Gluten free cost

[MrsBilbreySanchez]

Is anyone else struggling to afford being 100% gluten free? I would love to receive suggestions on government and non-profit funding for Celiac patients.

[kareng]

31 minutes ago, MrsBilbreySanchez said:

Is anyone else struggling to afford being 100% gluten free? I would love to receive suggestions on government and non-profit funding for Celiac patients.

You should probably tell us what country you are in.  I am in the US so I will answer for the US.

 

There are a few gluten-free food pantries in the country.  Many other food pantries may have some gluten-free food set aside.  You could certainly get things that are naturally gluten-free there and save your money for a loaf of gluten-free bread.

The cheapest way to eat gluten-free is to eat naturally gluten-free foods - fruits, veggies, cheese, rice, beans, meats, nuts, etc.  

I am not aware of any government or other funding for gluten-free food in the US.  

[cyclinglady]

Going gluten free has actually been cheaper for us.  We rarely eat out....rarely.  Most of our food is non-processed and naturally gluten free.  I buy in bulk, on sale, and freeze.   As a celiac with diabetes, I do not eat any gluten-free bread or crackers except on special holidays and I  usually reserve those gluten-free carbohydrates for cakes and cookies.  I serve my family corn tortillas which are cheap, too cheap for me to make them by hand.  

A 20 pound sack of rice can go a long ways in my family (we do live in earthquake country).    I have a crop of volunteer tomatoes surrounding my compost bins thanks to raccoons and opossums.  We are waiting for plum and apricots to ripen on our trees.  Just think “Little House on the Praire”.  I am Ma Ingalls, thanks to being a celiac.  

As far as food pantries, when you are in need, most local pantries offer some gluten-free items (e.g. pasta).  If not, ask or encourage your local Girl Scout Troop to help do so.   We donate gluten-free food items year round.  

[Ennis-TX]

well you got it cheap being able to live on washed rice, beans, veggies, and cheap whole meats. Look up simple meals like sheet pan meals, crock pot meals, omelettes, etc that can be done with gluten free whole foods cabbage, meat, potatoe soups in huge batches and stuff like rice gruel.
When I first started on  college kid budget, I did simple things like cabbage and bacon soup, rice gruel with nuts/seeds. sausage and eggs, and I would go a full week every month on a huge pot of cabbage soup with chicken, bell peppers, onion, canned tomatoes...like $10-20 for 14 meals...I miss the simple cheap meals.

I on the other hand got it a bit more rough with me getting another AI disease later on and being unable to eat grains, carbs, fruit, and meats other then fish or crab.
I live on eggs, nuts, seeds, avocados, leafy greens, vegan cheese, and once or twice a month treat myself to fish now days...the nut and fresh greens and supplements for my disease I have to take now days really rack up a bill.

As to food pantries...there are some gluten free ones in some areas of the USA, but my small town....I go there and they offer me the same thing as everyone else, wheat bread, powdered dairy milk, peanut butter, dry beans, and canned veggies/fruit....none of which I even consider food.