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In celebration of Celiac Awareness Month, Linda @ Gluten Free Homemaker has put together a great event full of resources! Linda has pooled together 10 experts who each have chosen an area to focus on for daily, brief tips relating to starting and/or maintaining a gluten free lifestyle. You will need to visit each individual blog to see their daily tips and advise.
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,
I am happy to be participating and will be sharing tips on lunchboxes and snacks! Here are the participating bloggers who will also be posting daily:
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
My goal for this series is to help people realize gluten-free lunches and snacks can still be great! I hope to provide you with ideas that will help spice up YOUR daily fare with something you may not have thought of before. Going gluten free is not a jail sentence: it’s an opportunity to take care of yourself and feed yourself real, nourishing, and new foods. Come along these next two weeks as we explore: Gluten Free Lunchboxes and Snacks!
“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!
- This giveaway is limited to U.S. residents 18 and older (sorry UK , Canadian, and Australian readers!)
- 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 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.
No Purchase necessary. Odds are based on the number of entries. Winner will be selected randomly using random.org as soon as this series concludes. Winners will be contacted via email!
One of our favorite lunchbox stuffers: Homemade Lara Bars!
Today’s Theme: Packing a Balanced Lunchbox & Getting Started!
When I first started on a my regular lunchbox packing endeavor, I knew I needed some tools to help me. Kids are hard to feed sometimes, at least well, and lets be honest: whether packing a lunch for yourself or for your kids, we all get stuck in ruts and do the same things over and over again! I am here to help you spice it up, keep it interesting, and most importantly, keep it BALANCED!! A body needs a little bit of everything to work and learn it’s best. Here are some strategies to help you get started:
- FOOD GROUP CHECK LIST: We discovered a ready made list of all the food groups, with example foods listed below them (protein, wholegrain, fruit, vegetable, treat). We have added and deleted foods to make it personal for our tastes, but this little check list is GREAT for taking the think out of busy morning lunch box stuffing. And best of all? My kids pick which items they want to go in, one from each category.
- STOCK UP: On the weekends (or whenever) we pick some recipes to make for lunchboxes. We have our very own lunchbox cookbook that my kids fill with recipes THEY like. The notebook is divided into the same food categories from the chart mentioned above. They get to pick! I wrap individual portions up and store them in the freezer so I can quickly grab and throw them in the lunchbox in the morning.
- EASY BUTTONS: Don’t underestimate the convenience of buying pre-washed and chopped vegetable and fruits….it is nice to have an easy button every once in awhile! Occasionally we can find great deals on healthy bars and pre-packaed items. Have you ever check out Amazon’s Warehouse deals? Inventory changes daily, but great deals are to be had on lots of great gluten free items!
- DOUBLE DUTY ICE PACK: Freezing healthy smoothies in small portions is a great way to keep lunches cool and fresh, and provide a yummy treat loaded with goodies!
- IDEAS: This is an excellent series I have used for lunchbox inspiration. While many items aren’t allergy friendly, much of it easily adaptable.
- IDEAS: Kim over at Cook It Allergy Free also has a great printable list of over 50 allergy-friendly lunchbox ideas.
- IDEAS! I have a handy category/tag of lunchbox friendly items, another good place to go for food inspiration.
I will be sharing lots of recipes from here on out, so please come back tomorrow for some new and creative ways to fill your gluten free lunchbox!
Tomorrow’s theme: 10 Gluten Free Wrap ideas!
This post was shared over at Monday Mania, Things That make You Say MMM, Creative Corner, Real Food 101, Make Your Own Monday, Better Mom’s Monday Linky, Mix It Up Monday, Melt In Your Mouth Monday, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday, Tasty Tuesdays, Fat Tuesdays, Hearth & Soul, Pennywise Platter, Fight Back Friday, Fresh Bites Friday,
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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!
What an awesome giveaway!
This is a great list Tessa! Lunch is one of the biggest areas I struggle with as I work full time and commute. We generally try to always have leftovers for lunch, but that’s not always feasible, especially if i fail to cook the night before! I look forward to your tips and suggestions through this series! (not a drawing entry! just commenting!)
Thanks for the lunch ideas! I’m packing 3+ lunches every day and new lunch resources are always helpful!
I am looking forward to getting some good ideas for lunches as I am in a “bring a yogurt to work” rut.
Thanks for the tips! I pack DS’s lunch every day, and while he isn’t completely G-free yet, we are working that way. New ideas are always welcome – as are Bob’s Red Mill products!
A quick question: What do you pack your homemade smoothies in to freeze them? DS loved a smoothie I made for breakfast the other day, but I’m not sure how to pack it for his lunch.
I’ve done it several ways, but I usually like to freeze it in a small BPA free container with an airtight lid. When there is more matter frozen solid, it takes longer to thaw!
Tessa – I’m so excited about your lunch ideas as its been something I’ve been meaning to spend time thinking/planning for. I definately need help with lunchtime! We homeschool so I don’t have to pack lunch in the morning, but when lunchtime rolls around I often find myself standing in the kitchen feeling clueless. These ideas should definately get me started. Thanks!
Thanks for the (future) postings! They are going to so come in handy!
Great post,Tessa!!
This is perfect. i don’t have kids but I have been eating the same thing for lunch for two months now because it is just easier to do something that you know works, and fills you up. I will try your suggestions for spicing up my lunch each day and I look forward to the many new ideas I find.
Thank you.
Great ideas, Tessa. I really like Ali’s food group list. Thanks for covering this topic. I know it can be a challenge for a lot of people.
I’m so excited about your series! I pack a gluten-free lunch Monday through Friday, and I’m always looking for ways to step outside of my ruts. Looking forward to your tips!
Great information – for kids and adults
it will be super good to win this giveaway!!!
Fabulous post Tessa! I am going to use some of these great tips for my daughter this Fall when she goes off to Kindergarten if we want to do any picnics before or after her school. She loves her lunchbox and I love packing healthy food into it!
great article, thanks
i think gluten free lunches can be a struggle, it is easy to get in a rut! thanks for the great post.
can’t wait to see what you come up with these 10 days!
Thanks for helping with the lunchbox rut
your ideas are so much better than my leftovers or nuthin choice. thank you!
Thank you for all the wonderful tips! Lunch seems to be the hardest meal for me to get creative with and I’m excited to try out some of your great ideas! What an awesome blog series and giveaway…many thanks!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Thanks for the ideas! Looking forward to trying them!
Wow! Fabulous Giveaway! What would I do without Bob’s Red Mill? I really do NOT know!!!
Thanks for the great info.
This is so helpful. I get into a rut packing lunches…
What a wonderful giveaway! I use MANY of Bob’s Red Mill products on a regular basis. Thank you for the great recipes and ideas!
Wonderful ideas! Hope I win!
Great lunch ideas. Thank you for the giveaway.
The wraps good great, anxious to try them. Thanks.
I’ve been on a smoothie kick lately so this is great. Thanks.
great looking cookies – i quickly pinned it:)
I always need lunch ideas. Thanks!
What a great resource this post is, whether you have food allergies or not! Thank you for sharing it!
Great ideas! Thanks so much for sharing at Mix it up Monday
These look good! Thanks for the tips!
Working my way backwards through the 10 days … Better late than never!
nice ideas! will have to go shopping to try these recipes
great ideas, reminds me i have to go pack a lunch for tomorrow…