I’ve written about this before because it has been one of the hardest things to adjust to since having a child who is on a gluten free diet. Breakfasts are fairly easy to accommodate, as are lunch and supper, but the snacks and treats I run into trouble with.
I need ideas of things that we can grab quickly or bring with us when we go out. Also, my son is growing like a weed and like any growing boy, he is hungry almost all of the time!
I have been adding to my list of gluten free snack ideas over time and have made it into a printable list. I find that having the list somewhere prominent like my fridge helps jog my memory. That way, I can refer to it whenever I’m stuck to think of what to include in the kids lunches or offer for after school snacks.
Gluten Free Snack Ideas:
- carrots, cucumbers, celery
- carrots with honey mustard dip
- apples
- rice crackers and cheese
- gluten free snack mix
- rice crackers and hummus
- apples and caramel
- frozen grapes
- sweet potato fries (homemade or by Alexia)
- sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds
- peanut butter, hummus, or baba ghanouj on rice cakes
- oranges
- salsa and tortilla chips
- guacamole and tortilla chips
- hard boiled eggs
- popcorn
- popsicles
- raisins or craisins
- cream cheese on a rice cake, topped with jam
- pudding
- jello
- gluten free Chex mix
- Glutino pretzels
- trail mix (Gorilla Munch, mini marshmallows, raisins, sunflower seeds, nuts)
- pickles
- chocolate milk
- gluten free rice krispie squares (these can be made ahead, cut up, and frozen)
- peppers
- pineapple
- cottage cheese
- zucchini
- gluten free cookies
- applesauce
- homemade lunchables (gluten free sausage, cheese, rice crackers)
- gluten free pumpkin muffins
- bananas
- snap peas
- broccoli or cauliflower with dip
- yogourt or frozen yogourt
- tzatziki with red peppers
- garbanzo beans
- fruit leather
- gluten free luncheon meat rolled up in lettuce
- pickled asparagus, carrots, or jarred olives
- kiwi, cantaloupe, honeydew, strawberries, grapes, cherries
- frozen berries
- fruit salad
- Sensible Portions Veggie Straws or Veggie Chips
- Surprise Spread with tortilla chips or rice crackers
- gluten free mini muffins made ahead and frozen
- gluten free cinnamon buns
- Muddy Buddies made with gf Chex
- dried mangoes or pineapple
- quesadillas made with gf tortillas
- kale chips
- apple sandwiches – spread apple slice with peanut or almond butter, sprinkle with gf granola, raisins, coconut, chocolate chips, or mini marshmallows and top with another apple slice
- smoothies
- fruit kabob
- ants on a log – celery stick filled with peanut butter, almond butter or cream cheese and topped with raisins
- frozen yogourt made either by freezing drops on a cookie sheet or by filling fun shaped ice cube containers and freezing them
- snow ice cream
- dry gf cereal
- Udi’s gf granola on yogourt or applesauce
- pickled beets, carrots, beans or asparagus
- fruit salad
- frozen yogourt dipped strawberries or blueberries
- parmesan crisps
- chickpeas roasted with olive oil, paprika or cayenne or curry and garlic
- baked egg in avocado – half an avocado, crack egg in center, sprinkle with pepper, salt and cheese and bake until egg is cooked
- devilled eggs
- shrimp cocktail
- black or green olives
- toast made with gf bread
- California rolls
- potato puffs
- tuna salad wrapped in lettuce
- microwave s’mores using gf graham crackers
- gf bacon wrapped dates – secure with a toothpick and bake
- baby tomato, cheese and gherkin pickle on a toothpick
- edamame beans
- red and yellow peppers
- pineapple slices
- organic tortilla chips
- gluten free sausage
- four cheese rice crackers
- orange slices
- sushi
- gluten free Granola Muffins
- mini pizzas made on a gluten free English muffin
- gf luncheon meat and cheese or cream cheese rolled in a gf tortilla
- banana sliced down middle and filled with peanut or almond butter
- pomegranate seeds
- greek salad or quinoa greek salad
- gluten free granola bars
- gluten free brownies (Udi’s makes good ones and the mix from Bulk Barn is good too)
Click here to grab your printable list of gluten free snack ideas.
If you’re looking for gluten free meal ideas, we have a Gluten Free Freezer Meal Plan that includes recipes, shopping lists, prep lists, and printable labels. Having the meals made ahead eases another worry for me. 
Your list is great. I struggle with snack too. Tom Sawyer can not manage rice or corn either. I have never tried the avacado with an egg. That should be interesting.
Blessings, Dawn
Not being able to do rice or corn either would be so hard! I don’t know how you manage. The avocado and egg is pretty yummy! You can also add cheese on top if your kids can do dairy.
It is really food. Our oldest made them.
We love Gratify pretzels. I’ve found them to be less expensive that Glutino.
Thank you for that tip…we’ll have to try those out!
This is a great list! I’m copying to a document so I can print to hang on the fridge. Thanks!
These are great. I’m always looking for more gluten free snack ideas!
Bananas have a reaction to people with gluten intolerance/celiac a lot of times. Be careful when you make these lists.
I agree. Bulk Barn can have cross contamination as well as some yogurts have gluten.
But not all people, so I think you just have to be sensible and take what works for you from this wonderful list that this wonderfulMom has gone to a lot of trouble to make to make our lives easier. I applaud you, Sharla, for making this very comprehensive list that makes so many lives simpler. Yes, there may be certain things on the list that I can’t eat but I will just not eat them and be ver, very grateful to you for providing me with so many options that I no longer have to wrack my brain to think up!👏💕💕
A great comprehensive list of gluten free snacks!
Peanut Butter cookies are good too, and packed with protien. Could also be Sugar-free!
1 Cup Peanut Butter
1 Cup Sugar or Coconut sugar
1 egg
Mix peanut butter and sugar together with hand mixer on low until creamed. Mix in egg. Let chill for 10-15 minutes or until slightly firm. Bake at 350° for 15-30 minutes, let cool on pan for 5 minutes, then transfer carefully unto rack. Enjoy either with milk or all by itself!
Thanks for the suggestion Thea!
My kid won’t eat hardly any of the fruits or veggies so minus the pretzels and puddings there are hardly any options. She hates cheese, raisins, avacados and won’t eat any meat that doesn’t have a crunchy breading. This is the pickiest child and now she can’t have gluten and I’m having such a hard time finding things she’ll like, especially non fruit and veggie snacks. Anybody have any additional ideas for me? I’m desperate.
I really like pretzels with cream cheese
I think Snyder’s GF pretzels are the best tasting so I usually use those. I have also tried a variety of different flavors for cream cheese so if there is a certain flavor she likes, I can almost guarantee that it will last good. If she likes nuts and is not allergic, Emerald makes a variety of different almond and nut blend flavors. They are so good and most are gluten free. The peanut butter chocolate ones are my favorite and the cocoa roast ones! Hope this helps!
I meant to say it will “…taste good” not “…last good”. sorry about that!
Have you tried dr. Pragers spinach littles or other frozen things? They are like healthy tater tots (kind of lol) and they are gluten free and delicious!!!
Thanks for the tip!
You can bread all kinds of meats with crushed cereal that is ok for your child (Rice chex perhaps). If she can have dairy parmesean cheese coating on meat is wonderful also. Potato chips crushed are also wonderful for breading.
Instead of breadcrumbs use crushed pom bear crisps…
Thanks for the ideas. However, the graham crackers you suggest would most likely be made with graham wheat flour.
Hi mj, the graham crackers suggested were a gluten free variety, not regular graham crackers.
Please help I’m trying to do a wine basket four gluten free niece. I have no clue on what to put inn it. Can gluten free people eat any kind of chocolate nuts or cheese? Thanks
Most cheeses are gluten free, but avoid overly processed cheeses. Chocolate and nuts are not always gluten free (sometimes the seasoning on the nuts contains gluten) but it is fairly easy to find both in a gluten free variety. Read labels carefully and you should be fine!
Do you have a printable list?
What a great list of snacks! You have many of my favorite snacks and my all time easiest party snack – bacon wrapped dates!
This is so terrific! Thanks for your huge effort! I want to eat at your house!
I work in a church preschool and am trying to expand our snack options for GF kiddos that are also nut free. Any suggestions on nonperishable snacks? Thank you!