7 Healthy Peanut-Free School Lunch Ideas

By Sherrie Le Masurier

These days with so many peanut allergies around it’s better to be safe than sorry when packing your child’s school lunch.

Following are some great peanut-free school lunch ideas that get the thumbs up from even the picky eaters in my neighborhood.

Carrot and Cucumber Salad

If your child doesn’t like pasta create some vegetable ‘noodles’ using carrots, cucumbers and a trusty hand peeler or grater. Mix the carrots and cucumber ‘noodles’ together and top with your child’s favorite salad dressing.

Crazy Eights

For this simple peanut-free school lunch idea all you need to do is supply eight of everything. Then pack a lunch note in your child’s lunch bag promising a game of Crazy Eights before bed. Here are some menu ideas to get you started – eight pieces each of cheese, pepperoni, crackers, celery sticks, baby carrots, pickles, fruit wedges.

Cucumber Links

Cut a cucumber into 2-inch long cylinders. With an apple corer or a paring knife remove the core. Slice it into ¼-inch rings. Make a slit in every other ring and then link the rings together to form a chain of cucumbers.

Jam & Cheese Roll Ups

Spread plain or flavored cream cheese on a soft tortilla and top with your favorite jam. Roll up.

Pita Crisps

Cut regular sized pitas into wedges and oven bake until crispy. For variety, brush first with oil, a little garlic powder and parmesan cheese or sprinkle on a little water, cinnamon and brown sugar. Serve with a favorite dip, yogurt or apple sauce.

Tic Tac Toe Snacks

For a fun snack idea pack your child a small piece of cardboard with Tic Tac Toe grid on it and a snack bag of raisins and sandwich sized bag of Cheerios or round shaped cereal. Encourage your child to keep the game supplies in his knapsack for playing and eating during designated snack times.

Cheese & Bacon Popcorn

8 cups popcorn
1/3 cup margarine, melted
1/2 tsp. seasoned salt
1/2 tsp. hickory smoked salt
1/2 cup American cheese, grated
1/3 cup bacon bits

Pour freshly popped corn in large bowl. Combine margarine with hickory-smoked salt. Pour over popcorn. Toss. Sprinkle with cheese and bacon bits and toss again. Once cool package in individual serving bags.