Lunch Made Easy: Back to School Ideas!

For a family with food allergies or dietary restrictions, packing food never stops. It becomes second nature to always BYOF (Bring Your Own Food) wherever you go.

The same goes for school lunches. We pack, every day. And always have. 

You'll find me sharing what Little Miss is having over on our Facebook and Instagram pages, daily. Make sure to follow us there to not miss out on the daily fun!

I've put together a fun round-up of our favorite lunches we've packed for school so far (she started back in mid-July) to help give you inspiration for when your family heads back:

Lunch Made Easy: Thanksgiving Bento for My Little Turkey

Life has been so incredibly busy (and great) lately that Thanksgiving completely snuck up on me!
While at the Food Allergy Bloggers Conference the weekend before last (#FABlogCon), I was talking to Allison of Allie's GF Goodies and she made mention of needing to get back right after the conference to begin all her Thanksgiving baking. I must have given her a funny look, because she then went on and said "uh yeah, Thanksgiving is a week and half away!" *begins fanning self* How did that happen? Wasn't it *just* Halloween?? Oy.
Anyways, since I got back it's been work work work and in my spare time planning for the big Turkey day for my little family. However, I couldn't let the year go by without some Thanksgiving lunch box fun!

20+ Easy Lunch Ideas for Work or School

When your child has food allergies and/or dietary restrictions, you pack lunch. Daily. It's just part of the normal routine. 
Some days, we get creative and make (what I call) "silly sandwiches" or sometimes the lunches are completely sandwich free. They don't have to be complicated or artistic, but it is fun to mix it up from the usual.
Lately, life has been busy. I've been traveling a lot for work and due to my health issues I require a lot more sleep than I use to. That's why having an arsenal of easy and quick fix lunch ideas are a necessity. I still want my daughter to be excited for her school lunches, and not feel left out, but keep my sanity intact. I'm sure many of you feel the exact same way!
Here are 20+ inspiring ideas for work or school lunch:

#UdisGlutenFree Banana Berry Crunch Muffin Recipe

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Udi's Gluten Free. The opinions and text are all mine.
I love baking muffins! They're great for grab & go breakfasts or throwing in the lunch box for a nice change up.
One of my favorite combinations is banana & blueberries. I admit that before I stopped eating gluten, I would regularly get my Starbucks on my drive to work + a blueberry muffin. So expensive and so unhealthy... but they were so delicious! 
So making muffin recipes of my own now, that are gluten free & allergy friendly, are something I love to create and do! And Little Miss loves to help.

Udi's Perfect Gluten Free Pizza Party Night!

A few weeks ago, I shared about a "pizza party night" Little Miss, the fella, and I were having on our Instagram page. 

Udi's has partnered with Pizza Hut to offer Gluten Free pizza! And they *finally* started selling it at my local Pizza Hut store. (YAY!) Udi's graciously sent us a gift card to Pizza Hut so we can give it a try, along with some other goodies, to make the Perfect Gluten Free Pizza Party Night!

Halloween Lunch Box Ideas using #UdisGlutenFree!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Udi's Gluten Free. The opinions and text are all mine.

Halloween has to be one of my most favorite times of year, especially when it comes to creating fun lunches!
The fall, crisp air... lots of baking, yummy smells, hooded sweatshirts, football, and decorating (even in the lunch box). 
I'm going to show you eight easy lunch box ideas using Udi's Gluten Free products that can bring your kiddos both a laugh and a full belly!

Lunch Made Easy: Cupcake Surprise! {Happy Birthday Little Miss}

I can't believe my baby girl is ten years old today.
People have said since the day she was born, cherish each moment... they go by quick! Man, they weren't kidding. How did ten years happen so fast?
I remember her learning to crawl, learning to spell her name, mispronouncing words, her first day of school, her first lost tooth... and now she's ten?! 

Excuse me while I curl up at my desk and cry.

When Little Miss' birthday falls during the school week, I always try to make her a special breakfast and/or lunch to celebrate. Today, I packed her a fun cupcake surprise! 

Happy Birthday to my baby girl!

Lunch Made Easy: Fun Football Ideas

If you've followed our site for a bit, it comes at no surprise to you that we are a football family. Obsessed even.
So, as you can imagine, this time of year is our absolute favorite. College football season is kicking off and the NFL preseason is just winding down. Plus, ya know, I have a Fantasy Football title to defend. Big things are at stake here people! ;)
Today happened to be College Day at school for Little Miss, where the kiddos were encouraged to wear their favorite college shirt. She, of course, wore her University of Michigan shirt (the fella and her favorite) and since they play football tonight against Utah, I knew a fun lunch was in need. 
Details on this lunch are included below (click that expand and read more button!) + fun football lunches we've made in the past, for added inspiration, for the fan in your family!

#UdisBacktoSchool Lunch Ideas & Giveaway!

We started using Udi's Gluten Free products over three years ago when we had to remove gluten from Little Miss' diet. 
Since then, we've been packing their delicious goods in our work and school lunches and sharing those ideas here on the blog and through social media. 
We want your family to be able to pack great lunches too. That's why Udi's has partnered with us to bring you an amazing back-to-school lunch giveaway! 

Mini GF Baked Meatball Subs #UdisGlutenFree

My daughter loves when I make homemade meatballs. We eat them for supper with gluten free spaghetti and then pack the leftovers for lunches with marinara for dipping.
It had been a while since I've made Meatball Subs at home but was inspired to make a cute mini version when I purchased my last package of Udi's Gluten Free French Dinner Rolls! The rolls are not only gluten free but dairy, soy, and nut free too.
These Mini GF Baked Meatball Subs are perfect for parties, dinner, or packed for work and school lunch: 

Lunch Made Easy: Healthy & Fun School Ideas

As many of you know, I don't blog every lunch from every school day... but, I do share them daily on our Facebook and Instagram pages. 
So, I try to put together "round-up" posts every so often for the blog where you can get a bunch of healthy school lunch ideas in one spot!
As always, all our lunches are completely nut free (no peanuts, no tree nuts). They're also all gluten free and many are dairy free or top 8 allergen free. Perfect for your food allergy family or if your child attends a school that has a "free from" classroom. 
Here's what we've been packing:

Lunch Made Easy: Food Allergy Awareness Love #TealTakeover

This week, May 10th-16th, marks Food Allergy Awareness week for 2015. This is something we actively participate in each year. 
There are great ways to get involved within your community to raise awareness, including handing out bracelets, information sheets, reading an allergy-friendly book to your child's class, sharing information on social media, and May 12th is #TealTakeover Day.
Teal is the color of food allergy awareness. By wearing teal today, you can help support your friends and family by raising awareness for food allergies. Little Miss loves sporting her teal and I love making her a sweet lunch to go with it. 

{Gluten Free} Breakfast Pizza with #UdisGlutenFree #Recipe

Since my daughter had to give up gluten over three years ago, our breakfast options have changed dramatically.
Gone are some of her old cereal favorites. No more of those warm cinnamon rolls that come from a tube. Said goodbye to store bought donuts and muffins too. 
We make a lot of homemade gluten free & allergy friendly muffins, pancakes, and oatmeal now. And that's okay!
I'm thankful on mornings we're in a rush and need a "quick fix", however, for items from Udi's Gluten Free! Items like their Mighty Bagels, Cinnamon Rolls, and their new Breakfast Burritos.
Still, my Little Miss loves having a hand in making foods with me and Gluten Free Breakfast Pizza is one way we can keep things simple and fun - even in the mornings!

Lunch Made Easy: GF Hawaiian Pizza Quesadilla #Udisglutenfree #Recipe

My mother has never been a big fan of pizza. 
As a child, you could eat it every day. Who am I kidding, as an adult I could too. So, whenever we craved it she would most often opt for something else. There was one flavor, however, that she would make an exception for: Hawaiian Pizza.
In our family of five, I was the only other one who would eat it with her. I obsessed over loved pineapple growing up, so the idea of it being on a pizza I found both odd and delicious.
Fast forward to my adulthood, Hawaiian Pizza is something I don't have often. I can't say it is something the fella would ever want to order and Little Miss is still on the fence when it comes to Pineapple (except when baked in a cake). So, to get my fix, I make my own personal {gluten free} Hawaiian Pizza Quesadillas thanks to Udi's Gluten Free tortillas! 
But I warn you... these taste better than the actual pizza! 

Super Hero Allergen-Free Plate {Review & Giveaway} #MySafeFamily @SafeHappyFamily

I've followed Holly & Chris from Safe & Happy Family via Instagram for some time now. They are the founders of Safe & Happy Family™ and food allergy parents.
They started their company as a way to bring a little more fun and ease to food allergy families lives. (Sounds like my kind of people, right!? We're all about focusing on the fun!) ;) 
They were kind enough to send us one of their adorable dishware items to review and giveaway choice to our readers! 

{Fancy Nancy} Book Character Dress-Up Day + Paris Theme Lunch!

For quite a few many years now, Little Miss has loved all things French and Paris themed.
It all started thanks to Fancy Nancy.  She has almost the entire book series + now all the Nancy Clancy chapter books. Plus a couple Nancy dolls and board games. She loves her!
For her 8th Birthday she had a Fancy Nancy themed cupcake party. Then, this past Christmas, she got all new bedding and decor items for her room to create a Paris "Fancy" French theme in lieu of toys.
So, of course, when Book Character Dress-Up Day at school showed up on the calendar again, she knew exactly who she wanted to be! FANCY NANCY. And I absolutely had to make a fun themed school lunch to go with it!

GF Family Tips: Keep it Kid Friendly! #UdisGlutenFree

Since my daughter was first diagnosed with food allergies, and then later a gluten intolerance, I've made it my mission to have fun playing with food! 

It can be easy for kids with special diets to feel left out - missing birthday party or class treats, candies, or even something as simple as enjoying the same hot lunch their friends do at school.

By getting my daughter involved with me creating in the kitchen, we keep things exciting and fun by focusing on the great foods we can have!

That's why I'm so thankful for amazing brands, like Udi's Gluten Free, that offer us gluten free & allergy friendly products for our family.

Lunch Made Easy: DIY Mini Pizzas {Build Your Own Gluten Free Pizzas}

Each time I visit my daughter at school during a lunch period or while chaperoning a field trip, I can't help but look and notice what all the other kids have packed/ are eating. Many of them pull a Lunchables from their backpack. Some even accompanied by a can of soda.
I get it - it's easy. And the labels are so deceiving... "Whole Grains", "Great Source of Calcium", "100% White Meat", etc.
It's when you actually flip the container over and read what's really in those items that it makes you shake your head.  That was me. I use to buy those things. Especially when they were on sale. 
Super easy, right!? But oh, so, wrong for your health.  Then trying to explain to your child why they can't have them is difficult. Granted Little Miss cannot because of the allergens & gluten, but it's still tough since she feels like she's missing out.
That's why we make our own! For years now, we've done our own homemade cracker stackers, nachos, nuggets, etc. 
Today is no exception! Little Miss was so thrilled to have her DIY Mini Pizzas packed for school, just like her friends.

{Christmas Countdown} Advent Lunches 2014: Week 3

Twas' the week before Christmas and all through the days, everyone was preparing for next weeks craze.
Wrapping had started - gifts under the tree, And lunches were made with festive glee!
Friday marks only six days left on our countdown until Christmas. This week was also special because Hannukah began! Did you know there are 17 different ways to spell Hannukah? More on that below... 

{Christmas Countdown} Advent Lunches 2014: Week 2

Welcome to Week 2 of our Advent Lunches, Christmas Countdown, Round-up!
This week we did simple but festively fun themed lunches. They're all gluten free, peanut free, tree nut free, and more! Making them not only adorable, but allergy friendly. ;)