Gluten Free Specific Food

[GFreeMO]

Anyone here not buy any gluten free specific foods like cookies and Udi's ,pastas etc. and just eat regular mainstream gluten free things like meat, veg, fruit, chips etc.? Although I appreciate that some companies like Udi's, Pamelas, Enjoy Life, etc. produce these things, I almost feel like I am being taken advantage of when I shell out 7 bucks for a tiny loaf of so so bread or 7 bucks for 12 tiny cookies. I think i'd rather make rice chex treats with marshmallows and chex and eat jello and pudding etc. for treats than break the bank on so so Gluten-Free foods. Thoughts anyone?

[precious831]

When I was first diagnosed and was just gluten-free I did try and buy baked goods. But I quickly learned how to make my own so I stopped. Now I don't buy any at all, I make my own breads, cookies, rolls, name it. It's harder now because I'm grain-free among other things. I think gluten-free is a big business! LOL

[AzizaRivers]

As a college student with a very small budget for food, I'm with you on that one. I don't knock those who do replace all their gluten foods with the alternatives, but I feel much better about the way I spend my money if I limit that. I do buy the occasional box of special pasta but mostly I just go for rice or something instead. I'm not shelling out $7 for a small box of gluten-free crackers, so I've gotten used to having cheese and crackers snacks with corn tortilla chips instead! And I'll put tomato sauce on rice. Things like that are starting to feel normal to me since I'm getting so used to them. I do have a stash of special flours for when I'm really craving a treat or a slice of bread, but I don't use them very often and even so, baking my own is much cheaper than buying Udi's.

[jeannieknits]

Anyone here not buy any gluten free specific foods like cookies and Udi's ,pastas etc. and just eat regular mainstream gluten free things like meat, veg, fruit, chips etc.? Although I appreciate that some companies like Udi's, Pamelas, Enjoy Life, etc. produce these things, I almost feel like I am being taken advantage of when I shell out 7 bucks for a tiny loaf of so so bread or 7 bucks for 12 tiny cookies. I think i'd rather make rice chex treats with marshmallows and chex and eat jello and pudding etc. for treats than break the bank on so so Gluten-Free foods. Thoughts anyone?

I found I'm usually too disappointed in the gluten free options out there (except I'm currently in love with Udi cinnamon raison bread) so I'm just sticking with cooking gluten free. I do buy a few Amy's frozen gluten-free dinner options to have on hand when I'm too exhausted to cook for myself.

I also live on chips. And hummus.

[GlutenFreeKate]

While I definitely still mainly eat naturally gluten free foods like meat, fruit, veg, there is still something to be said for supporting the small but growing gluten free industry, even in the bigger manufacturers. Finding gluten-free food is getting easier, but that's only because companies see a market to be tapped. If not many buy gluten free product X, the company will no longer want to produce it, and our choices become limited again. And of course, it's great to support smaller companies that offer even broader options! I'm not saying that we all should break the bank to make sure that gluten free choices stay relevant and available, but there has to be major support from gluten free buyers to keep the market open, and give producers incentive to broaden production and eventually lower prices as gluten-free products become more prevalent.

[Skylark]

It's a rare treat for me. I pretty much eat meat, vegs, fruit, yogurt, potatoes and so forth.

[gary'sgirl]

When I was first diagnosed and was just gluten-free I did try and buy baked goods. But I quickly learned how to make my own so I stopped. Now I don't buy any at all, I make my own breads, cookies, rolls, name it. It's harder now because I'm grain-free among other things. I think gluten-free is a big business! LOL

Precious, what diet are you on? I am grain free too and I think I am finally starting to see a little progress in my health after being gluten-free for 15 months and not getting any better.

I started the SCD about 3 and a half months ago. How long have you been grain free?

[gary'sgirl]

I agree, all the specialty foods are very over priced and usually don't taste good. I eat mostly whole foods and do my own baking with almond flour and coconut flour (which, by the way, are so much better than all the other gluten-free flours out there and you don't have to use any gums - and they don't get dry and crumbly like all that other stuff), it's so much better for you and so easy and good.

[precious831]

Precious, what diet are you on? I am grain free too and I think I am finally starting to see a little progress in my health after being gluten-free for 15 months and not getting any better.

I started the SCD about 3 and a half months ago. How long have you been grain free?

Hi! I started on SCD but now I am just mostly on a paleo diet(primal). I've been grain-free since this past summer and I've noticed huge improvements, just gluten-free wasn't enough for me. I wasn't really getting much better til I went off grains and sugar. I still eat tubers though, so that's why I don't consider myself SCD.

I use nut flours and coconut flour for baking too. So delicious. I use buckwheat sometimes, it's not a grain. However I soak the flour before using it for baked goods.

Prior to going grain-free, aside from the horrible GI problems I continued to have, I had high blood pressure, borderline diabetic, fibromyalgia, asthma etc, etc. Things have calmed down a lot. I do miss rice though. I used to eat that all the time.

[RideAllWays]

A treat for me as well. Mostly a budget thing, but I find I get quite bloated after any replacements, except for Enjoylife (loooove their snickerdoodles). I do use Kinnikinnick mixes on occasion, and eat Bob's Red Mill hot cereal.

[FooGirlsMom]

Even though we have a limited budget I do buy some gluten-free staples. I have a 9 year-old daughter who is gluten-free with me so I have tried to not change her diet too drastically to ease the transition. So we invest in auto-ship/order items like Annie's gluten-free mac n cheese. That's my DD's comfort food. We buy Tinkyada's pasta and gluten free Rice Grits to make hot cereal. Betty Crocker's gluten-free cake mixes work well for us and are a jumping off point for some recipes. None of these items are so expensive they become cost prohibitive. Thankfully, places like Walmart & Winco are carrying naturally gluten free items along with some of the gluten-free mixes. We do splurge and buy Udi's but limit our intake to 2 pcs a day to save $.

Things can get expensive fast if a person is not careful, but I have to say that I am super appreciative for companies who are offering gluten-free products. I wholeheartedly support the big contenders like Walmart getting in there & bringing down those prices because they can purchase by volume. I know that's controversial for some, but it's the only way some of the little guys are going to get access to these products at an affordable price.

FooGirlsMom

[shopgirl]

At this point, no. Just a box of Chex and Larabars. Once I've healed more, I'll get a few things. But I've grown to like my whole food diet.

[luvs2eat]

I buy Pamela's bread mix... having tried too many times to bake my own, not liking any of my attempts... and ending up w/ lots of smalll bags of different flours. I buy Namaste pizza crust mix and Tinkyada pasta occasionally. The rest of my diet isn't hard... lean meats, fruits, and veggies. I'm not grain free but am grain seldom.

[jerseyangel]

About the only specialty products I buy anymore are Lara Bars, Tinkayda pasta, Enjoy Life chocolate, GFP Bread Mix (for pizza), their Muffin Mix (for banana bread), and their Pancake Mix.

Other than that, it's just regular, naturally gluten-free groceries.

[sa1937]

Even though I can make a pretty good loaf of gluten-free bread, I like to keep a loaf of Udi's in the freezer for times I absolutely want to have a sandwich. At $6.19 a loaf, it's expensive but worth it to me. And I live alone so it lasts for quite awhile...and much cheaper than eating out although I don't do that as we don't have gluten-free restaurants around here and I wouldn't trust the rest.

Other items I buy are Glutino Sesame Pretzel Rings (they're too addictive to buy often), BC gluten-free mixes, Pamela's Baking & Pancake mix (probably my favorite product) that I can't live without, Tinkyada pasta, as well as Sam Mills and Heartland pastas. I usually have some Thai Kitchen products on hand but steer clear of already-prepared products like Amy's (yuck!). I've cooked forever so many things I eat now have been part of my diet for years.

[eatmeat4good]

I do use Udi's bread, but find that I don't crave or want bread very often. It is more of a once a week treat now. My son also is gluten free and as a teen went through several loaves the first 2 weeks, however, he too, has less desire for bread and is content to eat his burgers alone. We are moving toward grain free, but those tortilla chips are a life saver for a teen who suddenly can't have all the gluten stuff. I decided the only flours I will use are coconut and almond. Made the best chocolate cake yesterday. That was my first foray into the baking world and this is my 4th month gluten-free. I just didn't have the desire or energy to do it until now. I thought we would devour that cake. But we each had a slice and I put the rest in the freezer. Something is happening to our tastes and cravings. I don't understand it, but it seems to be moving in a really good direction. I did buy the cinnamon rolls by Udi's and they were good so I keep some in the freezer only for special treats.

I want to be all the way free of processed foods and do the Paleo/SCD life, but it is a lifestyle change and we are working into giving up all the yummy life-destroying stuff we have grown accustomed to eating.

For us, I think the gluten-free products are a wonderful help in the transition.

[SaraKat]

The only things I buy consistently that are gluten free are the Glutino pretzels, rice crackers by Blue Diamond, and a gluten-free cereal (can't think of the name). Other than that just meats and veggies and stuff that is naturally gluten-free.

Those cookies are good, but there are so many calories I try to keep that to a minimum. I am not a bread/pasta person really so I don't even miss that stuff.

[txplowgirl]

I wish I could eat the gluten free goodies but I am so sensitive to even the lowest levels of gluten I can't. The gluten-free bread and chex really gets me bad. So, with all my other intolerances, I eat only plain meats, brown rice, nuts, corn, green beans, sweet potatoes, grapes, and Santitas corn chips. I can drink almond milk but I think I may be reacting to the carreeegean. In the process of testing that theory at the moment. I'm also thinking I have fruit malabsorption.

Kind of a blah, boring diet but I'm not feeling like i'm gonna die any day now. And, I have lost close to 50lbs that I have never been able to lose for the last 30 years no matter how hard I tried.

[Skylark]

I should mention I do buy some rice pasta. Trader Joe's has it for $1.99 a lb so I don't feel nearly as ripped of as paying $7 for bread. The other thing I do buy consistently are the Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats.

[gary'sgirl]

I do use Udi's bread, but find that I don't crave or want bread very often. It is more of a once a week treat now. My son also is gluten free and as a teen went through several loaves the first 2 weeks, however, he too, has less desire for bread and is content to eat his burgers alone. We are moving toward grain free, but those tortilla chips are a life saver for a teen who suddenly can't have all the gluten stuff. I decided the only flours I will use are coconut and almond. Made the best chocolate cake yesterday. That was my first foray into the baking world and this is my 4th month gluten-free. I just didn't have the desire or energy to do it until now. I thought we would devour that cake. But we each had a slice and I put the rest in the freezer. Something is happening to our tastes and cravings. I don't understand it, but it seems to be moving in a really good direction. I did buy the cinnamon rolls by Udi's and they were good so I keep some in the freezer only for special treats.

I want to be all the way free of processed foods and do the Paleo/SCD life, but it is a lifestyle change and we are working into giving up all the yummy life-destroying stuff we have grown accustomed to eating.

For us, I think the gluten-free products are a wonderful help in the transition.

I think it's really wise of you to slowly transition into the Paleo/SCD life, because it is quite a drastic diet change and if you aren't feeling very well, it's really hard to feel good enough to cook all your own foods.

I agree that it's really nice to have the gluten free convenience foods like pasta and the bread when it's just too hard to make your own. If you can tolerate them anyway. I couldn't eat any of that stuff from the beginning without feeling sick, but I really miss being able to have the corn chips or Food Should Taste good chips for something fast.

[lynnelise]

I like a few gluten free replacement products. A few things I keep on hand are pastas (Tinkyada or Ancient Harvest typically), Pamela's gluten-free Baking Mix (I can make almost any cookie, cake, or muffin with this), gluten-free Bisquick, and Betty Crocker mixes. I rarely use these items prefering to just eat naturally gluten-free stuff. For pizza night I love Chebe mix. I buy Udi's bread every few months as a treat. I have gotten used to using no bread however. Food for Life gluten-free english muffins aren't terrible and my husband actually likes them so I use them every once in awhile too.