Well, it's official! We have headed back to school and I'm back at it again, packing 3 gluten free lunches every day to keep my family well fed and fueled for our busy on the go lifestyle. I literally have an arsenal of Pinterest boards where I've gathered recipes and inspiration for this year's healthy lunchbox ideas for kids and today I'm sharing ALL of my favorites with you!
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So let's get started, let's talk lunch!!! 100 gluten free healthy lunchbox ideas for kids are only a quick finger flick away, what are you waiting for? Get your scroll on!!!
Finger food lunches!
Kid's naturally want to eat with their hands, so why not give them exactly what they want?! Just don'tget stuck in the rut of sending the SAME combo of fingerfood lunches every day. Let's get creative, have some fun, and send a variety of meals that expand your kid's repetoire! Turn your favorite party platters into healthy lunchbox ideas for kids or just pack a good old fashioned homemade lunchable. I can testify that you will watch with pride as your kiddos gobble these lunches up!!
1. Charcuterie Bento Box || This Mess Is Ours
2. Fruit, Veggie, and Cheese Snack Box || Eat the Rainbow - kids (Be sure to pack a gluten free granola bar!)
3. "Octopus" Sausage || Just One Cookbook (Try this fun idea with gfree sausages or hot dogs!)
4. Peanut Banana Roll Ups || Damn Delicious (I would sub gluten free flour tortillas for the roll ups and use Glutino pretzels)
5. Fruit & Cheese Platter inspired lunches || This Mess is Ours
6. Rice Cake Flowers || Super Simple
7. Easy Hawaiian Sausage Kid-Bobs || Lunches and Littles
8. Salami & Cheese Kabobs || Family Fresh Meals (Substitute regular pretzels for Glutino gluten free pretzels!)
9. Sweet Blueberry Avocado Crispbreads || This Mess is Ours (Send all of the elements individually, lunchables style, so kid's can build and assemble their own.)
10.Eat the Rainbow Snack Box || Nosh and Nourish
Deconstructed Salads
Look, you and I both know you better not call what's in your kid's lunchbox a salad, because there is just something about THAT word that strikes fear into the heart of school age children everywhere! However if you deconstruct the things you love most about your favorite "grown-up" salads I guarantee your kid's will try them individually and then one day who knows...maybe they'll mash it all up together into an actual salad on their own!
11. Deconstructed Waldorf Salad || This Mess is Ours
12. BLT Salad Skewers with Ranch Dressing || The Urban Poser
13. Turkey Taco Salad Meal Prep || Damn Delicious (Be sure to use a taco seasoning that is gluten free)
14. Cold Noodle Salads (#6) || The Kitchn ( Be sure to check packgaes of noodles to enssure they are gfree)
15. Mediterranean Salad inspired bento box || This Mess is Ours
16. Kid-Friendly Tuna Salad || Food Network ( Be sure to use gfree crackers or toast)
17. Tomato Basil Peach Skewers || Love and Lemons
18. Kid-Friendly Lunchbox Salad || Mom's Kitchen Handbook
19. Kiddo Caprese Kabobs || Salubrious RD
20. Steak Cobb Salad Meal Prep || Damn Delicious
Teens LOVE takeout inspired lunches
Who doesn't love a good takeout meal every now and then? I know I sure do, but my teenage daughter especially! Check out these lunches that are inspired by my girl's favorite meals to order when we go out, but made with their healthier homemade counterparts, then portioned out and packed in her lunchbox. Fun + better for her = TOTAL MOM WIN!!
{{DISCLAIMER: My teenage daughter has access to a microwave to reheat her meals if needed. If your child doesn't, most of these meals are still delicous room temp. }}
21. Kid-Approved Thai Peanut Dipping Sauce || This Mess is Ours
22. Copycat Starbucks Chicken & Hummus Bistro Box || Damn Delicious ( To make GF substitute the pita with rice crackers or gf naan)
23. Onigiri (AKA. Japanese Rice Balls )|| Epicurious ( Double check that all of your fillings and sauces are gluten free.)
24. DIY Starbucks Protein Box || No. 2 Pencil ( I would sub out the multi-grain bread rounds for gfree toast points)
25. Sunrise Nori Wraps with Spicy Tahini Drizzle || This Mess is Ours
26. Easy Chicken Tenders Lunchbox || Family Fresh Meals (Be sure to use gluten free chicken tenders and gfree pretzels)
27. DIY Pizza Lunchables || Damn Delicious ( To make gf substitue gf naan or gf pizza crust cut into lunchbox sized rounds for the pita bites. )
28. Falafel Lettuce Wraps || This Mess is Ours
29. Grain Free Tortilla Pizza Roll Ups || The Urban Poser
30. Zuppa Toscana Soup || This Mess is Ours
Lunch in jars
Ok, so this lunchbox trend has been WAY more beneficial to my husband than to the kid's due to glass' fragility, but it's still worth giving you 10 tasty gluten free links to try because I'm guessing you either pack lunch for yourself or your significant other too!
31. Gluten Free Instant Noodles with Kimchi || This Mess is Ours
32. Mason Jar Quinoa Salad With Green-Thai Dressing || Pop Sugar
33. Mediterranean Chickpea & Egg Salad Jars || Half Baked Harvest
34. Chia & Raspberry Breakfast Jars || Green Kitchen Stories
35. Vegan Mason Jar Taco Salad || This Mess is Ours
36. Southwest Zoodle Jar Salad || Nosh and Nourish
37. Mediterranean Chickpea Mason Jar Salad || Detoxinista
38. Thai Peanut Chicken Quinoa Salad || Ambitious Kitchen
39. Mason Jar Carrot Noodle Salad || Nosh and Nourish ( Substitute Tamari for soy sauce!)
40. Chiken Quinoa Berry Salad || Ambitious Kitchen
Breakfast for lunch
I am pretty much a breakfast SUPER fan and I will eat it any time of the day. Did you kow that lots of breakfast foods pack great in the lunchbox? Well, now you do, you're kids are gonna be STOKED!
41. Gluten Free Chicken and Waffles || This Mess is Ours
42. DIY Lunchable Brunchable Sausage Lunchbox || Family Fresh Meals (To make GF: Use Pamela's pancake mix for easy, homemade gf silver dollar pancakes )
43. Ham, Egg, & Cheese Breakfast Quesadilla || Damn Delicious (Be sure to use GF flour tortillas in place of the whole wheat version called for in the recipe!)
44. Little Bagel People || What Lisa Cooks ( Be sure to use gluten free bagels)
45. Fruit filled Breakfast Sushi || This Mess is Ours
46. Muffin Lunchbox || What Lisa Cooks (Be sure to use glute free muffins.)
47. Paleo Pancake Breakfast Meal Prep Bowls || Smile Sandwich
48. Fruit Bottomed Yogurt Jars || Simple Bites
49. Easy Keto Meal Prep Breakfast Frittata || Eat Well 101
50. Fruit & Yogurt Bistro Box || No. 2 Pencil (Be sure to purchase gf granola for this one OR make your own! Peach Cobbler Granola is perfect for this time of year!)
Sandwich is King
Sandwiches have always reigned supreme in the lunchbox and for good reason! They're perfectly portable and downright delicious. What's not to love? Here are some of my family's favorite sammies to find tucked in their lunchboxes.
51. The Ultimate Vegetarian Club Sandwich || This Mess is Ours
52. PB & J on a Stick || Taste of Home (Be sure to use your favorite gluten free bread!)
53. Autumn Spiced Veggie Burgers || This Mess is Ours
54. Salami & Cream Cheese Sandwich || Martha Stewart
55. Green Goddess Sandwiches || This Mess is Ours (Be sure to use gluten free bread.)
56. PB & J "Hot Dogs" (#8) || Fork and Beans (Be sure to use a gluten free hotdog bun!)
57. Sandwich Wrap Kabobs || Fork and Beans (Be sure to use GF flour tortillas in place of the FlatOut fold it's)
58. Waffled Grilled Cheese || This Mess is Ours for Pompeian
59. Meal Prep Egg and Sausage McMuffin || Girl on Bloor (Be sure to use gfree English Muffins!)
60. Artichoke & Kale Veggie Sandwiches || This Mess is Ours
Rethink the side dishes
NEWS FLASH!! There is no rule that says you must includ chips and a cookie as sides in every lunchbox. Shocker, I know! Be bold and break the mold, whip up a new-to-your-crew side dish to tickle their taste buds at lunch time.
61. Cacio e Pepe Popcorn || This Mess is Ours
62. Ranch Tortilla Snack Chips || America's Test Kitchen Kids (Substitute gluten free flour tortillas)
63. Gluten Free Homemade Chex Mix || What the Fork Food Blog
64. Pizza Tortilla Snack Chips || America's Test Kitchen Kids (Substitute gluten free flour tortillas)
65. Homemade Gluten-Free Cheeze-it Crackers || This Mess is Ours
66. Easy Polenta Fries || Martha Stewart
67. Cereal Trail Mix || What the Fork Food Blog
68. Pepperoni and Cream Cheese Pizza Rolls || Know Gluten
69. Gluten Free Graham Crackers || Grain Changer
70. One Bowl Vegan + Gluten Free Crackers || Minimalist Baker
Save the planet - pack your own sauce!
I'm not even kidding - all of the single use containers in lunchboxes is HORRIBLE for the environment and honestly, I'm disgusted at myself for how many years worth of them I have contributed to the landfill. This year, I decided to purchase a few reusable silicone squeeze pouches so I can choose whether I want to make my own fruit sauce at home OR if I want to buy a bulk jar of organic applesauce and ration it out into pouches myself.
71. Easy Roasted Pear Sauce || This Mess is Ours
72. Instant Pot Apple Sauce || Dessert for Two
73. Healthy 2-Ingredient Strawberry Applesauce || Texanerin
74. Pumpkin Applesauce || Life Made Simple
75. Stove Top Applesauce || This Mess is Ours
76. Cherry Applesauce || Bon Appetit
77. Slow Cooker Apple Raspberry Sauce || All Recipes
78. Blackberry Applesauce || Love and Olive Oil
79. Crockpot Butternut Squash Applesauce || Relish
80. Crock Pot Peach Applesauce || Recipes that Crock!
Unexpected eats
Whether it's a family favorite dinner recipe turned bite-sized lunchbox treat or inspiration for lunchboxes that are good for your keto, paleo, or whole 30 family members. I've tried to include a little something for everyone here! We all know that making the commitment to pack daily lunches for your entire family is a big task on its own, but when you throw in special diets and food allergies it can become a daunting task. It truly takes a village people, so if you have more healthy lunchbox ideas for kids or links be sure to leave them in the comments below!!
81. Mini Spaghetti Pies || This Mess is Ours
82. Keto Low Carb Sandwich Lunchbox || Family Fresh Meals
83. Whole 30 lunchbox for all ages || Weelicious
84. Easy Allergen Free Lunches || Sarah Bakes G Free
85. Mini Mac-N-Cheese Cups || This Mess is Ours
86. Leftover Picnic Box (#10) || The Kitchn (I would sub in gluten free rotisserie drumsticks and a gluten free dessert here. But, I LOVE this idea!)
87. Keto Ham & Cheese Hot Pockets || The Modern Proper
88. 4 EASY lunches for busy weekdays! || This Mess is Ours
89. Keto Egg Salad || Mad About Food
90. Weight Watchers Zero Point Lunchbox || Family Fresh Meals
Don't forget the healthy sweet treat lunchbox ideas for kids!
Make a big batch of granola bars or energy bites over the weekend then feel good about packing those babies in your loved ones lunches ALL week long!
91. Rise & Shine Energy Bars || This Mess is Ours
92. Vanilla Cake Batter Sprinkle Balls || Nosh & Nourish
93. Homemade Nutella || GFree Foodie
94. Dairy Free Raspberry Cheesecake Dip || Sarah Bakes G Free
95. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites || This Mess is Ours
96. Cinnamon-Sugar Tortilla Snack Chips || America's Test Kitchen Kids (Substitute gluten free flour tortillas)
97. Microwave Fesh Fruit Jam || Little Sous
98. Healthier Maple Candied Walnuts || Texanerin
99. Gluten Free Black & White Cookies || GFree Foodie
100. DIY Chocolate Pudding Snack Packs || Fork and Beans
If you’ve packed any of these healthy lunchbox ideas for kids or have an idea you want to share with us for our list, don’t forget to let me know in the comments below. I just love hearing from you, and your reviews and comments really help others that visit This Mess is Ours!
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