Looking for gluten-free menu planning inspiration? In this article, we’ll look at an extensive list of Preschool/Kindergarten menu ideas for Tag-init/Tag-araw (Dry season).
Want help planning out your menus? We’ve created a Preschool/Kindergarten menu planner that you can use to store meal ideas, take notes and plan your term meals.
Contents
In today’s diverse dietary landscape, understanding and catering to varying nutritional needs has become more than just a courtesy; it’s a necessity. Among the most prevalent dietary concerns that have emerged over recent years is gluten sensitivity and celiac disease. While most adults have the agency to navigate these dietary restrictions, young children, especially those in preschools, rely on caretakers and educators to ensure their meals are both nutritious and safe. Gluten-free meal planning in preschools isn’t merely a trend; it’s a crucial measure to safeguard the health and well-being of children who cannot tolerate gluten. With an increase in gluten-related disorders, the need to weave gluten-free alternatives into preschool menus has never been more essential. Let’s look at some examples of healthy, cost-effective meals, using local seasonal ingredients, that you can put on the gluten-free menu for children during Tag-init/Tag-araw (Dry season) in your Preschool/Kindergarten kitchen in the Philippines.
1. Tinolang Manok (Chicken Ginger Soup): A traditional Filipino soup made with chicken, ginger, and vegetables like green papaya or chayote. Serve with steamed rice or gluten-free noodles.
2. Sinigang na Bangus (Milkfish Sour Soup): A tangy soup made with milkfish, tamarind, and various vegetables like kangkong (water spinach) and radish. Serve with steamed rice or gluten-free bread.
3. Ginisang Ampalaya (Sautéed Bitter Melon): Bitter melon stir-fried with garlic, onions, and tomatoes. Serve with gluten-free rice or as a side dish with grilled fish or chicken.
4. Adobong Sitaw (Stir-fried Yardlong Beans): Yardlong beans cooked in a tangy and savory sauce made with vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic. Serve with gluten-free rice and grilled chicken or tofu.
5. Pinakbet (Mixed Vegetable Stew): A flavorful stew made with a variety of vegetables like eggplant, okra, squash, and bitter melon, cooked in shrimp paste. Serve with gluten-free rice or quinoa.
6. Ginataang Kalabasa at Sitaw (Squash and Yardlong Beans in Coconut Milk): A creamy and comforting dish made with squash, yardlong beans, and coconut milk. Serve with gluten-free rice or corn tortillas.
7. Inihaw na Liempo (Grilled Pork Belly): Marinated pork belly grilled to perfection. Serve with gluten-free rice and a side of fresh cucumber and tomato salad.
8. Ginisang Upo (Sautéed Bottle Gourd): Bottle gourd cooked with garlic, onions, and tomatoes. Serve with gluten-free rice and grilled fish or chicken.
9. Sinampalukang Manok (Chicken Tamarind Soup): A sour soup made with chicken, tamarind, and various vegetables like kangkong and radish. Serve with gluten-free rice or cornbread.
10. Ensaladang Talong (Grilled Eggplant Salad): Grilled eggplant mixed with tomatoes, onions, and vinegar dressing. Serve as a side dish with gluten-free rice and grilled fish or chicken.
11. Ginisang Sayote (Sautéed Chayote): Chayote cooked with garlic, onions, and tomatoes. Serve with gluten-free rice and grilled fish or chicken.
12. Nilagang Baka (Beef Vegetable Soup): A hearty soup made with beef, potatoes, cabbage, and other seasonal vegetables. Serve with gluten-free rice or cornbread.
13. Ginisang Pechay (Sautéed Bok Choy): Bok choy stir-fried with garlic and oyster sauce. Serve with gluten-free rice and grilled fish or chicken.
14. Sinigang na Hipon (Shrimp Sour Soup): A tangy soup made with shrimp, tamarind, and various vegetables like kangkong and radish. Serve with gluten-free rice or corn tortillas.
15. Ginataang Mais (Sweet Corn in Coconut Milk): Sweet corn cooked in coconut milk and sugar. Serve as a dessert or snack option for the children.
These meals incorporate commonly-used, seasonal local ingredients in the Philippines during the dry season. They are gluten-free, healthy, and cost-effective options suitable for 3-5 year-old children at kindergarten
Click the button above to get our planner that can be used to store menu ideas, take notes and plan your term meals.
| Location | Philippines |
|---|---|
| Diet | Gluten-Free |
