Pockets. The opinions and text are all mine.

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    Filed Under: Back to School, Fall, Food for Kids, Lunch, Recipes, Seasonal Tagged With: back to school, gluten-freePublished on August 13, 2019

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    About Erika

    Erika Bragdon is a second-generation homeschooling mom with 3 kids at home and 1 in college. She lives in the beautiful hills of New Hampshire on a small farm and loves writing, baking, nature, and sharing flower essences and more natural solutions with moms.

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