How to Make Nutritious Gluten-Free Meals Kids Actually Like

As you know, cooking for children is a tough job. Eliminate kid favorites like mac and cheese, spaghetti and pizza, and it just gets ten times tougher. When your kids have celiac disease or gluten sensitivities, there's a lot to watch out for. Use these tips to make nutritious, gluten-free meals your kids will love.

Know What to Watch Out For

It only takes a tiny bit of gluten to cause a reaction, so it's important that all sources of gluten are kept separate—separate cutting boards for gluten-free and regular bread, separate toasters and separate jars of peanut butter and condiments. Check this list of ingredients to avoid.

Go Natural

There are more gluten-free products on the market today, but many are low in fiber and minerals. Lots of gluten-free baked goods are made with refined grains, such as white rice or potato flour. Try to choose naturally gluten-free grains that are also high in fiber, like:

• Brown rice
• Quinoa
• Corn
• Buckwheat
• Amaranth

Plan it Out

With proper planning and openness to trying new foods, you can make sure your kids love what they eat and avoid a bad reaction. Try these ideas:

Breakfast: Gluten-Free Banana Chocolate Muffins and a glass of low-fat milk

Snack: Big Flavor Chicken Dippers made with PERDUE^® SIMPLY SMART^® Organics Gluten-Free Breaded Chicken Tenders

Snack: Raw veggies, such as baby carrots, red pepper strips or sugar snap peas, with hummus

Lunch: Coconut Gluten-Free Chicken Nuggets made with PERDUE^® SIMPLY SMART^® Organics Gluten Free Breaded Chicken Nuggets

Dinner: Oven Baked Molasses Drumsticks with brown rice and steamed broccoli

More Gluten-Free Recipes