Camping Out

If your child is attending day camp in the Philadelphia area this summer, you may be able to take a vacation from packing gluten-free lunches. Smart Lunches is offering several gluten-free options at day camps throughout southeastern Pennsylvania, southern and central New Jersey and northern Delaware, as well as the Boston, Chicago and Washington D.C. metro regions.

Parents order meals up to two business days in advance using an online interface, according to the schedule and plan that suits their needs. Every morning, a local caterer prepares the day’s meals in close proximity to each child's camp. Drivers then deliver the lunches to each of the partner camps by 11:30 the same morning. Meals arrive in specially constructed, eco-friendly packaging that keeps hot items hot and cold items cold with minimal environmental impact. 

When an item is delivered in a package marked "GF," it is 100% gluten free and all of its ingredients have been verified to contain no traces of gluten. (Meals are made in kitchens where wheat is used.)  All meals are also peanut and tree nut free.

Gluten-free sandwich choices include ham and cheese, turkey, Sunbutter and jam, Italian, and three cheese. All Smart Lunches include fresh fruits or vegetables on the side - items like cucumbers, oranges, pineapples, melon, apples and broccoli. Regular lunches are around $7 each, with smaller sandwiches about 50 cents less. For an additional charge, parents can add snacks like apple sauce and cheese sticks, drinks, and specialty items such as fruit and yogurt cups or vegetables and sesame hummus.