Healthy Gluten-Free Lunch Ideas For School: Week 1

Meal planning Week 1 of healthy gluten-free lunch ideas for school! Five gluten-free cold lunch ideas to make your week easier!

School is IN from the summer! That means time to really dial-in your valuable time in the mornings. Some of you have already been in school for a week or two and I hope this new season is treating your family well! To help simplify your week I am putting together delicious ideas full of healthy gluten-free lunches to make for your family. At the bottom of the gluten free lunch ideas is a shopping list needed for the week. They are coming every Monday and you can mix and match ideas – enough for the full year and jump into whichever week you want!

We just looked at new schools for my three-year-old (he turns four next week) and he is beyond excited to get moving up to Kindergarten in a couple of years. More than anything he just wants to be in elementary school like big brother. Over the summer we went to our school for free summer lunches that were offered. I was more than grateful to stop in at lunch time, feed both boys, have no dishes or cleanup and didn’t have to plan meals at lunch. But after a while the boys did not want to eat that food anymore- quesadillas, burgers, corn dogs, and even pizza! I don’t blame them because every once-in-a-while is a fine treat to enjoy but not every day.

Our summer excursion got me wanting to create move value for you as where to find healthy lunch ideas for school. Meals that are gluten-free, healthy, kid-friendly and easy to make! Dairy-free and nut-free options are listed as well, and the Shopping List comes in handy before the school week begins.

Tips For Preparing Healthy School Lunches

1. Have a game plan for each week with a list of lunches to make for the week.
2. Plan the shopping and shop for groceries on Friday or over the weekend then chop fresh vegetables for the week on Sunday.
3. If making baked goods to pack in lunches bake them fresh over the weekend. Then freeze them in small batches to enjoy throughout the week.
4. Find a time that works for you. Is it easier to make school lunches in morning? Or do you find it is easier for you to make lunch for the kids the night before? Find a time that works for you and make it then.
5. If things like bread and tortillas do not last, freeze leftovers for another week.

Gluten Free Lunch Ideas For School – WEEK 1

MONDAY

• Main: Turkey and Cheese Sandwich with Sprouts and Mustard (for dairy-free use vegan cheese or skip it)
• Sides: Carrots, Cucumbers, Grape Tomatoes, Raspberries

TUESDAY

• Main: Peanut Butter Honey Sandwich (or any nut butter)
• Sides: Organic Raisins, Carrots

WEDNESDAY

• Main: Flavored Greek Yogurt and Granola Bars (for dairy-free use almond yogurt)
• Sides: Raspberries

THURSDAY

• Main: Hard Boiled Egg Halves
• Sides: Pirate Booty, Sugar Snap Peas, Carrots, Watermelon Chunks and Raspberry Skewers

FRIDAY

• Main: Low Fat Cottage Cheese (for dairy-free you can use almond or coconut flavored yogurt instead)
• Sides: Gluten-Free Crackers, Grape Tomatoes, Raspberries

Shopping List:

• Gluten-Free Bread Loaf
• Turkey
• Cheese Slices
• Hard Boiled Eggs
• Individual Greek Yogurt
• Individual Low Fat Cottage Cheese
• Gluten-Free Crackers
• Pirate Booty
• Sprouts
• Grape Tomatoes
• Cucumbers
• Sugar Snap Peas
• Carrots
• Raspberries
• Watermelon
• Raisins
• Organic Peanut Butter
• Raw Honey
• Mustard
• Gluten-Free Granola Bars

I hope this helps make packing healthy lunches easier for you! Join me next Monday for Week 2 of Gluten-Free Lunch Ideas For School!

MORE HEALTHY WEEKLY LUNCH PLANS FOR SCHOOL:

• Week 2
• Week 3
• Week 4