This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.
These gluten-free school lunch ideas are easy to pack, filling, and made with ingredients kids enjoy. You'll find cold lunches, warm meals, bentos, wraps, salads, and a gluten-free version of the always-requested Uncrustables. Click on any lunch for the packing tips that will help keep everything fresh until lunchtime.
Gluten-Free Lunch Ideas
When my son was younger, I spent years packing his gluten-free school lunches and checking labels for ingredients that could cause a problem. The ideas below are the kinds of lunches that made mornings easier: simple to assemble, filling enough for school, and easy to adjust with the gluten-free products your family already trusts.
Stop Wondering What to Pack.Â
Pack lunches your kids will actually eat with 101 lunch ideas, practical packing tips, a complete Thermos Lunch Guide, and my Pack Meals Like a Pro bonus.
Gluten-Free Sandwiches
Most sandwiches can be packed for school with a gluten-free bread that holds up well. Browse more school sandwich ideas or try one of these peanut butter alternatives. The novelty lunch kids ask for most is the gluten-free Uncrustable.
How to Pack Gluten-Free Lunches
Compartment containers work well for finger foods, salads, and bentos, while a thermos keeps warm lunches hot. Always check labels on packaged foods and keep any gluten-containing items separate when cross-contact is a concern.
Bonus! Gluten-Free Snacks
These homemade gluten-free snacks are easy to add to a lunchbox and give you simple alternatives to packaged bars, chips, and fruit snacks.
- Homemade Fruit Leather
- Banana Chips
- High Fiber Chocolate Bites
- Oatmeal Raisin Energy Bites
- Ham & Cheese Apple Wraps
For more packable meals, these fast and healthy office lunch ideas also work well for older kids and school lunchboxes.
Gluten-Free Lunch Ideas for Everyone
Watch How It’s Made:
Ingredients
- 2 hard-boiled eggs
- 2 ounces deli turkey
- 1 ounce cheese
- 1 cup baby carrots
- 1 tablespoon hummus, optional
- 1 tablespoon almonds, optional
Instructions
- Cook hard-boiled eggs and once cool, peel them so they’re ready to be packed inside a lunchbox.
- On a flat surface, roll up turkey slices and cut the roll into a few pieces. Place them inside the lunch container along with 1 or 2 hard boiled eggs.
- Cube a few pieces of cheese and place them inside the lunch container.
- Pack baby carrots inside the lunch container or another veggie. If sending hummus or another dip, pack it separately, inside a small leak-proof container.
- Add almonds to this lunch or fruit, if desired.
Sahna says
I’ve added these to my rotation this year!
April says
I searched gluten free lunches and there was a list of ten ideas…zucchini waffles being one of them, yet the recipe calls for all purpose flour – can you get gluten free all purpose flour? We are new to the whole gluten free thing and just trying to find some food to eat :)
MOMables-Laura says
Hi April! You can absolutely use all-purpose gluten-free flour with that recipe!
April L Wallace says
I searched gluten free lunches and there was a list of ten ideas…zucchini waffles being one of them, yet the recipe calls for all purpose flour – can you get gluten free all purpose flour? We are new to the whole gluten free thing and just trying to find some food to eat :)
Deborah Ryder says
April,
YES!!! There are several out there that you can get at the grocery store: I use King Arthur Gluten-Free Measure for Measure, Pillsbury and Bob’s Red Mill also have a version of this all-purpose gluten-free flour. I’m not sure what the names of the other brands are exactly but a google search on ‘gluten-free all-purpose flour will give you lots of options, including brands you can buy online, like gfJules gluten-free all-purpose flour. Just a small tip, check the ingredient label on the flour to make sure it is one that has either xythem (sp?) gum or gar gum as these take the place of the gluten in regular wheat flour. That will make your cooking life a lot easier as you won’t have to purchase that ingredient and figure out the correct ratio to add to your recipe.
Jenna Marie says
I was skeptip about gluten-free fish sticks. I mean, who brings them for lunch? But I made them for dinner (they were delicious and devoured) and decided to follow your advice and pack them in a lunchbox anwyay. To my surprise, they were eaten and they were still great. Kid: i liked my sticks for lunch! I’ll be making more of these gluten-free lunch ideas for school in the upcoming weeks. thanks!
Jacque F. says
Thanks for posting these! For the recipes that include food better served warm, any tips? Do you warm up in the morning before packing?
MOMables - Laura says
Yes, I usually warm in the microwave before packing into a thermos or lunch container!
BobbiP says
Are the broccoli nuggets gluten free? They contain bread crumbs…
MOMables-Laura says
They can be made with regular or gluten-free breadcrumbs.
audrey says
Thank you so much! I have a gluten allergy and it is so hard to find things to pack in my lunch
MOMables - Laura says
Glad you found it helpful!
Tiff S. says
Thanks for some great suggestions. You might want to make a disclaimer to use GF flour with those zucchini waffles. My mom would totally follow the recipe to a T, and think they were gluten free because your title says GF lunches, but the video says to add flour :-D
MOMables - Laura says
Hi Tiff, I just checked the recipe and it includes a note about gluten-free flour. Hope this helps!