If you're following a grain free diet, then you've likely researched the foods that you can and can't enjoy. And while you may be an expert at making some pretty delicious grain and gluten free recipes, it's essential that you continue to switch things up and add new ingredients into your weekly meal rotation.
Changing up lunchtime every once in a while will help ensure that a grain free diet is one that you enjoy and keep you from getting stuck in a recipe rut. Continue reading for a boost of inspiration and discover our favorite grain free lunch ideas with this complete guide.
How to Choose a Grain Free Recipe
When choosing a grain free recipe to make for this week's upcoming lunch, there are a few tips and tricks you'll want to consider first. By following the tips below, you can ensure that your vegan recipe is a success and that it fits into your busy schedule.
Consider Preparation Time
Before deciding on a recipe to make, review your schedule for the week and see how much time you'll be able to set aside to prepare your meals. If some days are busier than others, you'll want to choose grain free lunches that you can prep ahead or make in minutes and leave the more time-consuming recipes for days when your calendar isn't as booked.
Slow cooker recipes are also an excellent hands-off way to create a time-consuming meal without actually spending hours in the kitchen. Simply prep your slow cooker recipe and let it simmer as you accomplish other tasks on your to-do list. Looking at your schedule before planning out your recipes will help you create a varied veggie lunch menu that you'll look forward to eating.
Know the Contents of Your Kitchen
To avoid having to run to the grocery store mid-week, check the contents of your refrigerator, freezer and pantry before choosing your lunch recipes. By doing so, you'll have a better idea about what you already have in your kitchen and the recipes you can create. If there are ingredients that you need to purchase, write them down and make a quick run to the grocery store at the beginning of the week when you have time.
This will prevent you from making multiple trips or wrecking a recipe last minute because you don't have the required ingredients. When analyzing the foods already in your kitchen, be sure to check for expiration dates and use up any foods that may be spoiling soon.
Stay Within Budget
Not every lunch recipe has to have a unique list of ingredients. In fact, there are several ways that you can use the same handful of ingredients to create completely different meals. Know the ingredients you already have and the ones you need and check your local grocery store for weekly sales and inspiration. Planning out your grain free lunches around a set of ingredients will help you maximize your grocery budget and create meals with greater ease.
Quick & Easy Grain Free Lunch Ideas
Now that you know how to choose a grain free recipe, it's time to discover which meals you'd like to add to your weekly menu. To help you get started, we've listed some of our favorite quick and easy grain free healthy lunch ideas below.
Pizza
Pizza is a favorite lunch, no matter what type of diet you follow. At first, when beginning a grain free diet, you may think that pizza is one of the foods you'll have to cut out. While you may not be able to enjoy the traditional pizza, there are several different ways you can make this popular dish grain free. One of which is by using cassava flour. By using a grain free flour like our Bob's Red Mill Cassava Flour, you can create a Cassava Pizza Crust that's gluten and grain free and delicious. Top it with your favorite sauces, veggies, meats and more!
Baguette
Turn your meal up a notch by making French-inspired baguette sandwiches. An easy-to-make and filling lunch made with gluten free bread. This Grain Free Baguette or Hoagie Buns recipe makes it simple to turn your favorite sandwich into a grain free one. By swapping traditional flour with our Grain Free Flatbread Mix making baguettes becomes effortless. Fill it with your favorite sandwich ingredients or choose from one of the French classics below.
- Jambon Beurre- Made with butter, french ham and emmental or gruyere cheese.
- Chèvre Tomate Sandwich- Made with goat cheese, tomato, olive oil, dried french herbs and arugula. Optional: add French ham.
- Pan Bagnat- made with olive oil-soaked baguette, tuna, olives, capers and anchovies.
Almond Butter
Are you searching for the ultimate quick and easy grain free lunch? Make a smoothie with this delicious Protein Almond Butter. Smoothies are an excellent way to pack your meals with loads of nutrients. And, if you have picky eaters in the household, they can also be used to sneak veggies like kale, spinach and broccoli in without changing the flavor.
The next time you're craving a highly nutritious smoothie and don't want to run to the store for almond butter, use Bob's Red Mill Almond Protein Powder instead. By mixing this protein powder with a little bit of water and salt, you can create a creamy, rich spread in just minutes. Not feeling a smoothie? Use it as a delicious yogurt topping or grain free sandwich ingredient.
Grain Free Slider Buns
Running out of gluten free lunch ideas? Sliders are the ideal quick and easy lunch to serve if you're expecting guests. Because sliders can be stuffed with just about anything, you can cater to guests' unique taste preferences by setting out a few different filling options.
More fun than large sandwiches, these Grain Free Slider Buns are not only cute, but they are a lot more fun than large sandwiches. Made with our Grain Free Flatbread Mix, they take the guesswork out of grain free baking and make it easy to enjoy a grain free lunch no matter where you are. To ensure that you always have something tasty to bite into, prep a batch of these buns at the beginning of the week and store them in the freezer until you're ready to eat.
Focaccia
Who doesn't love focaccia bread? If you're looking for a lunch recipe that will satisfy everyone at the table, we recommended making this Grain Free Focaccia Bread Recipe. It’s packed with all of the traditional flavors of focaccia. This dish uses our Grain Free Flatbread Mix to create an authentic tasting bread that you're bound to love. Top it with garlic, red pepper flakes, parsley and olive oil and pair it with a side salad or soup for a true treat.
Garbanzo Bean Flour Tortillas
The perfect way to celebrate Taco Tuesday entirely grain free, cook up a batch of these Garbanzo Bean Flour Tortillas for all of your taco needs. An ideal recipe for those allergic to grains, gluten, or corn, they're made with Bob's Red Mill Garbanzo Bean Flour which creates the perfect texture for tacos. Fill them with meat, fish, or a protein of your choice and top with wholesome fixings like cilantro, tomato, onion and avocado.
Creamy Fruit Salad
With warmer weather rolling in, you're likely searching for more refreshing lunch recipes. This Creamy Fruit Salad is one of our favorite sweet and refreshing recipes to date. A sweet and light lunch that doubles as a dessert, this salad is an updated version of the 1950's classic and uses greek yogurt, freshly whipped cream and unsweetened shredded coconut to replicate the traditional flavors. Enjoy it as a quick treat, as a side dish, or an after-dinner dessert. We're confident that it will quickly become one of your favorite grain free recipes.
Peanut Butter Spice Shake
We recommend making this Peanut Butter Spice Shake for a quick lunch recipe that you can prepare beforehand and grab on your way out the door. Loaded with creamy flavor, it contains a boost of protein from our Almond Protein Powder, making it a nutrient-packed treat. Made with hulled hemp seed, unsweetened vanilla almond milk, peanut butter and spinach, it's plant-based and the perfect lunch to curb your hunger pains until dinnertime.
The next time you're in a crunch and are searching for quick and easy grain free lunch ideas, try making one of the recipes on this list. By planning out your meals beforehand and preparing the ingredients in your kitchen, you can ensure that a grain free meal can be made in a matter of minutes, no matter what day it is! From everyone at Bob's Red Mill, we wish you a happy and filling day!
Have a grain free lunch recipe that you'd like us to try out? We'd love to hear more about it. Share your favorite lunch recipes with us in the comments below!
