I’ll show you how to make five simple gluten-free lunchables filled with only fresh, good-for-you ingredients. These homemade lunchables are perfect for kids and adults. This post is sponsored by Crunchmaster and contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosures.
If you grew up in the 80s or 90s, chances are your mom packed you a Lunchable® (a Kraft Heinz brand) for lunch at least once a week, if not more. I can attest to eating a Lunchable® or two during my childhood.
A Lunchable® is a pre-packaged, build-your-own lunch made with wheat crackers and a variety of processed lunch meats. In lieu of packing a child’s lunch, you’d just grab a box and send your child on his or her way for the day.
As an adult, I shudder at the thought of eating Lunchables®, not only because they’re riddled with gluten (and no, there are no gluten-free Lunchables® that I’m aware of), but also because they’re loaded with processed ingredients. And last I checked, they didn’t contain any fresh vegetables or fruits.
I partnered with Crunchmaster® crackers to create fresh, homemade “lunchables” made with gluten-free, clean ingredients. You’ll find my lunchable creations maintain the following qualities:
- Quick and Simple: I created simple lunchables that can be put together in under five minutes.
- Gluten-Free: I used only simple, gluten-free ingredients.
- Fresh is Best: I took the fresh is the best approach when putting the lunchables together, using fresh ingredients when possible with a few packaged items here and there for convenience.
- Kid-Friendly: These lunchable creations have been tested with my teen kids. My kids, however, eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, so if your kid struggles with this, you can of course substitute with other add-ins.
- Variety: I try to add different fruits and vegetables and keep things exciting, although some items are tried and true favorites, so I use them often.
Before you begin re-creating this fun childhood lunch with better-for-you and gluten-free ingredients, I recommend investing in a new lunchbox, one with divided compartments known as a bento box.
Choosing a Bento Box
The foundation of a good homemade “lunchable” is having a bento box that contains sections divided from one another. There are plenty of bento boxes on the market, and I suggest trying a few to see what you like.
I’ve been using the Modetera Sports Flat Bento Box. It’s thin, has three compartments, and doesn’t leak. This means what I put in one of the compartments won’t leak into the other compartments. My son loves it because it’s lightweight and stylish to carry around high school.
There are a variety of bento boxes available, all with different benefits. Search Amazon for “bento lunchboxes.” Then read the reviews to find one that fits your needs.
Find a Gluten-Free Cracker Brand
Traditional Lunchables® are made with wheat-based crackers, making them off-limits to those following a gluten-free diet.
However, my homemade gluten-free lunchables are made with gluten-free Crunchmaster crackers, which in turn are made with brown rice flour, seeds, quinoa, and other non-GMO ingredients. Plus, all Crunchmaster crackers are certified gluten-free by the GFCO.
The cracker flavor I choose for each lunchable is dependent on the menu for the day. I love the Ultimate Everything cracker when I pack my lunchable with egg salad or lox, for example. I enjoy the Roasted Garlic flavor when I make an Italian-themed lunchable.
That said, I find myself using the Crunchmaster Original Multi-Seed cracker the most because it goes with everything, and you can buy a big box of it at Costco for an amazing price!
Click on the Crunchmaster Where to Buy tab to find Crunchmaster crackers at a grocery store near you.
Gluten-Free Lunchable Ideas
Below are five super simple gluten-free lunchable ideas. All of these ideas take less than five minutes to assemble and require very little preparation or fuss.
Gluten-Free Lunchable Idea #1: Cheese slices, Crunchmaster Multi-Seed Crackers, apple slices, peanut butter packet, and gluten-free Oreos.
Gluten-Free Lunchable Idea #2: This ultimate dip homemade lunchable includes homemade guacamole, store-bought hummus, Crunchmaster Multi-Seed Crackers, and baby carrots.
Gluten-Free Lunchable Idea #3: This simple lunchable includes egg salad (made with mayonnaise, paprika, and salt and then topped with a sprinkle of the Everything Bagel seasoning). It’s paired with Crunchmaster Ultimate Everything-flavored crackers, cucumber slices, and fresh blueberries.
Gluten-Free Lunchable Idea #4: These are peanut butter and jelly sandwich crackers paired with a hard-boiled egg (with a portable salt shaker), gluten-free pretzels, and banana wedges topped with chocolate chips.
Gluten-Free Lunchable Idea #5: This homemade lunchable includes turkey pepperoni paired with Crunchmaster’s lightly salted grain-free crackers. It also includes sliced peaches and cucumbers.
A few more gluten-free lunchable ideas
There are tons of bread-free lunchable ideas. Here are a few more ideas to inspire you:
Caprese Salad Lunchable: Fill your bento box with slices of fresh mozzarella, slices of tomato, basil leaves, crackers, and a side of pesto.
Italian Sub Lunchable: Add a variety of Italian meats (think salami, prosciutto, and pastrami) to your bento box and pair it with crackers, pitted Kalamata olives, and red pepper slices.
Mexican Fiesta Lunchable: Add a bean and corn salad along with fresh slices of avocado and red peppers, pepper jack cheese slices, and crackers.
Jewish Deli Lunchable: Pair the Ultimate Everything Crunchmaster crackers with lox, a cream cheese smear (side), olives, cucumber slices, and a hard-boiled egg.
Tuna Salad Lunchable: Add tuna salad over a bed of lettuce leaves, and serve with crackers, potato chips, and a pickle.
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