Having celiac disease or even gluten intolerance in the Western world means that one has to be vigilant about what they eat at all times. This is because wheat-based foods are typically staples in our diet, which means gluten is ever present. As the parent of a child or children with any kind of gluten intolerance (celiac or sensitivity), it can be hard to guide their eating habits, especially at school.

School is of the utmost importance in our children’s development, not just in terms of education, but also in the way they develop their social character. A common problem that parents of gluten intolerant children have is what to pack for their school lunch, as the typical options of a sandwich or a roll simply aren’t appropriate. It can also be hard for your child to explain, as they will be scrutinized by their peers for what they eat, so making sure it's both fun and delicious is a must.

Here is how you can bulk up your kids' school lunches with help from plant-based protein and gluten free freezer meals.

Build an Understanding

First thing’s first, you will need to explain celiac disease or gluten intolerance to your child using age-appropriate language. Over time you will need to delve further into the nuances of what this means with your child, so that when they come to their pre-teen or teenage years, they should be able to manage it themselves. Don’t be afraid to look online for resources including charts which show all the kinds of food which contain gluten, such as this one. 

In Solidarity

As celiac disease tends to run in the family, there will likely be plenty enough reason to switch the household to a gluten-free diet. If anyone in the family wishes to eat gluten-based foods, they should either do so away from home, or in a manner which completely rules out cross contamination. 

If the whole family does go gluten-free it will be much easier for the child to manage and understand, so even just for those early years this may be the best option.

Why Freezer Meals?

While they’ve had a bad rap in recent years, freezer meals have changed drastically since their inception in the 1950s. Gluten free freezer meals are a stark example of this, with most freezer meals over the years utilizing gluten for its flavor, texture, and protein. Nowadays though there are several providers of gluten free freezer meals providers who utilize plant-based protein which truly are good for you.

Modern Variety

Freezer meals aren’t limited to those heat-and-eat lasagnes, there are all kinds of frozen foods which can be quickly heated for eating now or later. Having recently been recommended Dr Praeger’s frozen foods, I’ve found them to be the perfect GF lunchbox booster for my kids.

Here are a couple of suggestions utilizing their products, you can substitute similar products where necessary.

Dr Praeger’s Puffs and Dip

Kids love potatoes, especially chips, often because of the colorful condiments they usually come with. Taking advantage of this for their lunchtime meal is as easy as quickly baking their favorite flavor of Dr Praeger’s Puffs in the morning, and chucking in a ramekin of their favorite sauce.

Try the following with your kids:

• Four Potato Puffs with ketchup
• Kale Puffs with hummus
• Carrot Puffs with peanut dipping sauce

Dr Prager’s Health Stack

Bigger kids need more food, but that doesn’t mean we should fill them up with empty carbohydrates in an attempt to make them feel full. By utilizing a Dr Praeger’s plant protein or veggie burger pattie, one of their hash browns, and one of their cakes, you can send your kid to school with a delicious stack of wholesome food. This can even be assembled to look like a burger, but will contain far more nutrients and fewer empty carbs without that white bread. This can also make a great option for an adult lunch, especially when paired with a light garden salad.

Our household favorite combination is the GF California Veggie Burger, on top of a Spinach Cake, on top of the Four Potato Hash Brown, yum!

Dr Praeger’s Littles

For the very young children, Dr Prager’s have a range of fun-shaped foods which abide with their healthy ethos. The Littles range comes in both sweet and savory options, which means you can chuck a variety in their lunchbox for them to nibble come lunchtime. As with all of their other products, these are packed with plant-based protein which can be integral in their development.