Gluten-Free Lunch Box

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Mihiri Udabage My son has a wheat allergy, so gluten is out for us. He has a lot of allergies, some much more dangerous than the wheat allergy, but I have often said, if I could make one allergy magically disappear overnight, it would be the wheat allergy. Why? Because when you look closely, wheat is in so many things. It’s so frustrating, especially when compounded by other allergies like egg and nuts, because these foods are often used as substitutes for wheat in gluten-free foods.

Over the years (we are nearly five years down the track), I have been so happy with the ever-growing number of gluten-free products on the market. Even supermarket stores like Woolworths and Coles have a pretty good range these days. Not surprisingly, many gluten-free bakeries are popping up, started by mothers and fathers of kids with allergies, or people with coeliac disease. Born from necessity, I really admire that these people are bringing more and more choices to families like us.
Mihiri Udabage

My son is about to start school, and out of many worries a mother has when sending her youngest to school, a main concern of mine is what to put in his lunchbox. A regular sandwich won’t be possible.

Over the school holidays we have been trialling a few options. Successful so far:

Rice paper rolls - you can buy packets of rice paper from the Asian food section. Fill it with vegetable or meat fillings, and pack it in a suitable container that will keep cold (I use Thermos Food Jars as you can get them very cold in the freezer before putting the food in, and they will stay cold for hours).

Gluten-free bread, made into a toasted sandwich with ham or chicken. I find normal gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free bread cannot be eaten as a sandwich, it generally requires toasting or it is too hard. We bought a neat little sandwich maker for one, keep it just for his food, and once toasted, the bread softens up nicely and makes a decent sandwich.

Gluten-free pizza – I have a great bakery I go to that makes pizza bases. Made in the morning, topped with ham and soy cheese, and packaged well, the pizza makes a great alternative to a sandwich.

Hot lunches can be sent, again using a suitable container that keeps food warm (I use the Thermos Food Jar)

Then there are the usual suspects like carrot sticks and fruit. I wish he’d eat a salad, but he won’t (your children might!).

And a main strategy will be to send him off with a huge breakfast, so if all else fails, he won’t be starving if he just eats his snacks.

I would love to get more suggestions or tips from you. If you have any, please share them below in the comments section.

Thanks

Mihiri xx

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Mihiri Udabage is a 30-something mother of two, now feeling old enough to use terms like 30-something. She loves Sundays more than Saturdays but is grateful for both. She hates ironing. In between growing up two little citizens, Mihiri spends time working on her on-line Fair Trade and Organic business www.generationwonder.com, volunteering for global charity Room to Read, doing canteen duty at school, and entering Fun Runs she has no hope of actually running. Mihiri has a husband who thinks she is loopy but who supports her anyway. She wishes she had written Twilight but acknowledges that could never happen because she can never remember her dreams. However, Mihiri is about to enrol in a screenwriting course that will see her write a movie that will knock Twilight for a six. Mihiri continues to dream...

15 Comments

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rizoleey makes this comment

Friday, 22 January 2010

I always had a fridge and microwave in my classroom, a couple of kids with special foods needs kept their lunches in their. I never minded heating up leftovers etc We are a community and need to help one another. Kids love food on sticks, meats, veg, or fruits. Youghurt is always filling. I loved eating rice made with fruit juice as a sweet treat. Tuckshop ladies will heat food you leave in the freezer with special insturctions. My mum is one and does it all the time. It is to expensive for her to order in for just a couple of kids but she orders the box of gf food from the whole saler and sells it to the mums for cost and then prepares it for the kids once a week as a treat. (she would do it every day but the mums only want it once a week)
Cheryl H makes this comment

Friday, 22 January 2010

My granddaughter's school allows her to have a microwave in the classroom, leftovers from dinner can be reheated for her lunch. I make a roulade, similar to a savory sponge, in a swiss roll tin, cover it with a mix of any of the following - tuna, chicken, ham, grated cheese,grated carrot, zucchini etc, bind it with GF mayo, roll it up, cut into slices. I make biscuits using dried fruit that I soften in fruit juice then put in the food processor (easier to eat and I can add dates, prunes and other high fibre fruits)these are filling and healthy too, marinated chicken wings, sausages in a gf wrap.sushi The important thing is to have variety so they dont get bored with the same things
Nadine makes this comment

Saturday, 23 January 2010

We lived in a house for 5 years that was contaminated with mould (dodgy plumbing). We all got very sick. I became allergic to most wheat products, sugar, etc. I had chronic urticaria, angioedema and sinusitis. We all got asthma. I went into anaphylactic shock after taking penicillin. I had two mercury fillings removed "just in case" and took a liquid zeolite product. Suddenly my urticaria disappeared (hives, swelling of lips). I was able to eat chocolate that week for the first time in months. Most bread still made my tongue tingle. We then found out the problem was mould. We moved out. Now, 5 months down the track, we still take the zeolite product. I can have all wheat products. Perhaps check whether your family's health problems began after a change of address etc.
Julie makes this comment

Saturday, 23 January 2010

Don't forget the super easy and CHEAP option of the Gluten Free rice cakes, my children love them!! We like the Tomato and Basil ane the Vintage cheese and onion the best, but plain is pretty good.
Fruit salad, and rice salads are also great. Baked beans (the GF ones) is also an OK option, I put in a little goats fetta and basil to make it tasty.
Quinoa fluffed up with a variety of vegies is also nice alternative, but too expensive to do it often, but it is super!
Kylie Hollonds makes this comment

Monday, 25 January 2010

Hi Mihir,

I would love to offer you some wonderful solutions at my websites www.wheatfree.com.au and www.whatcanieat.com.au, we have some lunch box ideas there, recipes and some great articles.

Kind regards
Kylie
Wendy makes this comment

Tuesday, 26 January 2010

Unfortunately I have a child who has recently been diagnosed with an extremely high 'intolerance' to Baker's Yeast. (It's not like I have been sitting on my hands for the last 7yrs. It's just getting someone to listen!) I too struggle with the lunchbox dilemna. I didn't realise how much of what we consume, includes Baker's yeast. Many of the 'flat' breads/Lebanese breads, crackers.... contain Baker's yeast. Prior to embarking on a yeast freee diet, I had her on a gluten free diet. This seemed to help, but I knew there was more to it. Besides, as Mihiri said, there are plenty of things that can be eaten, if not in need of a wheat free diet. Little Miss 7 is my 5th child, so it's not like I hadn't been through a barrage of child-related adventures, both with health and food :0)
I wish Mihiri luck on her 'food' journey. Rightly so, IGA, Coles and Woolworths are really coming 'on-board'. Thankyou for you lunchbox suggestions.
Wendy :0}
Ann-Marie Workman makes this comment

Wednesday, 27 January 2010

Chin up Mihiri - you aren't the only one!
My 10 month old son is also allergic to wheat - but it doesn't stop there! He's allergic to milk, soy, peanuts, eggs and tuna also - with more tests booked for 18months old, to determine if there are more allergies. Now that he is a bit older, I am struggling to make him 'normal' meals to eat with the family, instead of the basic fruit, veg and meat puree's. Pasta salad cooked with gf free pasta can be eaten cold, and also spaghetti, with the same gf pasta. Apart from that, I'm kinda at a loose end - any suggestions placed on the board would be greatly appreciated!
Mihiri makes this comment

Saturday, 30 January 2010

I would love it if there was a fridge no hand to use - I will investigate. And one day a week, I will be the tuckshop lady so that;s one day sorted! Thanks as always for sharing.
mihiri makes this comment

Sunday, 31 January 2010

Hi Ann-Marie, we have about the same allergies - go figure! At the age of 4, my son has outgrown soy and is also now eating fish. Yippee! With these allergies - we make a lot of rice product based dishes - rice, rice noodles, rice pasta. Also meat and 3 veg is good. I bake chicken, and do casseroles. I can make a chicken schnitzel with gluten-free breadcrumbs. If your son will tolerate spicy food, curries are actually a pretty good cuisine as you don't need to use any dairy (use coconut milk instead of yoghurt). Also I have found the gluten-free pastas not bad at all. For sweets, the latest thing i have found in Woolies is a coconut and mango ice-cream (actually quite creamy). They are in individual servings, unfrozen. It's in the section where you buy Quelch sticks and ice cream cones etc. Try and find a gluten-free bakery near you. Apart from the bread, they are always inventing new things to eat. Good luck to you.
Tracey makes this comment

Sunday, 31 January 2010

I have 3 children that require gluten and milk free diets....one school has a gluten free take away menu..pies, roasts, grilled fish, salads etc...the other school will heat a pie if they can purchase them. Other than the above ideas...we do like apple studels in the snack maker with gluten free bread, tin pie apple, cinamon and sugar.....these are good hot too. Other fillings like bacon and egg, baked beans, spagetti, etc are good too...home made wraps are softer than the bought ones...can do a simple wrap by whisking an egg and frying it like a pancake and wrap any filling in it, they are also nice made out of my bread mix and water untl quite runny..it makes a thin soft wrap...they are great to eat fresh as a salad wrap, we are going to see how they go this week in lunch boxes. Mini egg and bacon pies are good.(no pastry) zuchini slice, hot dogs in winter in a thermos, sweet and sour Kanton chicken stir fry on a bed of rice is also popular(yes cold),
Tracey makes this comment

Sunday, 31 January 2010

Toasted soy cheese and mighty might sandwhiches are a regular favourite. One likes taking tubs of sliced chicken (KR Brand) or a tub of Salami (they have a fridge in the classroom to put their lunch in) Small tins of savoury tuna and salmon used to be popular until kids said it smells!!!
Nicci makes this comment

Thursday, 20 January 2011

I have a 6 year old son with ceoliac's he have severe reaction to gluten. The school lunch box has been a challenge. try som of the following
cherry tomatoes
GF tinned spagetti
rice cakes
Rice paper with spring roll mixture eg noodles carrots mince (my son loves these cold)
potato & cheese muffins (mashed potato and cheese 1 egg mix to gether and place into miffin tins) add bacon chives corn really anything you like to add
pastry free quiche
Tuna in gluten free wraps (damen thes in water & microwave for 10 seconds makes roll wraps easier)
fruit salad
hard boiled eggs are good to
good luck
Sadie makes this comment

Saturday, 19 March 2011

If you don't have a problem with eggs, then eggs baked in ham is nice to add to a lunchbox and quite filling too. Basically brush some oil/butter into a muffin tin, arrange some thinly sliced ham in them to hold the egg and break an egg into each cup. Bake in a 200C pre-heated oven for 12-15 mins or until done to your liking. It is really tasty cold as well, and you can add some cheese too.

If eggs are a problem, I've read that using cream cheese instead of egg to bind pastry using GF flour works well.

Using lettuce leaves to wrap fillings in like chicken and GF mayo is very tasty as well! I like the rice paper idea though will give it a try - thanks
Sharon makes this comment

Thursday, 02 June 2011

HI Mihiri, from the first words of your blog I thought I was reading my own thoughts. I have a child with numerous allergies. He is 6 years old and allergic to wheat, eggs, nuts, sesame, barley, rye and recently discovered prawns.
When my son was about to start school I was constantly worrying about what I'm going to give him for lunch. At first I would pack him corn thins and put ham and cheese in a separate container which he had to put together himself to create a 'cracker sandwich'.
For the last year I have been giving him gluten and egg free bread sandwiches. He told me he liked them but this morning he told me he isn't enjoying the sandwiches anymore.
I am now hunting around for new ideas. I might give the rice rolls a try. Can these be prepared the night before and kept in the fridge? He also isn't a fan of fruit and veg which makes things harder.
Also can you please tell me when you sent your son toasted sandwiches or pizza was he happy to eat them cold?
Wendy makes this comment

Monday, 13 June 2011

Just read all your comments and thought this app on your iphone (android version only days away) may help you with some entertaining/meal ideas. It if fantastic. 10 recipes on the free verion and 120 recipes on paid version. Search allergy free entertaining. Mel also has a website and a range of food products in the supermarkets called Melinda's Gluten-Free Goodies, found in the health food section. Mel is my niece and she has suffered many allergies since childhood and has three small children of her own so maybe her ideas may help. She is also on the sugar free diet and has lost 24 kgs in twelve months...she is amazing. My teenage daughter and I are starting our journey with out sugar and only on day 3 we are going great guns. Just think savory but hard with other allergies so we think we are luck to be doing this by choice and not necessity.
Good luck everyone.

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