Allergy Friendly Lunchbox Snack Ideas

Having a child with so many allergies, ( PEANUTS, TREE NUTS, WHEAT, DAIRY, EGGS, SOY FISH and SHELLFISH), I have been forced to read every label and scrutinise every single ingredient that goes into my sons lunchbox. While most mums are searching for healthy lunchbox ideas, allergy mums are content finding any allergy safe lunchbox options. Well, Why not have both, I say?? Healthy, delicious and safe!


The more research I do on our food chain and the more I look into the ingredients that are in packaged and processed food (marketed to our children) the more I realise how grateful I am for our journey. We can bypass the drama of our children pleading with us for rubbish and just say 'No, it's not safe'.
 

All of my recipes are gluten free and also free from the Top 8, so chances are they will also be safe for your allergic child too. If you aren't certain about something, a school lunchbox isn't the time to test a new food or challenge your child. IF IN DOUBT - LEAVE IT OUT!!

If you are looking for some Allergy Friendly Lunchbox Ideas - Click Here  People often ask me 'how do you feed your boy when there is so much he can't have?"  I look at it from a different perspective. I know what he CAN have and then create from there. I also like to keep things simple, otherwise I get too overwhelmed. I'm not Martha Stewart and I'm really not as organised as Id like to be. I'm 'just a mum with an extraordinary challenge, doing my utmost to keep my boy safe everyday and raising 2 healthy happy children.

I don't know about you, but I get such joy from knowing I have sent my kids to school with a delicious healthy lunchbox that I know they will enjoy. It really makes my heart sing! So here's a few ideas for you. I'm sure you have more so please comment with other ideas so we can all benefit.

Here's what I've come up with for snack ideas so far......

Fruit

My kids love fruit, they are huge fruit eaters and always have been. If your kids struggle with eating fruit, make it abit of fun for them just to keep it enjoyable. Make sure it's colourful, cut it up and be a bit creative....

 

 

Be Creative....  Think of ways to be creative with healthy food so your kids don't get bored. Kids love an apple slinky.

For under $20 An Apple Slinky is such a great investment and bound to bring a smile to your children's faces. (we also use ours on spuds for the yummiest baked potatoes with a difference)

 

* Tip - To avoid apples going brown sprinkle with lemon juice OR keep the core in and the skin on (the skin provides most of the nutrients anyway)

Cut fruit into different shapes for a bit of fun. Get the kids involved with cutting out shapes with  cookie cutters 

Fruit kebabs

Kids love things on sticks. Cut fruit into different shapes using biscuit cutters and thread onto paddle pop sticks (safer option than regular wooden skewers ) .

Colourful - Nature provides a rainbow of awesome colourful fruit, the true natural food colourings, so use different colours to provoke interest. Be aware though of salicylates in fruits.

Dried fruit

Be aware of the sulphite aspect in regular store bought dried fruit, if you are sensitive or have asthma. Best to buy organic or dry your own.

Fruit Leather

So easy to make with fresh local seasonal fruit and so much healthier than store bought roll ups. You will find heaps of recipes online, such as this one - Click Here. You can make them in a very slow oven or in a food dehydrator.  The super dynamo Kat - The Organised Housewife has a great recipe for Homemade Strawberry Roll ups - Click Here

Popcorn - Most kids love plain home made popcorn. One of the best things I've bought over the years is a popcorn maker. On special occasions for some fun when they watch a movie, I set the lounge room up like a cinema with a packet of home made popcorn, a popper and some lollies. In fact, that's what we sneak into the cinemas with too ( allergy friendly safe snacks, not to mention saving money too). My kids have only had plain popcorn but you could flavour it if you prefer with some dairy free margarine, coconut oil or Herbamare.

For a special treat try the Salted Caramel Popcorn in my Easy Allergy Free Christmas eBook

Home made Yoghurt - For those with dairy allergies, store bought yoghurt is out of the question. So why not make your own with your own yoghurt maker. Even despite the whole food allergy aspect, when you look at the ingredients of regular store bought yoghurt, you need to ask yourself if it's as healthy as we are led to believe.

Experiment with making homemade allergy friendly yoghurt using your own yoghurt maker. Jazz it up with berries, seeds, stewed fruit, muesli, granola, trail mix  - the sky is the limit. Would love to know what you come up with, so please let me know so I can pass it onto others.

These containers are fantastic for other lunchbox treats too such as...

Stewed fruit

Choc Chia Pudding

Chocolate Chia Mud -  RejunenEAT and Revital EYES

Choc Chia and Mango Trifle - Easy Allergy Free Christmas eBook

Home made Baked Treats

I'm sure we would all agree, homemade goodies always taste better than the bought ones. When your child has severe allergies, sometimes store bought ones aren't an option at all. So make your own and be sure they are safe. Here's a few ideas you may like to try....

Anzac Biscuits -

Jam Drops

Chocolate Chip Cookies ----> Recipe in Allergy Friendly Home Cooking eBook

Banana Bread

Banana and Date Muffins

Blueberry and Coconut Muffins

Carrot, Zucchini and Pineapple Muffins - Natural New Age Mum

Apricot Coconut Slice - Natural New Age Mum

Easy Chocolate Slice
Date and Pumpkin Loaf -----> Recipe in  Allergy Friendly Home Cooking eBook
Fruity Homey Cakes ------> Recipe in  Allergy Friendly Home Cooking eBook

Gluten Free, Nut Free Muesli Bars - Natural New Age Mum

(this recipe does contains eggs, for ideas to substitute eggs - Click Here)

Pikelets - Recipe for Easy Peasy Pancakes here

 

Store bought allergy friendly biscuits

More and more companies are now making allergy friendly and gluten free packaged foods. Home made is always better, you know exactly what's in it. But we live in a realistic world where sometimes parents don't always have the time to deliver home made baking treats.

Orgran and Leda are a few companies that make a variety of biscuits that may be safe for your child if you are short on time and don't want to make your own. Always Check Ingredients- every time. Be aware that most of these may contain soy. You can usually find these at health food stores or in some supermarkets. Keep in mind alternative names and derivatives of what you are avoiding. More information on my website

Vegetable chips

Sweet Potato Chips, Kale chips, Beetroot Chips, etc. You can buy these from health food stores or make your own.

 

Beetroot Chips - The Grainfree Lunchbox

Home made Trail Mix

Seeds ( sunflower, peppita's, chia, sesame, whatever is safe for you ), dried fruit, flaked coconut, granola

Banana Chips

You can buy these in health food stores - better yet, make your own.

Please Note: I saved the above image a while back and just realised I have no idea where it came from - there is no tag or link. So thanks to whoever shared this. If you know where it came from, let me know so I can give proper credit.

Dips with Vegetable crudités, rice biscuits, corn chips

Humus  (if using tahini ensure you read for your situation)

Avocado Salsa Dip - Easy Allergy Free Christmas eBook

Babaghanoush  - Easy Allergy Free Christmas eBook

Bliss Balls

Always a favourite, kids just love them! Mums love them too because they are healthy and easy to make.

Sunny Bites

Tahini Bliss Balls - Easy Allergy Free Christmas

Chocolate Bliss Balls - Easy Allergy Free Christmas

White Christmas Balls

 

 

 

There are some great recipes ideal for school lunchboxes (and for the whole year) in my latest eBook    Easy Allergy Free Christmas  

 

 

All recipes FREE from Gluten, Peanuts, Tree nuts, Wheat, Dairy, Eggs, Soy, Fish and Shellfish

 

Some snack ideas include... Tahini Bliss Balls, Chocolate Bliss Balls, Choc Cranberry Slice, Vanilla Cupcakes, Salted Caramel Popcorn, Choc Fudge Cupcakes, Easy Peasy Pancakes (pikelets),  Babaghanoush, Avocado Salsa Dip plus lots more.

 

There are also some great lunchbox ideas including.... turkey balls, lemon and garlic roast chicken, various delicious salads, savoury ham and asparagus tarts plus more. Delicious Gluten and Top 8 Free recipes for the whole year around.
  

 

 

 

 

Another great eBook that is The Grain Free Lunch Box.  You'll find some great inspiration for allergy friendly lunchboxes and snacks in Jolene's eBook.  50+ Allergy Friendly Lunch Box Recipes:

 

I can hardly keep up with what Kersten is up to in her kitchen. She has a fantastic range of books and eBooks that are Allergy free and Failsafe.

Click here to visit Kersten's Kitchen.

Click here to visit Supercharged Food.