Five deceptively simple sandwiches to impress your work mates.

There’s nothing quite as heart-wrenching as working in an office of amazing bakers when you’re on a gluten free diet.

Birthday cakes, muffins for morning tea, “just because” chocolate cookies… it’s hard not to be jealous when you’re shovelling your umpteenth sushi roll.

I’ve suffered from mild food intolerances my whole life. And while I’m not a coeliac, my tummy just can’t handle bread. At all.

But as much as I miss the occasional piece of cake, it’s actually the simple things that are the hardest: like not being able to run downstairs and grab a sandwich at lunch time, for one. Luckily for me, gluten free bread is now common at supermarkets.

My face when I learned gluten free bread was at the supermarket. Image: Netflix.

So to combat my jealous streak (and indulge my competitive one) I've been upping my sandwich game lately.

That's right, I've been bringing back the humble paper bag lunch.

And you know the best part about a packed lunch (other than how jealous you can make your co-workers)? It's super simple to do gluten free.

Here's my top five:

1. Chicken, sour cream and chives.

This is actually one of my mum's recipes, but since I discovered lactose-free sour cream, I've been bringing it back. It seems fancy, but it's so easy and the mixture will last you a couple of days so it's also economical.

Servings = 3

What you need:

• 6 slices of gluten free bread
• 1 x chicken breast
• 3 tablespoons light sour cream
• 1 spring onion, finely sliced
• ½ jar of capers, chopped
• baby spinach leaves

How to make it:

Poach the chicken breast until cooked through. When cooled, chop it up and mix in a bowl with sour cream, spring onion and capers. Add pepper to taste. Spread the chicken mixture on your bread, and top with baby spinach leaves and remaining slice of bread. Voila!

Jealousy rating:

4.5 stars.

4.5 Star jealousy rating. Image: iStock.

2. Retro salad sandwich.

I know it sounds a bit dull, but hear me out: nothing beats a classic salad sandwich. Just imagine it's a Sunday afternoon, you pop into a country bakery, it's sitting there freshly-made and wrapped in cling wrap... Seriously, nothing beats a classic salad sandwich.

Servings = 2

What you need:

• 4 slices of gluten free bread
• 2 slices of Swiss cheese
• 1 tomato, sliced
• Small can of sliced beetroot
• 1 carrot, grated
• 1 cucumber, sliced
• ice berg lettuce, shredded
• mayonnaise

How to make it:

Lightly spread mayonnaise on two slices of gluten free bread. How you layer your sandwich is a matter of personal preference, you really can't go wrong. Top with other bread slices and enjoy!

Jealousy rating:

3 stars.

3. Smoked salmon, hummus, rocket, olives.

Servings = 1

What you need:

• 2 slices of gluten free bread (or a gluten free bagel if you're feeling fancy)
• 50g smoked salmon
• hummus
• rocket
• 2 kalamata olives, pitted and sliced (or tapenade is also great)

How to make it:

Personally I'd start with a generous amount of hummus, then the salmon, the olives and the rocket. Delish!

Jealousy rating:

4 stars.

Be generous with your hummus and feel free to add a slice of tomato Image: iStock.

4. Roast veggies.

Servings = 2

What you need:

• 4 slices of gluten free bread
• small eggplant, sliced length-ways
• 1 zucchini, sliced length-ways
• ½ red capsicum, sliced length-ways
• 2 tablespoons basil pesto
• 50g feta
• Rocket
• 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

How to make it:

Roast your veggies in the oven with olive oil. When they've cooled, use some paper towel to mop up the extra oil and layer them on you bread. Crumble some feta on top, add a dollop of pesto to taste, a little bit of rocket and you're good to go.

Jealousy rating:

4 stars.

5. Honey and blue cheese.

Some might call this a dessert sandwich, but it's so simple and tasty I say, "pish posh!"

Servings = 2

What you need:

• 4 slices of gluten free bread
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 50g blue cheese
• Rocket (optional)

How to make it:

It's as straightforward as it sounds, there's only a few ingredients. Just be sure to apply both the honey and blue cheese! Add some rocket too if you fancy!

Jealousy rating:

5 stars, every time.

Who said sandwiches had to be dull?

What are your sure-to-impress sandwiches?