Lunch Ideas for those who prefer gluten-free sandwiches, subs, sliders and wraps.

If you’re still on the fence about bread, more specifically carbs, but still want
the sensation of a sandwich or a slider, you’re in luck.

Thanks to some very creative folks, you can still have that ham and cheese sub,
slider or a wrap.

Their creatives ideas for going “grain-free” will have you substituting those
belly-bloating grains for vegetables.

Vegetables?

Yes, vegetables like collards, tomatoes and cucumbers.

Still not convinced?
No problem, just continue reading for more details.

a) Alternatives To Wraps-
Gaining in popularity, the wrap is used like a burrito to hold everything
from luncheon meats to Tex-Mex ingredients to chicken salad.
And you can make your own alternative to the wrap using collards.
They’re those big and darker greens that are popular and loved by people
in the South and African-American households.
Their large leaf size and sturdy texture make them great stand-ins for
tortilla and wraps.
To prepare these leaves for wraps, just blanch a few leaves in a pot of
salted water for 30 seconds, then transfer to an ice bath before using.
Doing this allows the leaves to become more flexible and tender for easy
wrapping and chewing.
Another tip, after blanching the leaves, (and drying them)
some people like to quickly fry the leaves in a skillet
(with a Tbs. of olive oil) to give them more crunch.
Use the leaves to make a chicken salad wrap or your favorite lunch meat
meal, (ham and cheese or salami, sauteed onions and pickled peppers).

b) Sliders-
A great idea, make burger buns smaller and you can eat more of them.
Not so fast, the buns are still loaded with gluten and calories, so to
avoid both (calories and gluten) use tomatoes.
Yes tomatoes, and since it’s coming up on the time when they’re most
available, (July, August and September) you can have sliders for breakfast,
lunch and dinner.
Tomatoes have a toothsome texture and subtle sweetness that lets the
umami flavors of the meat shine.
To make a tomato slider- Slice each tomato in half horizontally, then gently
squeeze out the seeds and juice of each half. Use your knife
horizontally to cut off the bud or flower and place your beef or veggie
burger or chicken patty in between and enjoy.

c) Subs and Heros-
You love the size and shape of a sub, but what you don’t love are the extra calories
and belly-bloating gluten. To get rid of some of the calories and all of the gluten,
use cucumbers.
Cucumbers? Yes, hollow it out, and you’ll slash 24 grams of carbs and 140 calories,
per sub, plus add that same satisfying crunch you get from that grain-filled sub.
To make your own healthier sub, just slice a cucumber in half lengthwise and use a
melon baller* to scoop out the seeds and flesh. After that, fill it with tuna or chicken
salad, beef or turkey meatballs or your favorite cold cuts, (ham, bologna and salami).
Not a fan of cucumbers? Use green squash (zucchini). You may have to steam it first,
to get is soft.
* Need a melon baller? Go to Walmart or Target or online to Amazon.com.

Sources:
* Vegan News, The Magazine
* Journal of Alternative Health
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