Gluten-free Crackers

[Guest mesasmom]

Hi! I have a 17mos old son who is going through the testing/diagnosis process right now. Actually have an EGD scheduled for Friday (am still terrified and torn whether it is truly necessary). I have been able to find suitable substitutes for most of his foods but I have 3 other children ages 2 1/2, 4 and 6 who eat various types of crackers (graham, saltine, goldfish, ritz) for snacks and my youngest gets really upset when I try giving him the rice crackers I found for him. Since after Friday he will be gluten free probably for the rest of his life, I am wondering if anyone can suggest a brand or type of cracker that would be comparable to what his siblings eat?? I know that he can have Fritos and potato chips but I would like to find something a little healthier for an everyday snack. So far he just throws rice cakes at me. He also has a milk allergy as well which makes things more difficult. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Amanda

[jnifred]

You will have to make them yourself, but they are the BEST crackers I have tried so far, even my nonceliac friends request them.

Use the Chebe mixes, any of them work for this, and they even ahve a cinnamon flavor that tastes a lot like cinnamon graham crackers. Anyway, follow the directions on the package and roll it out VERY thin and bake until crispy, then break into pcs. Takes a half hour and they are delicious with dips, cream cheese, by themselves etc..etc....

Good luck, I can't imagine how difficult it will be keeping a toddler out of food!!!

[Carriefaith]

EnviroKidz have vanilla flavoured animal crackers that are gluten free. Here is a link:Open Original Shared Link Just scroll down a bit to see the animal crackers and then click on the vanilla box. The vanilla ones appear to be gluten and dairy free. I haven't had the crackers, but their berry crispy rice bars are really good.

[mrsnj91]

I was told I would never find a "normal" cracker for my 1yr. old. I did!! Glutino Gluten Free Crackers are just like a Ritz style. Perhaps a little firmer than an actual Ritz but they are really good. I was so happy to find something very, very close!! I found them on the Gluten Free Pantry site. Awesome!

And I tried the cookies the PP mentioned above and she loved them!!

[GlutenFreeAl]

The Envirokids animal crackers are AWESOME.

The EnerG crackers are pretty good too. Kind of like a Saltine, only a bit heavier.

Good luck!!!

[Nic]

The envirokids animal cookies are good but they also make very good cereal bars. They are similar to a rice krispy treat. So far I have found them in chocolate, peanut butter, and berry. My son likes all three and his non celiac brother and cousins fight over them too.

[WGibs]

I also love the envirokidz animal cookies, but they are pretty sweet...sweeter than traditional animal crackers I'm sure your kid will love them, but you might not want to be handing out that much sugar.

Another idea that might help, and I think it's what I would do if I had kids, is transition them all over to a gluten-free snack. Maybe mini flavored rice cakes (lots of different brands and flavors, so look around to find one that's gluten-free/DF that the kids like) or Nature's Valley rice or corn crunch'ems cereal or EnerG pretzels (not sure about dairy content) or some of the suggestions from other posters. I bet the youngest wouldn't be so resistant if he were just getting what everyone else got, and it wouldn't hurt the non-celiac kids to have a gluten-free snack. I find that even for me, I don't mind eating the food I should eat...the only time it's hard is when people around me are eating things I would like to eat.

Oh! Another idea...biscotti! Also sweet, but it would take him alot longer to gnaw on than animal cookies. The brand I get (Pamela's -- chocolate walnut) does list butter in the ingredients, but I bet you could find or make dairy free ones. Like these: Open Original Shared Link I've never had them, but I like that you can order ends and pieces for cheaper, and they have alot of different flavors.

Good luck. I am in awe of those of you who handle this diet for a little one.

[mrsnj91]

My daughter so far has also had some cereals that are gluten free and Enjoy Life Snickerdoodles. She LOVE them! I also have tried the pretzels. She will eat the rice cakes though. I get the Quacker snack ones with cheese or apple cinn. and she will eat them.

[Nic]

  WGibs said:

I also love the envirokidz animal cookies, but they are pretty sweet...sweeter than traditional animal crackers I'm sure your kid will love them, but you might not want to be handing out that much sugar.

Another idea that might help, and I think it's what I would do if I had kids, is transition them all over to a gluten-free snack. Maybe mini flavored rice cakes (lots of different brands and flavors, so look around to find one that's gluten-free/DF that the kids like) or Nature's Valley rice or corn crunch'ems cereal or EnerG pretzels (not sure about dairy content) or some of the suggestions from other posters. I bet the youngest wouldn't be so resistant if he were just getting what everyone else got, and it wouldn't hurt the non-celiac kids to have a gluten-free snack. I find that even for me, I don't mind eating the food I should eat...the only time it's hard is when people around me are eating things I would like to eat.

Oh! Another idea...biscotti! Also sweet, but it would take him alot longer to gnaw on than animal cookies. The brand I get (Pamela's -- chocolate walnut) does list butter in the ingredients, but I bet you could find or make dairy free ones. Like these: Open Original Shared Link I've never had them, but I like that you can order ends and pieces for cheaper, and they have alot of different flavors.

Good luck. I am in awe of those of you who handle this diet for a little one.

Just a question, what is biscotti? I have seen gluten-free recipes for it but I have not tried it because I do not know what it is. Would a child like it or is it more of an adult taste?

Nicole

[penguin]

  Nic said:

Just a question, what is biscotti? I have seen gluten-free recipes for it but I have not tried it because I do not know what it is. Would a child like it or is it more of an adult taste?

Nicole

Biscotti is an extremely crunchy, mildly sweet cookie from Italy that is traditionally dunked in coffee. That's why it's so crunchy, in fact, so it can stand up to the coffee. I've seen it given to toddlers like a holland rusk so that they can kind of munch on it slowly. As long as you get biscotti in smaller pieces, they should like it.

[jerseyangel]

Yes, and it literally means "twice baked". The dough is traditionaly baked in a log shape first. Then it is sliced and baked again until crunchy.

[Smunkeemom]

My girls eat the nut-thins with meat and cheese (kinda like lunchables) and then the Ener-G crackers either plain or with peanut butter.

I use the Ener-G in cooking too and they work fine for meatloafs and also like in soups and chili. They are unsalted though.

[TCA]

At target I found some sesame rice crackers that are really good. Sesmark is the brand. The original are gluten free and taste great. They remind me of Sesame Tosteds, which I loved. I called and they are not processed in a dedicated facility, but they are on dedicated lines. I haven't had any trouble with them.

[penguin]

I'm in love with the Blue Diamond Nut Thins, the almond original and the almond ranch. I haven't tried the others because I'm allergic to pecans.

And rice cakes are awesome and I hope I don't get tired of them

[lonewolf]

I second the motion to have gluten-free snacks for all your kids. Mine are older (9-14), but adapted well to gluten-free snacks. I'm slowly trying to get them all gluten-free. Only one is gluten-free right now - the others only eat gluten in bread for sandwiches. We all like the Ener-G pretzels and crackers, Mi-Del animal crackers, sesame rice crackers from Trader Joe's, popcorn, "chex" mix from gluten-free cereal and the Envirokidz cereal bars. It's more expensive, but it's worth it - and it might make your little one a lot more cooperative if everyone is eating the same thing.

[prinsessa]

There are some really good rice crackers that are gluten-free. I bought them a couple times before I ever though any of us had Celiac because I like the way they taste. DS (who is 2) really liked them too. I don't remember the name of them though....sorry. I bought them at Whole Foods.

[tarnalberry]

make flax crackers. you can flavor them in different ways, and they're quite healthy and tasty!

[Dietcokehead]

Mi-Del has animal crackers and other "kid-type" products that are really good.

My son loves sesame rice crackers, they taste salty like a chip!

[Braunson's-mom]

Hi I know just what it is like. I have a 2 yr old that is grf and 4 other children that are not but from experience it does get better. He has been gluten-free since Feb 1, 2004. He goes to a play group for speech theropy 2 times a month and they feed snack there and if he gets something a little different it doesn't matter to him. But as far as snacks go I was givin a gluten-free graham cracker recipe and it is pretty easy to make but does take a little time about 45 min for start to finish. I don't have time to type it all in today but if you will email me I will send it to you at the beginning of next week.

I also agree with the others the enviro kids cookies are really good. We also find a energ cracker that taste like a saltine and aren't to expencive. Good luck once your son starts to feel better he will not want all the glutten poison in his system. Braunson amazes a lot of people in the way he handles himself on the diet.

[water-nymph]

I'll give another recommendation to the Sesmark brand of rice crackers. Delish.

Also, Orgran brand crispbread is AMAZING. They're imported from Australia, but if you can find them...