Do you have a child who is gluten free or have your child’s friend coming to a party and you need some gluten free kids party food ideas? Here are some great tips on gluten free kids party food you need to know about.
It is always a great idea to reach out to parents prior to a party to see if there are any food allergies or intolerances when you are hosting. When my daughter is attending a party and the parent doesn’t ask, I always reach out to let them know that she is gluten free and to ask them if there is anything she can bring along so there are some gluten free kids party food options there for her.
Pizza
Kids love pizza at their parties, and it is a staple when our daughter attends any friend’s birthday parties. To ensure that every kid can enjoy a gluten free option, it is super easy to order a gluten free pizza for the kids who need it. Almost every major chain has a gluten free option. Some are better than others and even taste as fluffy as the real thing. The best order in gluten free pizza we have found is through Panago, Fresh Slice, and Dominos.
If you are looking to do bake at home pizza. There are many options for gluten free pizza. You can buy crust kits and then add your own toppings. Or you can buy pre-made pizzas and throw them in the oven. We love the Sabastasso’s Gluten Free Four Cheese Pizza from Costco. It is a plain cheese pizza and we often add toppings like fresh basil, ham, pepperoni, and pineapple. The options are endless and yummy!
Hot Dogs or Burgers
Hot dogs or burgers are a classic party food, especially if your party is a barbeque style party. It is easy to offer gluten free options when preparing for a large group that include gluten free kids.
To ensure you have a safe option, just ensure you buy hotdogs that do not have wheat filler. A quick label check will help you determine if there are wheat filler. Most hot dogs that say 100% beef or 100% pork do not have this filler. It is critical to read the label as brands can be pretty sneaky with their filler.
Once you have the gluten free hot dogs picked out, you can grab some gluten free buns from your grocery store bakery or freezer section, and voila, you have a gluten free party food for your kids attending.
Additionally, burgers are much the same as hotdogs. If you are buying pre-prepared patties, read the labels. We find that about 50% of the pre-packaged burgers out there have wheat filler in them and the price point or brand doesn’t always give you a clue on their gluten free status. The burgers that are 100% beef with a little bit of seasoning are safe for the gluten free kids.
Just like with the hotdogs, jump over to the bakery or frozen food section to get some gluten free hamburger buns and you are set!
Chips
Kids love chips! They inhale them as soon as the bowl hits the table. Did you know that many varieties of chips are gluten free? Chips are traditionally made from potatoes and many of them have seasonings on them that are gluten free.
As long as the chip is potato based, just take a quick look at the label to see if they are gluten free.
My Daughter’s Favorite Brands Are:
Old Dutch
Chips to Watch Out For as They Contain Gluten Are:
Sunchips
Pringles
Some Salt and Vinegar Chips if they are made with Malt Vinegar
Cheese puffs – read the label as some are fine and others have wheat mixed in
Popcorn
Who doesn’t love popcorn? Popcorn is the perfect gluten free kids party food because it is easy, simple, and naturally gluten free. Your partygoers will gobble it up. If you want to get creative, you can add flavor toppings or put out flavor toppings and the kids can create their own. But beware, kiddos can get pretty wild with their flavor combinations.
Our favorite popcorn seasonings are the Canadian favorite from Kernels. You can get them here.
For an American option, Kernal Seasons brand is a must have. They have fun variety packs that you can get here.
Tortilla Chips
Traditional tortilla chips are made from corn which makes them gluten free. For a gluten free kids party, you can throw out a bowl of chips with some salsa, sour cream and guacamole for an easy finger food.
If you want to create a warm gluten free kids party food option, you can take the tortilla chips and melt cheese over them. Depending on the age of the kids and how picky they are, adding other toppings like tomatoes, peppers, and cilantro can create a decadent snack. Add your sour cream, salsa, and guac on the side. Whenever our daughter has kids over, we find the basic cheese works well as kids can be so picky!
On a side note, don’t grab any tortilla chips that say “whole grain” or “multigrain.” These words mean they added wheat flour into the corn to make the chips.
Gummy Candy
Sugary candy is a right of passage for kids, they love to get hyper off the sugar and run around wild. There are many options for gluten free kids party food candy out there. Gummy candies are often some of the easiest to find gluten free as they are made with gelatin and often don’t need wheat as a filler like some chocolates do.
Gummy Candies That Are Typically Gluten Free:
- Sour patch kids. My daughter inhales these at a sickening rate, but boy does she love them!
- Gummy Bears
- Worms
- Sour Soothers
- Life Savers Gummies
- Trolli Brand – peachie, sour crawlers, and strawberry puffs
- Swedish Berries
- Fuzzy Peaches
- Skittles – while not completely gummy, they are hard on the outside and chewy on the inside
- Nerds both hard and gummy style
Gummy Candy to Avoid includes:
- Twizzlers
- Nibs
- Dollar Store Brands – these often have fillers and are not gluten free
Ice Cream
If your party is for kids or a birthday, ice cream is a classic staple item. Many varieties and flavors are gluten free. The easiest way to pick an ice cream is to check the label and exclude any options that have cookie crumble, brownie batter, or other baking like chunks in them.
For the gluten free kids at this party, you can easily have all gluten free ice cream options, or one tub that is specifically for those who need to eat gluten free. Ice cream is a great additive to the dessert you are serving or you can put out a bunch of candies like listed above and make ice cream sundaes.
Cake or Cupcakes
If your gluten free kids party is a birthday party, you will most likely have a cake or cupcakes to celebrate the special birthday kiddo. Cake or cupcakes are the most challenging part. My daughter is often disappointed when she goes to a party and the delicious looking dessert isn’t safe.
This is why we always touch base with the other parents to make them aware of her allergy and to ask about allergies when we are hosting.
If there won’t be a gluten free dessert option for her, we always send along something, so she doesn’t feel left out. On these occasions, I typically grab a gluten free cupcake mix and whip up a batch that she can take with her. There are many mixes out there, but we tend to use the Betty Crocker ones as they come out as similar to the gluten filled options. This mix is a great option if you are hosting and gluten free kids are attending!
Hosting a party with gluten free kids party food doesn’t have to be overwhelming. There are so many easy options out there. A little bit of label reading, and smart swamps will help you create a party the kids will remember for years!
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