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Thank you to Linda @ Gluten Free Homemaker for putting together such a great event! Linda has pooled together 10 experts who each have chosen an area to focus on for daily, brief tips relating to starting or maintaining a gluten free lifestyle. You will need to visit each individual blog to see their daily tips and advise. I am happy to be participating and will be sharing tips on lunchboxes and snacks!
Here are the topics I’ve covered in this series of lunchboxes: Reusable Lunchbox Wares, Sweet GF Wrap Ideas, Packing a Balanced Lunchbox, Stocking Up w/ an Oatmeal Snack Cookie, Lunch on a Stick, GF DF Dips & Spreads for a Lunchbox, 10 GF Wrap Ideas, Making Use of Leftovers, Muffins & Waffles for a Lunchbox?!, Top Foods for a Healthy Lunchbox,
Today’s Theme: Making Use of Leftovers
Seems like such a simple idea, but the vast majority of people brown-bagging it do not bring leftovers for lunch. Lots of schools and workplaces give access to microwaves for reheating (if necessary or preferred). Using leftovers in your lunchbox is fabulous for a couple of reasons:
- EFFICIENCY: You cook once, and eat at least twice – no brainer!
- NOT WASTEFUL: By making use of your leftovers, you keep edible food out of the landfill, sacrilege!
- PRIDE: You get enjoy your culinary prowess more than once (ok, this may be far-fetched and silly, but I sincerely look forward to some days of leftovers!)
They key is using recipe that pack well in a lunchbox, because lets face it, last nights green salad isn’t going to be all that appetizing in today’s lunch! Here are a list of 5 dinners that are easy to make and taste great for days afterwards! And if you use my “lunchbox friendly” tag/category, you’ll find even more!
- Oven-Fried Chicken (good cold too, as most roasted chicken pieces are!)
- Tex-Mex Pasta/Salad (good hot or cold)
- Healthier Meatloaf (good as a main course, or stuffed in a sandwich or wrap too!)
- Easy Cuban Picadillo (would also be good in a wrap)
- Arroz con Pollo (a natural in wrap form too)
Don’t forget to visit each blog to see other helpful advise and hints!
Getting Started – Linda @ The Gluten-Free Homemaker
Resources – Wendy @ Celiacs in the House
Traveling – Karen @ Gluten-Free Travel Blog
Eating Out – Heather @ Gluten-Free Cat
Frugal Tips – Janelle @ Gluten Freely Frugal
Cooking – Carrie @ Ginger Lemon Girl
Baking – Jules @ Jules Gluten Free
Kids – Lynn @ Lynn’s Recipe Adventures
Shopping – Laura @ Gluten Free Pantry
“10 Days of Gluten Free” Bob’s Red Mill Giveaway!
For this series, I will be offering one lucky reader a $25 Bob’s Red Mill gift card! Here are the rules:
- This giveaway is limited to U.S. residents 18 and older.
- You are allowed one entry per “10 Days of Gluten Free” blog post for a total of 10 entries on this blog.
- Enter by leaving a comment (WITH an email address to contact you) on this post (and other 10 Days of GF posts).
- The giveaway begins May 7, 2012 and ends at 11:59 pm eastern time on May 18, 2012.
- Odds of winning are based on the number of entries.
- The winner will be randomly chosen and will be contacted by email.
- The winner will have 48 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond, a new winner will be randomly chosen!
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When her third child was born with severe food allergies, Tessa took to the kitchen to figure out how to feed her family well. Always up for a culinary challenge, their journey has taken many twists and turns! Lots of Paleo, and lots of top 8 free. Good food for families, that's what she's about!
I married a Cuban. The Arroz con Pollo and Picadillo are recipes after his own heart!
I can bet Katrina!
That oven-fried chicken looks delicious – sounds just right for a summer picnic lunch!
Maybe it’s a little boring – but I use my leftovers to make tomorrow’s lunch salad. That way it’s not exaclty like I’m eating the same thing twice in a row.
Yeah, I did this with some quinoa I made for tacos. I ran out of the other taco ingredients so I used it in salads. It was so good. I tend to try to keep my layers separate so I can use them in other things. Especially if I find that I don’t like my creation. Than I can mix it with other things (and everything keeps their original tastes).
i love your creativity Caitlin!
THANKS for the recipes and ideas
Our problem with packing leftovers is not so much the lack of reheating, but the lack of refrigerator. It is very hot here most of the year and we’ve tried the little ice packs but they just can’t stand up to several hours in a backpack.
i always make enough for left overs. Makes it easy for the next days meals also.
I eat leftovers all the time.
great ideas, thanks
I am the queen of leftovers, it is a very rare thing if I actually have to make something for lunch.
I fix plates in the kitchen instead of serving family style, so I make sure I have enough of the main course leftover for another meal. Many times I put it in the freezer so I don’t have to cook on our days off. Your recipes look really good.
I love leftover baked sweet potatoes. I will saute some veggies, throw in some leftover meat some leftover noodles and some chopped up baked sweet potato and a little grated cheese salt and pepper, one of my favorite lunches!
We love leftovers but found GF rice pasta gets hard in a cold pasta salad the next day. In fact, very hard. Any suggestions to other types that don’t get hard?
You know Donna, I haven’t had that issue with this salad…but I know exactly what your’re talking about. I have more of an issue with gf noodles getting soggy if stored in a liquid. If you’re worried abut it, this would be good with just about any grain, quinoa and brown rice come to mind first!
Since I don’t eat meat, I won’t be trying any of these recipes, however I always fins a little tid bit of info from posts like this, or a new blog I’d like to read, so thanks!
These look so yummy! Thanks for the ideas and recipes.
These look good! I usually do use leftovers for lunch.
Nothing better than leftovers for lunch!
Thanks for the recipes. These look delicious!
caralg520@gmail.com
Good post. I’m trying to be better about intentionally using up leftovers quickly – after 1 or 2 days my husband won’t touch them!
mine rarely touches them at all unfortunately….it’s MY lunch!
my husband would love the Healthier Meatloaf
I admit I’m not that into some leftovers but my husband is so more for him.