This article was sponsored by ALDI. All opinions are my own.

Good morning! I’ve been receiving so many emails from many of the mom’s out there asking me for ideas on what to pack for the kiddos for healthy ‘clean eating’ back to school lunchbox ideas that don’t break the bank. So, I teamed up with ALDI (who I love because their prices are so fabulous and affordable) and their liveGfree products to bring you a few fun ideas today and some tasty recipes next Friday. So, get your pen and pad ready for a fun way to jazz up your kids lunchboxes the gluten-free (and healthy) way that will have them smiling from ear to ear. What momma doesn’t want that?

So, here is a handy little guide you can use, print out and put on your fridge for every lunchbox you put together. It’s important to make sure all of these categories are included in each lunch to make it a well-rounded meal, especially for growing kids.

This guide also works for adults, as well- so it’s not just for kids. Whether you’re in college, working in a corporate office or packing lunches for the kiddies, these suggestions will help you round out your lunch so that you can rest assured you’re getting the nutrients and building blocks that you need in every bite full of goodness.

Sound good?

Start with selecting one or two foods from each category to build your lunch. To make it easier for you, I created a few examples of a lovely lunchbox lunch:

Lunchbox #1:

• Fiber: SimplyNature Organic Mixed salad greens, halved grape tomatoes, diced cucumbers, fresh parsley
• Protein: Southern Grove Sunflower seeds
• Healthy Fat: Avocado and Carlini Pure Olive Oil
• Complex Carb: SimplyNature Organic Quinoa and liveGfree Gluten Free Multi-Seed Crackers
• Flavor Booster: Fresh squeezed lemon juice
  • Toss all of these ingredients in a large bowl and season to taste with sea salt and pepper. Pack in a sealed container in the lunchbox with a spoon and you’re all set!

Lunchbox #2:

• Fiber: Finely chopped romaine lettuce, fresh cilantro, diced apple
• Protein: Organic chicken, diced
• Healthy Fat: Carlini Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Complex Carb: Diced, roasted sweet potatoes and Fit & Active Brown Rice or 1 slice toasted liveGfree Gluten Free Whole Grain Bread
• Flavor Booster: Drizzled creamy almond butter
  • Toss all of these ingredients in a large bowl and season to taste with sea salt and pepper. Pack in a sealed container in the lunchbox with a spoon and you’re all set!

Your Guide to the Building Blocks of the Most Fabulous Lunchbox

Fiber:

• Veggies (all veggies)
• Fruits (all fruits)
• Southern Grove Ground Flaxseeds
• Southern Grove Chia Seeds
• Complex Carbs (see list below)
• Fresh herbs (cilantro, basil, chives, parsley, scallions, etc.)

Protein:

• Raw nuts (almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, walnuts)
• Raw seeds (chia, flaxseeds, pumpkin, sunflower)
• Beans
• Lentils
• Organic animal products (chicken, turkey, eggs)

Healthy Fats:

• Healthy oils (extra-virgin olive oil and coconut oil)
• Avocado or Little Salad Bar Guacamole
• Fresh coconut
• Raw nuts (almonds, cashews, walnuts)
• Raw seeds (chia, flaxseeds, pumpkin, sunflower)

Complex Carbs:

• Gluten-Free whole grains such as quinoa, millet, sorghum, wild rice, black rice, brown rice, buckwheat
• liveGfree Gluten-Free pasta
• liveGfree Gluten-Free Whole Grain bread
• liveGfree Gluten-Free Multi-Seed Crackers
• liveGfree Gluten-Free Granola
• liveGfree Gluten-Free Cereal
• Beans
• Lentils
• Little Salad Bar Hummus
• Pumpkin, winter squash, sweet potatoes and other starchy vegetables

Flavor Boosters:

• Fresh lemon juice
• Fresh lime juice
• Fresh herbs (cilantro, basil, etc.)
• Stonemill Essentials Chili powder, cayenne pepper
• Lemon zest
• Baker’s Corner Unsweetened Coconut Flakes
• SimplyNature Organic Salsa
• Stonemill Essentials Premium Flavored Sea Salts
• Nut  butters

So, now you’re set for packing up a box of lunch that’s sure to please even the littlest taste buds. Whip up a lunch that you can feel good about serving to your kids without spending a ton of money by using the guide above. Let me know how your lunches come out; I’d love to hear about them!

Something I didn’t realize until I had a field day in ALDI and literally ran down every aisle like a little kid was that they also sell back to school supplies as part of their Special Buys during the weeks of 8/5 and 8/12. These products are available while quantities last and not all items may be available in stores so pop by your local ALDI before these great products are gone! Oh, how I wish this store was around when I was a kid. I remember my Pop Pop shopping at ALDI years ago and he raved over the prices and selection- I guess I should have listened to him! You can head on over and check out ALDI on Facebook for more fun ideas.

Certain products are available while quantities last. All products may not be available in all stores. Prices subject to change.

This post was sponsored by ALDI. All opinions are my own.