Nut-Free Lunch Ideas
All of the below options are tree-nut free. Tree nuts are: almonds, walnuts, peanuts, pistachio, pecans, cashews, macadamia, pine nuts, hazelnuts, brazil nuts, hickory nuts, chestnuts and coconut. However all processed items should be checked to ensure they come from a tree nut free environment.
Main Courses
- Cheese sticks/string cheese/cheese slices and crackers
- Bagel sandwiches i.e. bagels and cream cheese with jelly and/or meats cheeses
- Cottage cheese with or with out fresh fruit mixed in
- Rolled up slices of turkey, ham, tofurkey, etc…
- Quesadillas or tortillas rolled up with pickles and cream cheese etc.
- Hard-boiled eggs (especially when an egg slicer is included)
- Burritos
- Leftovers in a thermos, i.e. pastas, chili, macaroni and cheese, hot dogs and chicken nuggets
- Bacon
- Refried beans with cheese
- Sunflower butter or soy butter as long as they are produced in a peanut/ tree nut free environment
- Cucumber slices with cream cheese sandwiches
Sides
- Vegetable slices
- Fruit slices, chunks
- Popcorn
- Tortilla chips…
- Sunflower seeds
- Pickles
- Dried fruit
- Nutra-grain bars
- Olives
Dips
- Ranch
- Salsa
- Hummus
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Guacamole
- Sour cream
- Nutra-grain bars
- Chili con queso
- Bean dip
Desserts (Please no suckers or gum)
- Apple slices with caramel sauce or any fruit with a fruit dip
- (Yogurt covered) Raisins
- Honey stix
- Muffins
- Tootsie rolls
- Cold cereal w/o milk (i.e. frosted flakes, yogurt covered cheerios, etc.)
- Fruit snacks
*Things we’ve noticed*
- Prepackaged lunches are rarely finished
- Bread from sandwiches is often left over, sometimes just the meat and cheese is enough
- The smaller the slices the more gets eaten. Many half eaten fruits and vegetables are thrown away
- Dips are always popular and kids eat more veggies/fruit if served with a dip
When all else fails, ask your children if they want to help pack their own lunch