Packing lunches for my daughter was at one time a pretty easy task; one I even managed to accomplish before going to bed. Being that she was a picky eater, I had my old standbys and they served me well. But that all changed when she was diagnosed with a chronic disease related to inconclusive food allergy testing. We had to immediately eliminate dairy, soy, wheat, egg, fish, seafood, tree nuts, and peanuts. I completely and totally freaked out (if you saw me crying in the grocery store, I apologize) and then I got to work. The trickiest part is not just making food that your child CAN eat, it’s making food that they WILL eat.
The good news is that packing lunches can still be easy; it’s just that you have to find new standbys without breaking the bank. The best advice that I received was “Don’t try to find like items for old favorites (because they’ll never be the same or they will cost an arm and a leg); find new favorites!”
Tips and Tricks:
Try new foods at home before you pack them in a lunch. Food can be very emotional for an allergic child; limit surprises.
Pack an extra snack. I pack a granola bar. You never know when there might be a class celebration that includes foods that your child can’t have or a shortage of snacks that your child’s school usually provides.
Gluten-free carbs do not last like others. Make sure that your bags are sealed tight and put your breads in the freezer within two days. Microwave each slice for about 30 seconds for an instant thaw.
Split single containers of more expensive processed foods like alternate yogurts. Add fresh fruit or granola at mealtime to get more bang for your buck.
Alternate milks can be fun! Especially while your child is adjusting to the taste of new milks, try different varieties and add chai concentrate or syrups to create fun new warm or cold drinks.
Do not stock up unless you know it’s a hit. It doesn’t matter how many great reviews or recommendations you get; make sure that it works for your family.
Get out there! I have about six different types of grocery stores on my usual routes and I have investigated every last one of them to see what they have to offer. There is a lot
more out there than you think, from pre- made to bulk ingredients (purple rice was a nice surprise); you just have to know where to get it. Allergyeats.com is a great site for determining which local restaurants can cater to your needs.
Get out your apron. Here is your opportunity to nourish your child with food that you made from scratch. Be careful when making gluten-free baked goods; they tend to scorch. Check out glutenfreegoddess. blogspot.com, nourishingmeals.com, and even your favorite recipe sites for allergen- friendly recipes and substitutions.
Ideas for a Packed Lunch
Mains: Lundburg rice cake with seed/nut butter and fruit/spread/sunspire chocolate chips, meat on New Cascadia allergen-
free bread/bagel with mustard/vegenaise, meat and veggie roll ups, Daiya “cheese” quesadillas, quinoa noodles with olive oil and nutritional yeast, brown rice with chicken breast and coconut aminos, quinoa with steamed veggies.
Sides: Applesauce, sliced/dried veggies/ fruits, veggies with hummus, air pop with melted coconut oil and sea salt, roasted seaweed, allergen-free crackers/chips, yogurt and fruit/granola, trail mix with seeds/nuts/ fruit/sunspire chocolate chips, Nature’s Path granola bar.
Drinks: Fruit smoothies, chocolate almond milk, orange juice, iced green tea, sparkling water.
Guilty Pleasures: Newman’s Own wheat and dairy free sandwich cookies, Jello cook and serve pudding made with coconut milk, gluten-free rice krispie treats made with Nucoa buttery sticks, The Craving’s Place Ooey Gooey Chocolatey Chewy brownies.
I found the most success playing with color and texture and making my daughter’s lunches something fun to open. Special containers, utensils, and lunch bags and putting fresh foods in her lunch really did the trick. Now that she feels better, she better understands how important it is to nourish her body properly. Food allergies certainly are not easy, but they are like any other adventure; full of possibility, discovery, and maybe even fun.
