Check out this amazing list of gluten free and dairy free snacks and lunch recipes that everyone will enjoy! This list contains delicious easy options!
When we learned that we needed to eat gluten-free AND dairy-free snacks and lunches to see if it would make a difference in the health issues we were having, I cried. Sure I would miss bread and cheese. Oh, and donuts. But that wasn’t why there were tears.
I was overwhelmed.
Trying to plan meals that are both gluten free and dairy free isn’t for the faint of heart. Gluten free foods, while edible, are still processed and full of yuck. It’s just over-priced, gluten-free yuck.
I knew that to change our health for the better, I needed gluten free dairy free lunches and gluten-free dairy-free snacks made of real food. Foods that would be easy to prepare and taste good.
Hopefully, this list will help you as you plan your lunches and snacks for the month! It would even be great to reference if you have to pack lunches and snacks for school, preschool, Summer Camp, camping, or simply a fun picnic.
Tips for Eating Gluten Free and Dairy Free
Creating your own gluten-free dairy-free recipes is daunting. You have to learn about grain substitutes and dairy substitutes. In many cases, that means understanding what foods are easy to prepare and go together best without having to find a substitute.
Things like quinoa make a lot of appearances in recipes as it helps bind like rice might, but without the gluten. Coconut and almond milk have become popular substitutes for dairy. You’ll quickly learn your way around gluten-free dairy-free recipes and find your taste buds adjust and your food habits improve with ease.
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24 Gluten Free and Dairy Free Lunch Ideas and Snack Recipes
Love these gluten and dairy-free cold lunch ideas that will take the guesswork out of lunch and snack meal planning.
1. 4 Ingredient Blueberry Banana Muffins
Yum! These blueberry banana oatmeal muffins are perfect for breakfast or a midday snack!
2. Banana Oat Mini Muffins
These delicious gluten-free banana bread muffins can also be made into a loaf of banana bread with the batter if you prefer gluten-free banana bread.
3. Peanut Butter Apple Granola Snack Wraps
These apple and peanut butter wraps are super easy to make with only a few ingredients yet perfect for a gluten-free treat.
4. Not so Sloppy Joes
Encasing this Sloppy Joe filling in little packets made with Chebe Bread Mix makes for a delicious and less messy meal.
5. Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Apple Bites
For after-school snacking or fall partying, these pretty and nutritious little bites will totally win you over!
6. Sriracha Roasted Chickpeas
This healthy sweet and savory snack is vegan and gluten-free.
7. Fruit and Spice Applesauce Blends
These beautiful applesauce blends are a healthy alternative to sugary jams and syrups.
8. Zucchini Chips
These easy oven-baked zucchini chips are easy to make, thin, crispy, and irresistible. They’re oven-baked to crisp perfection!
9. Graham Crackers
These gluten-free and dairy-free graham crackers are perfect for s’mores!
10. Mexican Quinoa Bowl
This delicious lunch or dinner recipe is so full of flavor and freshness from all of the beautiful vegetables, coriander, and lime.
11. Peanut Butter Granola Bars
Just 8 ingredients for these amazing, delicious vegan and gluten-free peanut butter bars.
12. Chocolate Chip Carrot Muffins
Everyone loves a traditional carrot cake or carrot muffin. This recipe is a spin-off of these classic carrot baked goods. It is the gluten-free and dairy-free version with some chocolatey goodness added.
These broccoli fritters have a crisp outside and creamy center which tastes more like creamy cheddar and broccoli soup then steamed broccoli.
14. Gluten-free Coconut Cream Bars
These bars are delicious as a weeknight dessert, to serve with a huge mug of coffee for a laidback brunch, or even as an indulgent afternoon snack.
15. Vegan Fruit and Nut Granola Bars
With lots of nuts, dried fruit, chia seeds, and gluten-free steel-cut oats, these vegan fruit and nut bars are packed full of vitamins and nutrients.
16. Empanadas
These gluten-free empanadas can be served as an appetizer, snack, or as a main course.
17. Fish Sticks
With 5 ingredients and about 30 minutes, you can whip up these toasty, coconut-crusted gluten-free fish sticks.
Whole almonds are seasoned with fresh rosemary, a dash of chili powder, salt and then placed in the oven to roast.
These ice (affiliate link) pops are easy, delicious, and super healthy with no processed sugars or preservatives, and filled with whole fruits!
They are surprisingly very moist not too sweet.
21. Fruit Salad
This layered fruit salad is both beautiful and delicious!
22. Mediterranean Black Bean and Garbanzo Bean Salad
Need a meatless meal to help you get out of a food rut? Try this Mediterranean Black Bean and Garbanzo Bean Salad that is simple, fresh, and delicious. So good you won’t notice it is gluten free and dairy free.
23. Banana Oat Super Snack Bars
This whole-grain, naturally-sweetened banana oat bar recipe is great as a snack to keep the whole family fueled and happy.
24. Pop Tarts
These pop tarts are perfect for busy mornings, as an afternoon snack, or to go along with gluten-free school lunches.
No matter what your reason for changing your diet may be, creating an allergy-friendly menu can be a difficult thing to manage. Children often don’t fully understand the need for change, and adults who are set in their choices for snacks and lunches may struggle with the adaptations. It can be difficult to manage, but not impossible to come up with gluten free and dairy free lunch and snacks ideas.
These recipes definitely make it easier for your family to create delicious meals that everyone loves without fear of aggravating allergies or sensitivities. What are your favorite gluten-free and dairy-free snacks and recipes? I’d love to add them to the list!
More Gluten Free Recipes
Easy Gluten Free Pumpkin Cheesecake
Delicious Cast Iron Skillet Beef and Potato Pie Comfort Food
This Cast Iron Skillet Beef and Potato Pie is a little taste of home. It is easy to make and will warm you right up.
How to Make Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix Recipe That Tastes Great
This taco seasoning recipe can be made in minutes. It is preservative-free, gluten-free, and easily customizable to make it your own!
Easy Mediterranean Garbanzo Bean Salad with Black Beans
This Mediterranean Garbanzo Bean Salad with Black Beans is quick and easy to make, and it’s packed with flavor. Plus, it’s loaded with fiber and protein, so it’s a great choice for a healthy meal.
Nourishing Homemade Chicken Broth You Can Make Today
Homemade chicken broth is a staple in our house. Whether using it as a base for soup, as a substitute for water while boiling potatoes or cooking rice, or enjoying a warm cup of broth when feeling under the weather, your home should never be without chicken broth.
Delicious Chicken Rice Bowl with Sriracha Mayo
This easy and delicious Vietnamese Chicken Rice Bowl with Sriracha Mayo is sure to hit the spot. The perfect spin on Banh Mi Bowls.
20 Scrumptious Gluten Free Blueberry Desserts For Your Next Gathering
Take advantage of fresh summer blueberries with these 20 gluten free blueberry desserts. From cobblers to cakes, from doughnuts to pies, these sweet treats are designed to enhance the delicious flavor of this popular berry.
25 Gluten Free Recipes to Add to Your Meal Plan Rotation
Don’t miss these delicious gluten free recipes to add to your meal plan rotation this month.
15 Delicious and Kid-Friendly Gluten-Free Meals to Stock Your Freezer
Staying gluten-free when you’re dining out can be a real challenge, but sometimes you’re busy or not feeling well, and you need a great meal, fast. That’s where freezer meals come in oh-so-handy.
Delicious Gluten-Free Hazelnut Waffles for Breakfast
I love Hazelnut Waffles for breakfast or brunch time (is the best recipe to make when you have people coming over) but it’s so good it can work as a dinner because we all pretty much know that there’s nothing quite as good as having breakfast food for dinner.
Gluten Free Peach Cobbler
Easy and delicious gluten free peach cobbler that is perfect for your next potluck or get together.
Crispy Parmesan Onion Chicken That is Easy and Gluten Free
Juicy with the right amount of crunch. A delicious melding of flavors the whole family will love.
Peanut Butter, Banana, and Chocolate Chip Greek Yogurt Breakfast Bowl
Peanut Butter, Banana, and Chocolate Chip Greek Yogurt Breakfast Bowls are the perfect healthy breakfast or snack, packed with calcium and protein
Angelique
Saturday 18th of March 2023
Oh my gosh-. I've had hair sample allergy testing done and I don't know what we are going to eat!
All of us highly reactive to dairy. I can't have any grains except barley and oats, but can still have rice- but my youngest son can only have Rye and oats.
We lists of other things that are out- one son can't have chicken, another can't have lamb, both can't have venison and I just had a wild deer caught and butchered ☹️. Apples are off the menu-another lunchbox staple....
Thank goodness we can still eat eggs while I figure out how we are going to do this! 😱
I'm hoping to find something useful in your site- thank you for sharing. You are right, it's so overwhelming.
Angie
Monday 11th of November 2019
Being gluten free is one thing but having celiac disease (an autoimmune disease) is altogether a different thing. Even pseudo grains can be cross contaminated with wheat in the growing process. The land to grow oats, or other gluten free “grains” may have wheat in the field growing with the gluten free grains if wheat was grown previously in it. I see corn growing along side of soybeans in fields all around me. So it’s very possible wheat does same thing when next crop is planted. The protein in these other substitutes can also be mistaken for gluten as their protein is molecularly similar and the immune system can get confused and think it’s wheat. For many celiacs they have to avoid many grains and pseudo grains due to this. Dairy protein is also very similar as well to wheat and why most celiacs have to avoid it too. Just thought I’d share this to help others understand. My family has to be all “grain” free and dairy free. We have autoimmune issues and any grain confuses it so we use the AIP way of eating.
Rachel
Tuesday 14th of August 2018
Rice is completely gluten free. I think many people substitute quinoa for rice in these recipes because of it's higher protein content and because it's an ancient grain thus considered less processed. Your recipes look yummy, I can't wait to try a few of them!
Vanessa
Friday 18th of May 2018
Thanks for sharing! I am excited to make the carrot cake protein bars!
Suzanne
Friday 18th of May 2018
THis is a great list! They are unique and tasty ideas!