A brown bag lunch ensures that your child eats a gluten-free lunch each day at school. Although a gluten-free diet limits some food options, you can still put together kid-friendly school lunches. Having a diet different from his friends' may cause your child to feel singled out. Get him involved in the school lunch preparation to help him feel more comfortable about his gluten-free lunches.
Peanut Butter and Jelly
The peanut butter and jelly sandwich is a classic lunch option, but it needs some modification to fit the gluten-free lifestyle. Gluten-free bread is an option. A gluten-free pancake spread with peanut butter and jelly, then rolled is another variation.
Lettuce Wraps
A large lettuce leaf creates a replacement for sandwich wraps or bread. Place your child's choice of meat and cheese inside the lettuce. Other vegetables are also an option for flavoring the meal. Roll the lettuce and fillings as you would a sandwich wrap. Plastic wrap around the lettuce wrap helps keep it together until your child eats it.
Tuna Salad
Tuna is another option for school lunches. Gluten-free mayonnaise or dressing adds moisture to the tuna. Choose mayonnaise in individual serving packets that don't need refrigeration to avoid spoiling. Practical Gastroentery suggests purchasing tuna lunch kits, which have individual mayonnaise packets, and replacing the crackers with rice crackers. Finely chopped vegetables, such as onions, celery and carrots, work well to increase the nutritional value of the tuna salad. Pack rice crackers along with the tuna mixture to round out the meal.
Finger-Food Meal
A variety of finger foods that fit the gluten-free diet work well for a child's school lunch. Practical Gastroenterology suggests deli meat and cheeses cut into various shapes as the bulk of the meal. Sliced fruit, rice crackers, vegetables, hard-boiled eggs and gluten-free yogurt round out the finger-food meal. A plastic container with divided sections is ideal for transporting this meal option.
Sides
Gluten-free sides complement the main dish in your child's lunch. Celiac.com suggests a variety of sides to pack for school lunches. Some ideas include trail mix made with gluten-free items, nuts, fruit leather, gelatin, applesauce and string cheese. Fresh fruit and vegetables also work well in a brown bag lunch.
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