Healthy Habits - GF Snacking

 With more than 1.3 million Americans on gluten-free diets—including many school-aged kids—I wanted to spotlight allergy-friendly lunchbox snacks.

I had a chance to learn about GF options in this interview with Mightylicious founder Carolyn Haeler.

Why was Mightylicious created?

Mightylicious gluten free cookies is the creation and passion of founder, Carolyn Haeler.  A lifelong foodie, Carolyn’s love language has always been baking.  In 2012, at the age of 31, she was diagnosed with celiac disease - a diagnosis that would change her life for better and for worse.  

After 9 months of illness, she was finally able to heal her body from the inside out. Carolyn became passionate about functional ingredients, nutrition, and living a gluten-free lief.  Of course, this came with challenges. She found that many gluten-free products on the market were uninspiring when it came to taste and texture.  For someone who’s love language is baking, this broke her heart.  She didn’t mourn for herself, she mourned for the thousands of children and adults who are diagnosed with celiac disease every year, who would never know what a delicious cookie, cake, muffin, etc. should taste like. 

 

In 2017, Carolyn purchased a box of store-bought gluten free cookies which she opened on her way home from work. The cookies were so stale and bland that she threw them away immediately. 

Carolyn went  to work to create a good tasting GF cookie.  After months of trial and error, the result is a cookie that is delicious, indulgent, and better-4-you. In 2020, Carolyn was asked by Whole Foods Markets to create a vegan and gluten free cookie.  Unsure if this was possible, she turned to her grandmother’s 100-year-old family recipe for oatmeal coconut cookies.  To her surprise, with a few adjustments her innovative flour blend worked brilliantly, and today Vegan Oatmeal Coconut is her best-selling flavor. 

 

Mightylicious hit the shelves of Whole Foods Markets  Northeast division in January of 2018, just 6 months after Mightylicious was Incorporated. In 2021, Mightylicious raised $5M in capital via crowd funding site Republic.co.

Why is it important for kids with special dietary needs to be able to have similar foods to their peers, especially in a classroom setting?

Often kids on Gluten free diets want to eat what all the other kids are eating at lunch time or snack time. We don’t want them to feel left out, or different, just because they are Gluten Free. Today there are so many good gluten free options. Often classes have birthday parties, or themed lunches (like pizza day), so if gluten free kids can partake in the same food festivities, that makes them feel included.

What are some ways that parents and caregivers can make sure their gluten-free kids are safe when they're at school or other activities?

Here are some Smart Tips for Supporting Your Gluten-Free kids so That they are Safe

1. Start with the School Staff: Meet with school nutrition and administrative teams to discuss gluten-free policies and substitutions.

2. Ask About Cross-Contamination Protocols: Understand how shared surfaces and utensils are handled.

3. Loop in the Teachers: Let teachers know what your child can’t eat—and what snacks are safe to keep on hand.

4. Plan Inclusive Classroom Events: Encourage gluten-free, allergy-safe snacks for parties and celebrations.

5. Monitor Craft Supplies: Watch for hidden gluten in items like play dough, papier-mâché, or envelope glue.

6. Teach Your Child to Politely Decline Food: Empower them to say no to food shared by classmates.

7. Practice Good Hygiene: Handwashing before eating helps minimize accidental gluten exposure.

8. Make a Gluten-Free Lunch Checklist: Use it to guide grocery shopping and meal prep.

9. Pack Lunches Together: Prep the night before to avoid morning stress and encourage independence.

10. Pack to Share: Add an extra treat so your child can show classmates how tasty gluten-free can be!

Mightylicious Gluten Free Cookies are vailable in seven delicious varieties (including vegan and vegetarian options), these cookies are:

• Individually wrapped – perfect for lunchboxes and safe sharing

• Certified Gluten-Free, Non-GMO, and Kosher

• Made with clean, allergy-conscious ingredients