School Lunch and Snack Ideas without Nuts

If your child has a peanut and/or tree-nut allergy (or doesn’t have an allergy but is in a nut-free classroom) packing a school lunch or snack can require extra thought and planning. Luckily, we’ve compiled some of our favorite lunches and snacks with tons of flavor — and no nuts!

Avocado, Lettuce and Tomato Pita Pockets

Avocado, Lettuce and Tomato Pita Pockets

Now that school has started, you want to send your children off with a nutritious lunch, something they’ll enjoy that will leave them satisfied. But for kids with peanut and/or tree-nut allergies and for those in nut-free classrooms, packing a school lunch or serving a simple snack requires a bit of extra thought and planning.  

With a variety of ideas and recipes such as kid-friendly Tuna Bites with Tahini-Yogurt Dipping Sauce opens in a new tab and Cauliflower and Broccoli Tots opens in a new tab, you can feed your kids nutritious delicious foods you can feel good about. Remember seeds make great nut replacements in most every recipe, so virtually no recipe is off limits. And, when choosing pre-packaged foods, be sure to read labels thoroughly as nuts can turn up where you least expect.

Cauliflower and Broccoli Tots

Cauliflower and Broccoli Tots

These ideas and recipes are simple and portable and can be enjoyed for lunch or as an after-school snack.

Waldorf Chicken and Pasta Salad

In addition, peanut and nut butter substitutes opens in a new tab such as soy nut butter, sesame tahini, sunflower seed butter and pumpkin seed butter are readily available or are easy to make at home. Use them for your favorite smoothies, sandwiches, spreads, dips and baked goods recipes. The good news is they are easily interchangeable in recipes, so go ahead with that favorite peanut butter cookie recipe using sunflower seed butter instead.

What are your ideas for school lunches and after-school snacks without nuts? Let us know. 

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