I usually like to try to send a bread or cracker item (carbohydrate), a source of protein (meat, nuts, yogurt, egg, etc.), a fruit and/or vegetable serving, and a sweet treat. (Ben knows this so well, that he packs his own lunches!) Here are Ben and Nathan's suggestions to get you started...
NOTE: I bake things ahead, so that I have a freezer full of tasty treats (breads, cookies, bars, muffins, etc.) that can be pulled out and sent in a lunch at a moment's notice. This makes it possible to send a variety of things throughout the week, without having to be in the kitchen all day!
Monday:
-gfcf soy yogurt (we like the kind by White Wave Silk). Try strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, or peach!
-muffin (my cookbook has recipes for banana, quinoa, cinnamon, and other delicious muffins).
- gfcf pretzels (try the Ener-G variety--they're a favorite of ours!)
-store-bought fruit (peaches, pears, or pineapple) or applesauce cup
-chocolate chip cookie (the recipe is in my cookbook)
*Monday night, bake a loaf of white bread in the bread machine (recipe found on this site)
Tuesday:
-Peanut butter and jelly sandwich (using the bread made Monday night)
-potato chips
-carrot sticks
-almond bar (recipe found in my cookbook)
-juice box
Wednesday:
-muffin
-Nature's Hilights Lite'n Krispy Rice Sticks
-fresh fruit (kiwi, banana, blueberries, pear, etc.)
-chocolate tofu pudding (recipe found in my cookbook...a delicious, excellent source of protein!)
*Wednesday night, boil an egg to send in Thursday's lunch, and have your child help make "Chocolate Munchies" from my cookbook.
Thursday:
-pumpkin bread (recipe found in my cookbook)
-cold boiled egg (with salt, if desired)
-Ener-G wheat-free cracker (similar to a Saltine). *If your child doesn't like boiled eggs, you can put peanut butter on the cracker (using two crackers like a "sandwich" so the peanut butter doesn't make a mess) to get the protein.
-Chocolate Munchies (recipe found in my cookbook...this is a delicious snack prepared easily using cereal, chocolate, peanut butter, margarine, and powdered sugar).
-100% Real Fruit Snack by Cool Fruits, Inc. (This is a small 0.5 ounce packet of fruit snack, no sugar added. It's a great alternative to "Fruit Roll-Ups" which may not be gfcf, and contain a ton of sugar!) Comes in several great flavors!
Friday:
-muffin
-lunchmeat (check the package to make sure it is gfcf)
-carrots or cut raw zucchini (it tastes better than it sounds!)
-homemade trail mix (cereal, nuts--as long as your child isn't allergic-, dried fruit and/or raisins, gfcf pretzels, gfcf chocolate pieces, etc.)
-Edward & Sons gfcf Gummi Bears
