It’s almost time to go back to school! Packing a school lunch can be a fast and fun way to have your kids help in the kitchen. School season can be very stressful, but having some easy go-to lunch ideas can make the mornings go by so much smoother.
Sometimes the hardest part of packing a lunch is deciding what to pack! Mornings can be hectic and you never know what might happen. Packing ahead or having ideas can help take some of the pressure off in the morning. Here are a few lunch ideas for the back-to-school season, from snacks to desserts.
Snacks Are Essential
Snacks are an essential part of any good lunch! They can be enjoyed with your lunch, after school, or at work. Anything can be a snack, but here are some of our favorite snack ideas that can be made in advance for a quick throw in a lunch bag.
Wedge Potatoes (regular & sweet potato)
Potatoes are always a fan favorite, with kids and adults alike. Potatoes can be made in many different ways, but one of our favorites is wedge potatoes! Potatoes are sliced into wedges, seasoned, and then baked. Yes, it’s that easy! You can also do this with sweet potatoes, or any potato you like.
Fruit
Strawberries, blueberries, bananas, oranges, what do they all have in common? They’re fruit! Fruit is an awesome healthy snack. You can pre-wash, cut, and dry, or eat it how it comes! Fruit is the perfect addition to any lunch and can add nutritional value.
Yogurt
Do you know what goes great with fruit? Yogurt. Yogurt can be great by itself or paired with fruit and gluten-free granola. You can also make a yogurt parfait! The creaminess of the yogurt, the sweetness of the fruit, and the crunchiness of the gluten-free granola equals the best snack!
Chopped Veggies & GF Dipping Sauce
Vegetables, while not everyone’s favorite, paired with the right dipping sauce can be a game changer! Veggies can be cut and prepared in advance. They tend to hold well when stored properly. There are many different dips that veggies go well with. One of our favorites is gluten-free ranch. You can also pair with hummus, or cottage cheese, which are both naturally gluten-free.
Packed Lunches
We have snacks and sides, so what about the main course? Lunch can be difficult, and sometimes it’s easier to just pack a sandwich with gluten-free bread, but if you’re looking to spice up your lunch rotation, these are for you.
Gluten-Free Meatballs
Meatballs. A classic, and kid-favorite. While it can be easier to have frozen meatballs on the go, making homemade Swedish Meatballs is unmatched. If you’re still not convinced, you can make these ahead of time and freeze them! Perfect for an everyday lunch, or you can pair them with pasta.
Gluten-Free Pasta Salad
Speaking of pasta, our gluten-free pasta salad is amazing. You can prepare it in advance and munch on it for the rest of the week! Pasta salad is easy and refreshing. The good thing about pasta salad is that you can follow the recipe or add anything you want to it.
Gluten-Free Pizza
Pizza is also a kid’s favorite. Gluten-free pizza crust is easy to make at home! It can be a great pre-made lunch. The pizza crust does take around an hour to make so we recommend making it the night before. In the morning you can heat it or pack it cold. The options are endless on what you can add on top!
Lettuce Wrap Sandwich
If you like sandwiches but not the bread, this one’s for you. Everything that would go into a sandwich, meat, cheese, pickles, tomatoes, you name it, can go in this wrap! It‘s almost the same as making a sandwich except the lettuce is on the outside. A lettuce wrap sandwich is the perfect quick morning packable lunch. Just remember a napkin!
Homemade Lunchables
Apart from a main lunch and side snacks you can also make a homemade lunchable! They are fun to make and kid-approved. They can consist of anything you want, but here are some ideas of what to include in your homemade lunchable.
Gluten-free crackers in a homemade Lunchable are a staple. You can customize what GF crackers you add and how many! Here is a list of some of the best. This is the nice part about doing it yourself. You then can add any meats and cheeses you’d like. You could use ham or turkey paired with cheddar or pepper jack cheese.
Another addition you can add to your homemade Lunchable is mixed nuts or dried fruits. You can even add both! A salty and sweet snack to add to your lunchable. Homemade lunchables are a straightforward and trouble-free lunch to make.
Desserts
To top it all off, dessert. The great ending to every lunch, or even just a midday snack. Adding something sweet can be a great way to end a lunch. The possibilities are endless, but here are a few ideas!
Gluten-Free Blueberry Tea Bread
Did someone say blueberries? Yes! Gluten-free blueberry tea bread is the perfect grab-and-go, easily packable bread for a school lunch. The sweetness of the blueberries and a crunchy top tie the bread together nicely. You can wrap it up or put it in a container.
Gluten-Free Scones
Crispy on the outside, tender and warm on the inside. Gluten-free scones are for more than just tea. They are super simple to make and only take about 20 minutes! Having these after a healthy and hearty lunch hits the spot.
Gluten-Free Apple Crisp
A Good apple crisp is the key to the perfect lunch! It’s packable and can be eaten cold. Our gluten-free apple crisp has the softness of the apples with a crunch on top. Dessert is an important part of any lunch, this apple crisp will leave you wanting another piece.
Gluten-Free Chocolate Sandwiches
Who doesn’t like chocolate? Our gluten-free chocolate sandwiches are the best dessert for a packed lunch! They are lightweight and can easily be wrapped or packed. Think Oreos but gluten-free and homemade.
We hope you enjoyed our favorite lunch ideas, and hopefully, you can find some things you and even the kids can enjoy this back-to-school season! We hope life is going well and that life tastes good again! Don’t forget you get Free Shipping on all orders for $45+ so be sure to stock up on your favorite mixes like brownies, cornbread, and pancake and waffle mix!
