Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Top Three Worst Gf Products


anerissara

Recommended Posts

anerissara Enthusiast

Ok, I'm in a rare mood tonight so I thought I'd start a thread just for fun. :)

We've all been there...the gluten-free product that you shelled out half your life savings for, slaved over for two hours in the kitchen, looked forward to trying all week long and turned out to be AWFUL!!! Let's vent about our *least* favorite gluten-free products and get a good laugh out of it.

Of course there should be a disclaimer somewhere here...something like "the following opinions are only opinions and as opinions mean absolutly nothing when it comes to actual products. Everyone's tastes are different and the top three nasty gluten-free products on one person's list may well be the top three yummy items on another's...yaddah yaddah yaddah".

That said........drum roll please..........

~~My All Time Top Three Nastiest gluten-free Products List~~

3. Ener-G white rice bread. With twice the half-life of a twinkie (but none of the taste) this loaf of styrofoam strongly resembled bread but tasted like whatever my alergy-free pillow is stuffed with. So dry I wondered if it had been dipped in Decon before packaging. Inedible unless saturated with butter and toasted, and only marginally ediable then. My son liked it slightly less than I did.

2. My attempt at gluten-free crepes. "Ah," I thought, "Crepes are mostly egg and should be easy to substitute flours!". Little did I know. Followed the regular recipe but used gluten-free mix instead, turned out way too thick. Added milk. Put whole mess in blender and added more milk. Blended. Added more milk. Burned motor of blender up with still-too-thick batter. Opened windows to clear smoke. Tried to use batter anyway by smearing it around on the hot pan with a spatula. Crepes puffed up to pancake size, managed somehow to be burned black on outside but completely raw on inside. Tried to eat them anyway. Dumped the whole mess in the sink and prayed that the motor in the disposal would win the battle.

1. All-Time-Worst gluten-free purchase EVER: Nana's gluten-free cookies. Spent $10.00 on nicely packaged, moist looking, big round cookies. Bought lemon, chocolate, and chocolate crunch. Drooled all the way home. Opened cookies, sat down with the kids and dug in. When we opened the packages and tried to take out the cookies we ran into the first problem: Cookies disenegrate upon touch. Suddenly we each held a bag of crumbs, peppered here and there with a dime-sized chunk. Ok, I think, so they're a little crumbly. Then I tasted it! It was like eating chocolate flavored sand. But not as nice. The cookie stuck in my throat as if I had been eating cotton batting! Not only that, but my throat hurt after eating it, it felt all scratched up! The kids, who will eat nearly anything if it is sweet, were having similar experiences. All three of us instantly wanted to drink at least a gallon of water, there were crumbs all over the place (looked like a cookie factory exploded) and my toddler hated it so bad she started crying and trying to wipe her tongue off. No kidding! I kept the extra cookies in the pantry as incentives for eating a good, healthy dinner...."eat all your peas or you'll get a Nana's cookie for dessert!"

Anyone else want to share? I could use a good laugh!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



  • Replies 237
  • Created
  • Last Reply
debmidge Rising Star

Gillian's Bread Crumbs should be on the list. My in laws, who are not gluten-free breaded chicken with them (first try out of gluten-free bread crumbs ever). We sat down to eat them and they had a terrible after taste. We removed the bread crumbs from the chicken by getting a large, wide skillet; poured fresh water in skillet and placed our chicken pieces in there and let the water come to boil. We boiled off the bread crumbs in order to eat the chicken. We don't buy this brand.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
angel-jd1 Community Regular

1) Chebe Bread, has an aftertaste of licking a battery (metallic). GROSS!!!!!

2) Ener-g Bread.....ok MOST glutenfree breads BLEH!

3) Annies Cowgirl Ranch Dressing.........just plain nasty!!!

Those are my votes.

-Jessica :rolleyes:

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Guest nini

Orgrans version of gluten free canned spaghetti (like Chef BoyarDee)... my daughter and I were so excited about these and made an event out of opening the can, heating them up and them getting ready to eat... when we put the first bite in our mouth we were instantly like "YUCK!!!!!!" The pasta had been soakiing in the sauce so long it was mush and the sauce had a really odd flavor

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Portageegal Newbie

Oh, man ... you guys are killing me. I just found out I have Celiac. Look what I have to look forward to. UGH!

:(

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Guest nini

Oh we're just having fun with some of our least fave. products... There are plenty of really good products out there, but also, you will do best on a diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, clean meats (organic, no antibiotics or hormones AND cooked with natural seasonings), rice, potatoes... things like that. Food in it's simplest form is best, but if you just HAVE to HAVE gluten free versions of your fave things, it may take some trial and error before you find products you like.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
KaitiUSA Enthusiast

There are tons of good brands of things...alot of us had to go through many yucky things to find those good things but then you can learn from our experiences :lol: so then you can go straight for the good things.

My top 3 worst:

1. Ener-G rice bread(tastes like cardboard-not that I know what cardboard tastes like :lol: )

2.Glutino chocolate bars-I like the other 2 flavors but those are just plain nasty

3. The version of spaghetti that nini mentioned..they were BAD

Now I'll list my top 3 favorite...well maybe more then that..there are too many for me to name so I will keep it short:

1.Wellshire kids chicken bites-fully breaded

2.Cybros Rice Rolls

3.Foods By George English Muffins(cinnamon)

4. Lays Staxx-yummm

5.Alexia fries

6.Envirokids cereal and bars

7.Glutano lemon wafers

8.Ener-G Pretzels(covered with sesame seeds)

9. Midel cookies

10. Kinnikinnick products and especially the chocolate glazed donuts

Tons more but I'll stop there I think everyone gets the picture...I love food :P

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Carriefaith Enthusiast

haha funny topic

My least favorite gluten free food would have to be those corn and rice pasta mixes (The one I tried anyway) Bleh!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Jnkmnky Collaborator

Ener-G white bread. *the fda needs to investigate* ;)

Nana's cookies are useless.

Larabars- could bring down the "raw" movement.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Guest Viola

Corn pastas

Energy bread, even the crows wouldn't eat :lol:

My attempt at pizza dough was really bad. ... Now I buy Kinnikinnick pizza shells and have yummy pizza :P

This is a fun thread.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
mytummyhurts Contributor
3) Annies Cowgirl Ranch Dressing.........just plain nasty!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes! This is the one I had that tasted like tartar sauce. Yuk!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
anerissara Enthusiast
Oh, man ... you guys are killing me.  I just found out I have Celiac.    Look what I have to look forward to.  UGH!

:(

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Oh, no! I didn't mean to scare you, there are some really *great* products out there too! I was just wanting to get a few laughs out of the ones we've tried that didn't make the grade. Maybe we should add three BEST products, too?

Hmmm, it really is hard to narrow the list down on this one.

1. Annie's frozen gluten-free cheese pizza. I add extra cheese, parmisan and some pepperoni, it's terrific and fast and satisfies that "I want pizza NOW' craving! Also try Annie's frozen rice crusts for pizza, add your own sauce and toppings and toss a salad for a quick meal.

2. Pamelia's kitchen peanut butter cookies, very chewy and the texture is wonderful. Also the chocolate chunk type. Yum!

3. Panda Puffs cereal. It's a little like the Reeces peanut butter crunch cereal, only healthier and gluten-free. Envirokids makes some really good granola bars, too!

And those are just the 'instant', ready-made gluten-free things...I am getting pretty handy at making breads, cookies, cakes and the like at home. No-crust chocolate cheesecake!! Carrotcake with cream cheese frosting!! gluten-free sugar cookies with butter cream frosting!! Chocolate-cherry bunt cake with chocolate glaze!! I even found a recipe for *real* gluten-free crepes that I can't wait to try, hopefully without blowing any kitchen appliances up in the process. Don't despair, there's plenty to eat that's gluten-free and although you have to get creative it's not too hard to eat really well and still stay away from the big G. :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites
jenvan Collaborator

Preach it on the ener-g rice bread. That stuff is wack :) I will say though that Nana's gluten-free cookies, the ones shaped like a bar are great, IMHO. I love them! I have never had the other ones you guys speak of...

I also think midel's choc chip cookies are blah, with that aftertaste too.

Hmmm... I'm sure I have others, but can't think of them. I must have repressed the memory of them !

Link to comment
Share on other sites
celiac3270 Collaborator

I tried a pizza from Namaste...absolutely the worst thing ever. It had a soy cheese thing--looked okay from the box and the first deceptive bite it was actually okay--then you start to really taste it--the soggy, disgusting crust, the soy cheese...disgusting. Inedible.

The first bread I tried was worse than Ener-G...it was just as tasteless, but it was like... WET, hardened saw dust.......

Link to comment
Share on other sites
celiac3270 Collaborator
1) Chebe Bread, has an aftertaste of licking a battery (metallic). GROSS!!!!!

2) Ener-g Bread.....ok MOST glutenfree breads BLEH!

3) Annies Cowgirl Ranch Dressing.........just plain nasty!!!

Those are my votes.

-Jessica :rolleyes:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

CHEBE???? :o:angry::unsure::huh::blink:<_<:(

AHHHHH...well, never tried it as a bread--only as pizza, which is the best I've tried thus far.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Guest imsohungry

Neat thread!

Ok...my turn, IMHO...

1. Ener-G white rice bread is a poor investment (and possibly a health hazard) at $5.00 a loaf! ^_^ If that bread went "down the wrong pipe" when you swallow,...it's so dry and chalky...you may never get it back up!

2. EnviroKids cereal bars in the fruit flavor....I know many like them, but I ended up throwing the box of them away. :o

3. Amy's cheese pizza...I know most people disagree with me B) But I really didn't like the crust...honestly, it surprised me because I LOVE all of Amy's other products. :blink:

My four favorite specialty gluten-free products:

1. Amy's lasagna, enchilada's, and pretty much everything else gluten-free made by the company. ;) (This is lunch for me nearly every day).

2. Midel's cookies for a quick (premade) cookie.

3. Ener-G rice pizza crusts

4. Whole foods tomato-basil bread.

Gosh...this is making me hungry! :) -Julie

Link to comment
Share on other sites
happygirl Collaborator

I must add to the list of hating corn pastas. I tried making macaroni and cheese with it.... it was so awful. Luckily there is tinkyada!!!

I also dislike Amy's frozen pizza-but love her enchiladas!!!

Some of the gluten free crackers (various brands are awful) but I love the ener-g pretzels!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Guest nini

My daughter and I went to a support group meeting today that was held at a Chinese Restaurant, and everything served was gluten-free for the group... the chinese food was great, the desserts were provided by Namaste foods in mix form and were prepared by several of the members. I was NOT impressed. I would have to add the Namaste mixes to my least faves! YUCK

Link to comment
Share on other sites
VegasCeliacBuckeye Collaborator

1. Ener-G Bread -- my god, is it bread, styrofoam or something nasa invented? Just awful...blech!blech!blech!

2. Any attempt at a gluten free cracker (all companies)

3. All Gluten free brownie mixes - (they only make 1/4 inch brownies)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Guest nini

3. All Gluten free brownie mixes - (they only make 1/4 inch brownies)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Link to comment
Share on other sites
anerissara Enthusiast

Link to comment
Share on other sites
frenchiemama Collaborator

Ugh, that Ener-G bread. Why on earth do stores keep stocking it? Is it because every new celiac buys one loaf initially, thus making it appear to be a popular item?

I had some pretty foul Glutino bread as well, I think it was corn something. I was thinking of using it to insulate the attic.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
mouse Enthusiast

Chebe bread??

I love it as small rolls. Fresh out of the oven with lots of butter. Of course I am not suppose to eat the butter or the cheese I put in them. But, at times I must indulge. Everyone I have given them to, loves them and asks for more. I use sharp cheddar cheese. OOPs, my 17 year old granddaughter does not like them. Never tried it as pizza crust.

Armetta B)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Guest mlwaller

Ok guys, I know that I have very limited resources where I live, but I must be missing something. Ener-g bread is the best gluten-free bread we have found. We were very excited that they just started making light versions of their rice and tapioca bread. I'm not saying that I love the stuff, but compared to the others we have tried it was definently the winner. So please, whatever I am missing help me. What kind of bread do you guys eat? I am basically limited to internet ordering, so websites would be greatly appreciated. thanx

Link to comment
Share on other sites
VegasCeliacBuckeye Collaborator

www.kinnikinnick.com

Once you try their bread, you will not go back.

Also, check out their:

1. Choc Chip Muffins

2. Gluten Free Bagels

3. Cinnamon Rolls (a little heavy, but better than nothing)

4. Hot Dog Buns

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      125,674
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    RonnieC
    Newest Member
    RonnieC
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      120.8k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      Welcome to the forum, @Pua! Yes, many, many forum participants have been in this same boat. That is, suspecting celiac disease and testing the waters by going gluten free but then realizing they undermined the ability to bet tested for it by doing so. It's a very common mistake??? but a completely understandable decision making sequence. The symptoms you describe in both you and your son are strongly suggestive of celiac disease or at least NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity). It is also true that a high percentage of those with celiac disease (one small study found it to be 50%) react to CMP (Cow's Milk Protein) like they do the gluten in wheat/barley/rye. And about 10% of celiacs also cross react to the protein in oats (avenin).  Although it doesn't seem prudent at this point to seek testing for celiac disease since it would require you and your son to be eating regular amounts of gluten for weeks leading up to the test, it might be helpful to seek genetic testing to see if you and he have the genetic potential to develop celiac disease. If you don't have any of the celiac genes, you should look at NCGS instead. Genetic testing doesn't require a "gluten challenge". Are you nursing your son? You might look into a hypo allergenic baby formula called Neutrogena.
    • Scott Adams
      Aloha! It sounds like you've been through so much with your own health and now your son's too—I completely understand why you're questioning celiac for all of you. Your symptoms and family history really do line up with what many experience with celiac disease. It’s common for it to be missed by doctors who end up treating the symptoms separately, as you described. For toddlers, celiac can definitely show up as constipation, stomach pain, poor growth, rashes, and recurring ear infections, just like your son is experiencing. In little ones, the digestive system can be especially sensitive, and gluten can trigger a wide range of symptoms that often go undiagnosed. Since you’ve already cut gluten and are seeing improvements, that’s a pretty strong indicator that gluten may be the underlying cause for both of you. Some families do choose to stay gluten-free without testing, especially when the gluten challenge feels too risky or uncomfortable. As for progression, yes, celiac can worsen over time if untreated, which might explain why your dad’s health is more severe. It can also look different from person to person, so it’s not unusual for you and your dad to have varying symptoms. If you do want to explore testing without a full gluten challenge, you might consider genetic testing (HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8), which can show if you or your son are at risk, though it won’t confirm celiac on its own. If you did want to confirm this with blood screening unfortunately you would need to eat lots of gluten daily for 6-8 weeks leading up to the test.
    • Scott Adams
      I just want to add that many celiacs do not have any obvious symptoms, but still have the same health risks if they continue to eat gluten. Unless all of her first-degree relatives, including yourself, are screened for celiac disease, there is not way to be sure that other relatives don't also have it (some studies have shown that up to 44% of first degree relatives also have celiac disease). This article might be helpful. It breaks down each type of test, and what a positive results means in terms of the probability that you might have celiac disease. One test that always needs to be done is the IgA Levels/Deficiency Test (often called "Total IGA") because some people are naturally IGA deficient, and if this is the case, then certain blood tests for celiac disease might be false-negative, and other types of tests need to be done to make an accurate diagnosis. The article includes the "Mayo Clinic Protocol," which is the best overall protocol for results to be ~98% accurate.    
    • Scott Adams
      I don't know of any that are certified gluten-free.
    • Pua
      Aloha, could use a little insight from those who are familiar with celiac. I’m starting to think my dad , me and my son all have it As a kid I had severe stomach cramps and constipation. I would sleep on the bathroom floor all night often and the pain waves would end in diarrhea. I vomited often. Easy bruises, vitamin d&b12 deficiencies, asthma,  iron deficient anemia, chronic sickness, fluid in ears, hearing loss, adhd, depression, and as I got older extremely heavy periods, mood swings, and severe allergies where doctors would prescribe me epipens saying  I had a reaction but allergists would say I’m not allergic to anything. I’ve been so sick my whole life until I randomly decided to cut out our gluten because I was so tired of doctors. Felt great and all my symptoms started going away.    when my son was born people started making us meals and I ate gluten again and was breastfeeding. My son was always projectile vomiting, colic, acid reflux, screaming all night and day and doctors did what they did with me and treated symptoms separately. He’s 14 months now and always severely constipated, has stomach pains, poor sleeping, always had red eyes, loses weight, fluid in ears, rashes, 4 ear infections in 2 months. we don’t feed him dairy but started giving gluten when he was about 11mo old.  doctors just say to give him formula still , MiraLAX, acid reflux meds, no dairy and I feel like I’m symptom chasing just like I was my whole life.  has anyone had experience with toddlers having celiac? I didn’t do the blood test because poor guy has been under so much testing and er visits and I stopped giving him gluten 2 weeks ago so I didn’t want to do it for a negative test.  I also had all the same issues he’s having when I was a baby    I don’t want to eat gluten for long periods just for a positive test but has anyone been in this boat? Does celiac get progressive because I believe my dad has it too and his health is even worse than mine  mahalo       
×
×
  • Create New...