Moderated discussion and help for gluten free, coeliac, celiac, wheat allergies or intolerance
actioning query
children's lunch box
Posted by
We have just learn that my 8 year old son is a coeliac. We are doing well keeping him on a gluten free diet. I have tried many of the receipes in Peter's book and the WHOLE FAMILY likes the taste of them. My problem is packing him his school lunch. He does not like the store bought breads and the ones I bake he likes but, not made into a sandwich. So far all I give him in his lunch is slices of ham, fruit, rice cakes and GF biscuts. Do you have any suggestions of what I can put in his lunch? Thanks for any help
Post a reply to this message, or post a new topic
Re: children's lunch box
Posted by
I toast bread first, let it cool down and then make the sandwich as usual. My daughter also likes making sandwiches out of sliced meat, rice crackers and cheese. I am not sure where you are from but in canada we have rice crackers that are very thin circular crackers. Very crunchy
Post a reply to this message, or post a new topic
Re: children's lunch box
Posted by
Thanks Joanne. I will try your suggestions. We live in Ireland and because Ireland seems to be the Coeliac capital of the world we have many different products to choose from. The problem is many of the items don't seem to appeal to my son. I think it is just a matter of getting used to the diet. I have found that he likes for me to make grilled/toasted cheese sandwiches for him. However, when he takes them in his lunch they are rubbery by lunch time. I'll keep trying and welcome all suggestions
Post a reply to this message, or post a new topic
Re: children's lunch box
Posted by Peter
I take packed lunches a lot when I am out walking or going to meetings.
Your son might like to try some of these.
Cold roast potato, cold roast parsnips (my favourite)
cold baked potato with a gluten-free mayonaise
cold cooked rice with sultanas / dates cooked with it.
cold cooked rice with mayonaise (include plastic teaspoon!)
Large slice of fruit cake! This is actualy quite a healthy diet! I use olive oil for cakes in place of the fat, and reduce the sugar.
Gluten-free shortbread - not quite so healthy, but you have to encourage him to stick to the diet. Again I use olive oil in place of fats, make varieties flavoured with cocoa, ginger, cinamon, or anything else I fancy.
Peter
Post a reply to this message, or post a new topic
Re: children's lunch box
Posted by
Thanks Peter! I can use all the help I can get. I just got another suggestion this week. One mother I spoke with told me her daughter loves GF pasta mixed with her favorite vegtables, cheese, ham, and boiled eggs topped with a GF salad dressing. It is lovely served cold
Post a reply to this message, or post a new topic
Re: children's lunch box
Posted by
Hi,
My son likes muffins and banana bread (or any other type breads). I don't try to force or encourage sandwiches. I simply provide the oppportunity if he chooses. 'this way I don't get into food struggles
Post a reply to this message, or post a new topic
Re: children's lunch box
Posted by
My daughter despises the GF bread, so I have to improvise, which is quite difficult as she is quite fussy anyhoo! She did used to like GF pasta (cold) mixed with tomato sauce, but has since gone off it. Nowadays she usually takes: Rice cakes, a mousse/fromage frais, an apple, grapes or melon, crisps, grated cheese and some GF biccies
Post a reply to this message, or post a new topic
Re children's lunch box
Posted by Susan
My 14 year old son is reacting to Gluten but not in his gut but on his skin, huge red scally patches in his hair and eyebrows, same disease different name same treatment(no Gluten) very hard to pack his lunch, trying home made wheat free pita breads, biggest problem is the hungry lion cub who comes home and stands before fridge, cupboard, freezer hoping something good to eat will jump out at him. So I look forward to trying your recipes here down under in West Australia and shareing your web site with fellow Mums of friends children in the same quandry.
Post a reply to this message, or post a new topic
Re children's lunch box
Posted by
My son would not survive with out the GF pasta, boil up a tin of tomatoes with any thing you like in it for sauce, i use chicken or ham and sneak in lots of veg cut up very small. It’s good hot or cold and freezes in to small potions really well too, so you can batch cook it.
I always have plenty of meals and snacks frozen for emergencies, you can microwave alot of stuff from frozen so it's quick as kids are not the most patient people.
Post a reply to this message, or post a new topic
Re children's lunch box
Posted by justine
I go for a smorgasboard approach - dried fruit, cheese wedges, vegetable sticks with hummous/dip, plain popcorn, muffins, GF yogurt/creamed rice, rice crackers and peanut paste, tuna pasta (GF) or chicken salad. And lots of fruit!
Also, if you have time, keep experimenting with GF receipes for biscuits and cakes. There are some great ones out there that the whole family will love.
Post a reply to this message, or post a new topic
Re children's lunch box
Posted by Lorraine Brown
My son is nearly 16 years old and he was diagnosed with coeliacs about 5 months ago now, I am having trouble not knowing what to put in his lunchbox as he doesn't want to take the GF bread to school have you got any suggestions.
Post a reply to this message, or post a new topic
Re children's lunch box
Posted by Peter
I think your starting point must be to ask your son what sort of food he would like to see in his lunch box. Not standing out from his friends can be very important at his age. Getting him fully involved in selecting what goes into his lunch can be the best way of encouraging him to stick to the diet.
Post a reply to this message, or post a new topic
Re children's lunch box
Posted by Wheat Warrior
A great site is www.kinnikinnick.com/. They have the best GF baked goods that I've tasted, and you can stock pile food by freezing it. The Italian White Tapioca Rice Bread is the best for sandwiches, Blueberry muffins are awesome when heated, and the Plain Bagels taste just like ordinary bagels. (I think it's only in the U.S. and Canada though...)
To make a good sandwich, toast the bread first and then put on the filling. Then cut off the crust (it tends to get firm or rubbery when in open air for too long) and wrap the sandwich tightly in celophane. This process should keep the sandwich relatively fresh in a lunch box. DO NOT chill the sandwich afterwards because the bread will be SO GROSS even if you try to reheat it (which makes it worse).
Corn tortilla chips and most plain potato chips are good to include in any lunch. Cheese and crackers is a great and easy alternative to a sandwich. Yogurt, pudding, and jello are tasty and sweet treats. Fruit salad, pasta salad, rice salad, or just salad are all fanastic, filling, and completley full proof.
Cheese and meat roll ups are great too. Take a slice of lunch meat (ham, turkey, chicken) and spread some cream cheese or other spreadable cheese on it. Then roll them up, pop them in a tupperware, and send them on their way! Solid cheese works fine too.
I really encourage baking some of your own foods too. It's fun after a while, and you can actually make food you want to have, not food you have to have. There are many awesome GF cook books out there using everyday ingredients. Also, research natural grocery stores in your area. Some have gluten free bakeries right on site. My favorite store is Whole Foods Market which has many options for GF. Some major grocery stores (such as Bashas) are also jumping on the wagon and providing easier to find gluten free goods. If you do a little hunting, you'll find specialty foods hidden in many chain stores.
The key is to keep gluten free food as fresh as possible. Wrap and seal foods tightly to keep the little moisture they have from escaping. It makes a world of difference. The other key is to go natural. Adding a few more servings of fruit and veggies into any meal will fill you up and keep you healthy. The gluten free diet takes getting used to, but you'll really feel better and healthier in the long run.
Post a reply to this message, or post a new topic
Re: children's lunch box
Posted by Josie
Cold g.f. sausages are an excellent filling addition to kids g.f. lunch boxes. I also make batches of muffins with g.f. muffin mix, adding signficant amounts of mashed banana, sesame seeds, rice bran, millet and other wholegrain g.f. cereals. The banana seems to really improve the texture (allow two bananas for each batch) and I think the wholegrains are necessary to make sure you're getting enough magnesium, fibre etc that you'd normally be getting from wholegrain bread.
The other thing I do is make sure my kids have a substantial breakfast before school e.g. today rice flakes with rice milk, kiwifruit and a boiled egg. Some days they have g.f. buckwheat pasta with g.f. baked beans and a good teaspoon of oil (oil is really important if they are not eating butter/margarine).