8 Nut-Free Lunch Box Ideas

You probably know at least one children that has a food allergy of some sort. All three of my kids were allergic to milk, up until they were about 18 months old.  Before that it was often difficult to find meals for them when we were away from home. Fortunately they were not as severely allergic as they could be and did not require any medication.

 

My daughter was allergic to peanuts until about two years old so when I was told that her school was “nut free” I wasn’t shocked. In fact, the entire district and most of the schools in California are. But if your child does not have an allergy to nuts, it can be difficult trying to figure out what to send with them for lunch. Here are a few nut free ideas to get you started.

Pasta Salad – Mix rotini or elbow pasta with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, chopped basil and Italian dressing.

Broccoli Chicken Salad – Mix broccoli florets, chucks of chicken, cranberries and rice. Dress with a mixture of equal parts canola oil and orange juice.

Chickpeas & Veggies – Mix chickpeas with raw, diced veggies such as bell peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, and/or carrots. Dress with a vinaigrette and let sit over night. Serve with pita chips.

Rice & Beans – Mix rice, black beans, corn and salsa. Serve with yellow corn chips.

BBQ Chicken Sandwich – Mix shredded chicken with barbeque sauce and top with shredded carrots or coleslaw. Serve on a whole wheat bun.

Hummus Sandwich – Spread hummus on whole wheat bread and sprinkle with diced bell pepper, cucumber or carrots. To mix it up, try flavored hummus.

Cucumber Sandwich – Spread cream cheese on whole wheat bread and top with sliced cucumbers. If your child likes lettuce, add watercress lettuce.

Yogurt Parfait – Layer vanilla yogurt with granola and fruit in a plastic container.

What do you send to school for your child’s lunch?