Summer is coming to an end, which means school is starting – back to class, back to schedules and back to surviving school lunches.
Back to school means
back-to-school lunches
Do you cringe at the thought of gluten-free school lunches?
Having to come up with gluten-free school lunch ideas . . . preparing the ingredients or food your children will eat, and then making time to pack it, is all too much for some to consider.
Isn’t it easier to send in money to buy lunch?
NOPE
Taking your own lunch to school is a great way to keep your gluten-free child safe and healthy while at school.
Overcome the Issues
You can overcome issues of staying gluten-free safe by preparing your own gluten-free lunch to bring to school.
Issues such as:
*cross-contamination in making the lunches served
*having a dedicated space for preparation
*using ingredients that are indeed gluten-free safe
*having staff who understand safe GF food service
Prepared and Pre-planned
Staying gluten-free safe can be a big challenge when purchasing lunch at school.
Yet, the benefits of taking your own gluten-free lunch to school, or work for that matter, far outweigh not doing so.
And, with a little practice, you can create this healthy habit in your home.
Things to check to safely survive
*Check with your school to see what regulations are in place for your child to eat safely, especially if you plan on purchasing anything prepared in school.
No offense to the school cafeteria, my children have always brought their own lunch to school. This is our way to keep everyone safe and healthy.
*What gluten-free options do they offer?
*What protocol do they have in place for safely preparing the food to cut out cross-contamination?
When you are in charge of what you’re eating, you know what’s in your food and how it’s prepared.
The school may serve gluten-free options, but cross-contamination may still be an issue.
*Do they train the staff on gluten and other food allergies to keep the students healthy and safe?
If the people preparing the food do not understand all that goes into preparing a safe GF meal, this does not work in your favor.
*Are they offering healthy options so students have the energy and stamina to get through the day?
Too many schools are still serving chicken nuggets and other fast food junk. Adding in a veggie does not make that meal healthier. We all know the kids throw out the peas anyway, right?
You have every right to talk to the school cafeteria staff to see what they have in place. Start with the principal first.
Bringing your own gluten-free lunch
When children pick what they eat, they are more likely to finish their lunch – when they aren’t too busy talking to their friends!
Have your children help prepare their lunches.
As they get older, they should be able to take care of this on their own.
Preparing most of it the night before is a huge help. In the morning, add the last-minute items to their bag.
If you have teens in the house, label any items you are taking to school so NO ONE eats their food the night before for a snack! Yes, this has happened at our house!
Plan it out
Before school starts, brainstorm lunch options with your family. Make a list and pin it up in the kitchen.
Use the list to plan lunches for the week. This helps to have the ingredients needed so everyone is happy. It definitely beats, “There’s nothing to take for lunch!”
Create your Lunch List
with your family
Start by brainstorming your favorite meals and things the kids like to eat. Stick to main meal items first. Then, add in fruits and veggies for snacks as well as healthier snack options like olives, date balls, or a homemade muffin to complete the lunch.
Keep the list in the pantry or
on a kitchen bulletin board
Each week, plan the lunches to for school. Then, create a shopping list before you head to the store or Farmer’s Market.
You can also reverse that to save money. By buying items on sale, you can save by creating lunches with the food you purchased.
On Sunday, start by preparing some items for lunch ahead of time. Cut up veggies for snacks or make a fruit salad. Making rice or quinoa on the weekend is also a time saver during the week. Cooking burgers and freezing them is also a good option.
Anything you can prepare ahead of time can save you time during the week, especially on early mornings or late nights.
When school is in session, do your best to make lunches the night before. In the morning, just grab the last-minute items, and you are good to go.
You will feel better about what your child is eating by preparing lunches together at home.
Planning helps make better choices and can help keep your child healthier and more alert in class throughout the school year!
By taking your own
gluten-free school lunch . . .
*you are creating better health for your child = fewer school days missed by eating healthier options
*they are more likely to eat lunch when they choose and help prepare their food
*you are keeping them gluten-free safe with less worrying about cross-contamination or eating food that may contain gluten
*they will be nourished and pay better attention in class by eating healthier options = nourished body & nourished brain
Create safety and health
for your child at school
Check out our
25 ideas to take for school lunch
(works for office lunches too!)
Grab our Hidden Gluten Guide
for more steps on keeping safe & healthy
