Jump to content
  • 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

Pegster Apprentice

Continuing with the Kinnickinnick thought.... Their chocolate and maple-covered donuts are wonderful, as are the carrot raisin muffins. I take them with me to Starbucks and feel like I'm cheating. Bad foods? 1. most breads, 2. Amy's frozen pizza (But who ever heard of a good frozen pizza?), and 3. white rice pastas (they clump together into one giant mass of starch).

As for a good cracker? Have you tried the Blue Diamond almond or pecan crackers?


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



  • Replies 237
  • Created
  • Last Reply
Jnkmnky Collaborator

Kinnikinnick pizza crusts are good. We like the chocolate glazed and dipped donuts. We use the white tapioca bread. I got the italian white tapioca and it was smaller and dryer.

gf4life Enthusiast

Okay, my 3 least favorite gluten-free products are:

(I added my favorite brand after each)

1)Ener-G white bread. I got a free loaf when I ordered a case of Wylde pretzels(which are wonderful by the way) and it was NASTY. My kids used some of it one day to stick some birthday candles in and "roast" marshmellows indoors. My friend came over and asked about the bread with candle stubbs in it and I let her smell the loaf. It was so bad she didn't want to taste it. She was also a bit freaked out by the sell by date, which was like November 2006! She and her daughter are also gluten-free and we all eat Kinnikinnick breads, rolls, pizza crust, donuts, etc.

2)ReBAR. Anybody else here ever had one of these?? They are a fruit and veggie bar (mostly veggie) and stink like dirty gym socks. Two of my kids were smart and smelled it first and declined to taste it. My other son unfortunately trusts me too much and when I said "here, try this" he took a bite. He promptly spit it out. I took one bite and refused to eat any more of it. My friend couldn't believe I actually took a bite after smelling it. You don't know how glad I am that I didn't buy a box of 12 when they were onsale online. I thought it might be a good way to get in more veggies on the go...YUCK.

3)Most gluten-free pastas. DeBoles Pasta (taste and texture were horrible), Pastariso Angel Hair Pasta (ended up a gelatinous blob in the trash) and (can't remember the brand) but it was one that claimed to be high in protein (possibly a bean pasta), was very mushy when cooked and smelled like tuna fish. Even my extremely NOT picky husband wouldn't eat it. We ONLY eat Tinkyada pasta. Our non-gluten-free friends and relatives can't tell the difference when we serve them pasta. Of course I tell them while they are eating it, since I don't want them thinking we can have regular pasta. But it doesn't stop them from taking seconds. :) We stick to fruit leathers.

God bless,

Mariann

celiac3270 Collaborator
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

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I know what you mean. About two months ago, I was eating the Ener-G tapioca loaf. I also thought it was bad, but the best I had found. I've tried bread from a number of those weird brands you've never heard of and it was awful. The white rice loaf from Ener-G was really bad. And to me, Kinnikinnick's loaf was basically teh same as the white rice loaf from Ener-G, which was worse than the tapioca loaf.

I have two bread recommendations, only one of which is really feasible. I discovered an excellent bread at a Celiac conference (when I say excellent, I mean that I ate it plain and thoroughly enjoyed it) from Charlotte's bakery in Salt Lake City...turns out they have a website and such, but the shipping is OUTRAGEOUS...thus, I never bought it over the internet. On the search for a comparable bread, I found the gluten-free bread in Whole Foods--HANDS DOWN the best I've ever tried. It's not hard, nor soggy, nor sawdust-ish. Besides which, Whole Foods has a host of other options in their gluten-free section: pies (cherry, blueberry, etc. with an EXCELLENT crust), a regular "white" loaf, raisin bread, corn bread, carrot cake, etc.

So my verdict: WHOLE FOODS: they have a gluten-free section--go there for the bread--well, actually, where do you live? They started putting gluten-free sections in their south east stores first--like the FL, GA area...then moved up the east coast to the north east, etc. If you're on the west coast, they're not there yet.

pixiegirl Enthusiast

Best Bread: Manna by Anna it waaaaay better then the Kinnikinnick in my book. Second choice are the breads that are made in the Whole Foods Bakery.

Susan

frenchiemama Collaborator

My pick for best bread is Grandma Ferdon's egg bread (I don't have a whole foods near me, so I haven't been able to try theirs). www.grandmaferdons.com

celiac3270 Collaborator
Best Bread:  Manna by Anna it waaaaay better then the Kinnikinnick in my book.  Second choice are the breads that are made in the Whole Foods Bakery.

Susan

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Oh yes, absolutely. That mix is awesome...the best.


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



sweetie101282 Apprentice

Time once again for my infamous 2 cents... lol

Worst gluten-free products

*NU world Amaranth Snack Crackers.. any variety. If you can imagine eating dead grass, then you already know what they taste like. bleh.

*Ener-G bread...any variety. Hard, Dry, Indigestable. nuff said.

*Pastariso or Quinoa noodles...give me Tinkayada anyday!

And for the best..

*Amy's gluten-free Macaroni and Cheese, heated in the oven. Yowza thats good!

*Chicken Bryan from Carrabbas...I could cry just thinking about it..especially when we take our gluten-free breadstix for them to heat in their brick oven. mmmmmmmm

*A Piece O' Cake gluten-free Snickerdoodles and Almond Cake...can't even tell the difference!

anerissara Enthusiast
I have two bread recommendations, only one of which is really feasible.  I discovered an excellent bread at a Celiac conference (when I say excellent, I mean that I ate it plain and thoroughly enjoyed it) from Charlotte's bakery in Salt Lake City...turns out they have a website and such, but the shipping is OUTRAGEOUS...thus, I never bought it over the internet. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Whoa, are you serious? Right here in SLC?!? Guess that's *one* good thing about living here....Yipppeeee!!!! I'm going to see if I can find it and buy some bread! :D

skbird Contributor

I have to say I was not INNITIALLY impressed by EnerG bread but went to a restaurant last week and they had it and made me a turkey/pesto/mozerella cheese panini sandwich on it and it was GOOD!!! With the white rice bread. I even went out and bought a loaf after that and made my own, still good! Good for grilled cheese, too. My favorite gluten-free bread by Food for Life is the Millet one...

But I have gotten to like many gluten-free breads now, after thinking they were all gross. I just don't eat a lot, usually. Not impressed with any bagel yet, even the Kinikinnick ones...

The kinikinnick pizza crusts are ok because they are convenient (pre-made) but mine all taste and smell like the donuts that were shipped in the same package, though I have had them in the freezer for a couple of months now.

Crackers - if you like rice crackers (not the big round ones) then you won't have a problem. I love the taste but have met people who don't. One of my favorites is Mary's Gone Crackers - mixed seed, quinoa, and rice crackers. They are crunchy but have a great taste. The EnerG ones are very buttery but PRICEY!

I liked the Mrs. Leepers Tuna meal (don't remember the exact name, like Tuna Helper) but it's nasty in leftovers - it's corn pasta. I liked the quinoa/corn pasta but Tinkyada's is the best, most versatile one. And it's easily found in many places.

And the most recent impressive dairy/cheese replacement I've found is the Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese. That stuff is very similar to the real stuff.

Steph

pmrowley Newbie

Personally, my wife and I LOVE the Quinoa pastas. Nice and nutty, very flavorful. You just have to make sure not to overcook them. They go from al dente to al soggy in about 30 seconds. Same with the Pastariso stuff (I don't like the angel hair though, it doesn't cook right.)

I also recently found a great gluten-free rice spaghetti at Trader Joe's, at about 1/2 the cost of any of the other rice pastas out there. Again, overcooking is the caution here.

I've always been a fan of the Food For Life gluten-free breads. A little dense, but GREAT when you're making a toasted sandwich.

I think my top bugaboos are:

Ener-G white rice bread (although, I love just about everything else; biscotti cookies, doughnuts and doughnut holes, chocolate chip cookies, pretzels, pizza shells. Pricey though.)

Most of the gluten-free macaroni just don't seem to do the cheese sauce right. The last time we did it, I bought a box of Kraft, threw the noodles out, and used the sauce on some Quinoa elbows. Mmmmmm. Just like I remember it from childhood.

That's about all I can think of right now. Most of my experimentation was years ago. Now I have a pretty good shopping list.

-P

Guest kmmolina

This is great. Some of you made me lol. So far I havn't had any bad experience but it because of people like you that have given such forthcoming comments on their experiences. I certainly am going to keep all of this in mind the next time I go shopping.

westiepaws Apprentice

I can't remember brand names, but I have had NO success in the arenas of gluten-free/soy-free/dairy-free

*pasta

*cookies.

I also tried to make some pancakes, and man, they were horrible. :blink:

Given these experiences and the fact that I have multiple allergies, I have given up trying to replace wheat-based products, pretty much. Instead I am eating mostly veggies, fruits and meat.

However, when my body wants a splurge:

*my saving grace is the great cranberry-walnut dessert posted in the recipes section at this site. I omit the flavoring (worries about gluten if alcohol-based). I use olive oil and bake it in a 9x13 pan because the texture is more crispy, like a cobbler/pie then. And YUM, I have been known to eat the whole thing myself in 24 hours :ph34r: !

Also, I love Enjoy Life chocolate chips. I have yet to use them in baking because they are so good I snarf them down as snacks. ;)

I don't mind giving up the breads, cookies, etc., because it gives me more caloric room for the above two snacks every now and then. I pray to God I don't develop allergies to chocolate or cranberries. If I did, I would cry. :(

connole1056 Rookie

As a rule we stay FAR away from Midel cookies and EnerG everything, not just the bread!!!

My daughter hated the canned spaghetti at first but now eats it once in awhile. The Chebe bread mix is ine the cupboard but we haven't gotten around to making it yet. Also, we have found the more restrictive a food is (the more "x-free" listings on the label), the more likely it should be labled "taste-free".

Jnkmnky Collaborator

Hey, the ENER-G pretzels are good. Give them a try.

cdford Contributor

I finally gave up even trying the gluten-free stuff. The one thing I found that I really liked were the Ener-G pretzels...then I found out I couldn't have soy. I have thrown away too many items. I just make my own now. If I can ever get the crackers down pat, we will want for nothing (well, most days anyway). I just cannot seem to get the texture right on those crackers.

Susantg3 Rookie

Anerissara

you wrote about making, or attempting, crepes. I have a wonderful receipe. using corn starch. I use it to make cheese blintzes-which is a major treat.

Crepes= 8 eggs, 1 tsp baking soda, 3 cups cold milk, 2 cups cornstarch, and 6 tablespoons butter (melted)

beat eggs with fork, Add cornstarch gradually, add baking soda, add milk gradually and beat until smooth. you will see occassional unmixed bit of corn starch-but thats ok. Add butter and mix in. heat 8 inch pan, keep it greased or use teflon coated pan. Add about 1/4 cup of batter to hot pan, work quickly tilting pan so that a thin layer of batter coates pan. When firm slide our, or lift out and allow to cool. fill with favorite filling

may need to reduce heat on pan to keep crepe from cooking to fast. enjoy :P Sue

Guest kmmolina
I can't remember brand names, but I have had NO success in the arenas of gluten-free/soy-free/dairy-free

*pasta

*cookies.

I also tried to make some pancakes, and man, they were horrible. :blink:

Given these experiences and the fact that I have multiple allergies, I have given up trying to replace wheat-based products, pretty much. Instead I am eating mostly veggies, fruits and meat.

However, when my body wants a splurge:

*my saving grace is the great cranberry-walnut dessert posted in the recipes section at this site. I omit the flavoring (worries about gluten if alcohol-based). I use olive oil and bake it in a 9x13 pan because the texture is more crispy, like a cobbler/pie then. And YUM, I have been known to eat the whole thing myself in 24 hours :ph34r: !

Also, I love Enjoy Life chocolate chips. I have yet to use them in baking because they are so good I snarf them down as snacks. ;)

I don't mind giving up the breads, cookies, etc., because it gives me more caloric room for the above two snacks every now and then. I pray to God I don't develop allergies to chocolate or cranberries. If I did, I would cry. :(

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Westiepaws...I too get frustrated with paying for things that don't taste good. However, Pamela's Chocolate Cake Mix is really good and according to their website Open Original Shared Link, it is soy and dairy free and gluten-free. That would probably be really good with some of those chocolate chips in it. :D

dogear Rookie

Actually, I know I must be in the minority, but I think Ener-G tapioca loaf is not only the best bread I've ever tasted in my life, but I think dry untoasted Ener-G is my favorite food in the world hands down.

Guest Viola
:lol: Isn't a good thing for all of these companies that we all have different taste buds? :P Otherwise we would only have one company with no choices.
blueshift Apprentice

As for me, the worst gluten-free food is flax crackers. I can't stand them..Tree of Life's brown rice bread toasted tastes great and so does Kinnickinnic's tapioca bread but I think all flours might be bothering me since my gut seems to obstruct a day after I have had any..like right now in fact.

Kenster61 Enthusiast

My worst experience yet has been dry dusty cookies from some company that is sold by whole food. The story about the cookies crumbling in your hands was about right.

Most of my horror stories are with cooking. I wanted Graham Crackers and milk sooo bad one time that I got a recipe and went about making it. The batter was too thick and so was my brain because I just got a cookie cutter and made the fattest graham crackers ever. When looking at the page in the recipe book I accidently read the oven tempature for the recipe on the other page. 450. GREAT! burned fat graham crackers. After two hours I wasn't giving in. I ate them anyway.

Best desserts are from a bakery just down the road from me. Mr. Ritts. He makes these delectable pecan bite. ARRG

Ken Ritter

mytummyhurts Contributor
I liked the Mrs. Leepers Tuna meal (don't remember the exact name, like Tuna Helper) but it's nasty in leftovers - it's corn pasta.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've had the Mrs. Leepers hamburger lasagna and chicken alfredo. They were both ok fresh, but you are right, Steph, the leftovers are always really nasty.

mandigirl1 Enthusiast

:lol:

Ive just read your conversations about crappy gluten-free products. I have to admit, for those foods mentioned that Ive tried, I can agree with. As far as the others, I wont bother buying. Thanks!

Personally I am on a new eating "kick". I dont know if you remember my blog concerning the problem of getting hooked on 1 particular food and then just eating that all the time???

I find something I love, and thats it---all I want to eat is that product. Case in point:

Food by George Pizza---OH MY GOD! Its Soooooooooooo delicious. Ive been eating them almost every night.They have an incredible flavor and lots of cheese. I am so grateful for his products......another one (but dangerous) is the brownie cake-UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!! I have eaten almost the entire thing within 24 hours!!! Then spent the next 24 hours in the gym!!!! LOL

Pamelas Peanut Butter cookies are another I love, love,love.

Did you know that Buckwheat is not a grain but from the fruit family? I love having buckwheat....sooooo filling.....does anyone else like this?

Another once a day addiction are the Sesame Pretzels as mentioned in the other blog ---cant get enough of these!

Oh----heres another favorite not mentioned--COZY SHACK RICE PUDDING!!!!!!! If you didnt like this before, you will now.....its a delicious gluten-free treat/dessert. It's even labeled Gluten Free! How awesome is that?

Vans gluten-free Waffles are good as are Hunts Chocolate Pudding.

There are great gluten-free products now----I never feel bad when eating with nonGF people. I used to feel miserable now Im happy!!!!!!

Enjoy what you CAN have!!!!!!! :D

jimbo Newbie

Hee Hee - I've had a brick of ener-g bread in the cabinet since I've been diagnosed (a month or so) - I was always afriad to open it... I figured any bread that will last over a year can't bee too tasty... Now I think you've convinced me to just toss it! :)

I didn't care for the Pamela's Pecan cookies - kind of a cardboardy aftertaste and dry as the Sahara.

I'm going to try making up a pizza with gluten-free dough (forget the brand) tonite for the first time... Wish me luck... :)

JIm

Archived

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


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,857
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    LowellFrancis
    Newest Member
    LowellFrancis
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Rogol72
      Some interesting articles regarding the use of Zinc Carnosine to help heal gastric ulcers, gastritis and intestinal permeability. I would consult a medical professional about it's use. https://www.nature.com/articles/ncpgasthep0778 https://www.rupahealth.com/post/clinical-applications-of-zinc-carnosine---evidence-review https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7146259/ https://www.fallbrookmedicalcenter.com/zinc-l-carnosine-benefits-dosage-and-safety/
    • Jillian83
      He is. Which makes everything even more difficult. I’m not a believer in “staying for the kids” but I have nowhere to go and it’s not just me, it’s me plus my babies. We live in a beautiful place, lots of land in the country and me and the kids love the place we’ve called home for their entire lives. But Im seeing that he’ll never change, that my kids deserve a happy healthy Momma, and that staying in this as is will be the early death of me. Then I look at the scars covering my entire body…this disease and the chronic stress I’ve been enduring for years that tell me I’m no longer beautiful and no one will ever look at me with interest again. I try self care, try to give myself grace so I can just start loving myself enough to gain strength but the slightest sparkle in my eye and skip in my step attracts his wrath and it all comes crashing ten fold. Life is just absolutely railing me from every single direction leaving me wanting to wave that white flag bc I don’t feel like there’s much hope no matter what happens. 
    • trents
    • Jillian83
      Hi, I was recently diagnosed with Celiac and dermatitis herpetiformis after years of suffering without answers. I lost my mind. I lost my job. I lost so much time. I lost Me. Conventional doctors are opulent come near me and the one who did sat across the room, misdiagnosed me, pumped me full of steroids which collapsed my entire hip for 6 months. So without answers I began my holistic journey. Fast forward a couple of years and still struggling with a mysterious whole body itchy, crawling “skin hell”, perfect teeth now deteriorating, thick hair now thinning rapidly and no more than a day or 2 at most relief….An acquaintance opened up a functional medicine practice. Cash only, I found a way. Within a month tests clearly showing my off the charts gluten allergy/sensitivity as well as the depletion of vital nutrients due to leaky gut and intestinal damage. dermatitis herpetiformis was more than likely what I was experiencing with my skin. I was happy. I thought this is easy, eat healthy Whole Foods, follow the diet restrictions and I finally get to heal and feel confident and like myself again very soon! 😔 Supplements are very pricey but I got them and began my healing. Which leads to the other major issue: not working, stay at home Mom of young kids, entirely financially dependent on my man of 7 plus years. He’s never been supportive of anything I’ve ever done or been thru. He controls everything. I’m not given much money ever at a time and when he does leave money it’s only enough to possibly get gas. His excuse is that I’ll spend it on other things. So my “allowance” is inconsistent and has conditions. He withholds money from me as punishment for anything he wants. Since being diagnosed, he’s gained a new control tactic to use as punishment. He now is in control of when I get to eat. He asked for proof of my diagnosis and diet bc he said I made it up just to be able to eat expensive organic foods. Then after I sent him my file from my doctor he then said she wasn’t a real doctor. 😡. I go days upon days starving, sometimes breaking down and eating things I shouldn’t bc I’m so sick then I pay horribly while he gets annoyed and angry bc I’m not keeping up with all the duties I’m supposed to be doing. His abuse turns full on when I’m down and it’s in these desperate times when I need his support and care the most that I’m punished with silence, being starved, ignored, belittled. He will create more of a mess just bc I’m unable to get up and clean so that when I am better, I’m so overwhelmed with chores to catch up that the stress causes me to go right back into a flare from hell and the cycle repeats. I’m punished for being sick. I’m belittled for starving and asking for healthy clean water. I’m purposely left out of his life. He won’t even tell me he’s going to the grocery or to get dinner bc he doesn’t want me to ask him for anything. I have no one. I have nothing. Im not better. My supplements ran out and I desperately need Vitamin D3 and a methylated B complex at the very minimal just to function….he stares at me blankly…no, a slight smirk, no words. He’s happiest when im miserable and I am miserable.  this is so long and im condensing as much as I can but this situation is so complicated and disgusting. And it’s currently my life. The “IT” girl, the healthy, beautiful, perfect skin, perfect teeth, thick and curly locks for days, creative and talented IT girl….now I won’t even leave this house bc Im ashamed of what this has dont to my body, my skin. Im disgusted. The stress is keeping me from healing and I think he knows that and that’s why he continues to keep me in that state. He doesn’t want me confident or successful. He doesn’t want me healed and healthy bc then how would he put the blame of all his problems on me? This journey has been hell and I’ve been in Hell before. I’ve been killed by an ex, I’ve been raped, robbed, held hostage, abused beyond nightmares but the cruelty I’ve experienced from him bc of this disease is the coldest I’ve ever experienced. I’ve wanted to give up. Starving and in tears, desperate…I found a local food pantry in our small town so I reached out just saying I had Celiac and was on hard times. This woman is blessing me daily with prepared gluten free meals, donations, educational info, people who know this disease and how they manage life and the blessings just keep coming. But it’s overwhelming and I feel like I don’t deserve it at all. He just glared and I know he’s going to sabotage it somehow. I don’t even know what to do anymore. I’m so broken and just want peace and healing. 
    • cristiana
      @Colleen H   I am just curious,  when you were tested for coeliac disease, did the doctors find out if you had any deficiencies? Sometimes muscle pain can be caused by certain deficiencies, for example, magnesium, vitamin D, calcium, and potassium.   Might be worth looking into having some more tests.  Pins and needles can be neuropathy, again caused by deficiencies, such as iron and B12,  which can be reversed if these deficiencies are addressed. In the UK where I live we are usually only tested for iron, B12 and vitamin D deficiencies at diagnosis.   I was very iron anemic and supplementation made a big difference.  B12 was low normal, but in other countries the UK's low normal would be considered a deficiency.  My vitamin D was low normal, and I've been supplementing ever since (when I remember to take it!) My pins and needles definitely started to improve when my known deficiencies were addressed.  My nutritionist also gave me a broad spectrum supplement which really helped, because I suspect I wasn't just deficient in what I mention above but in many other vitamins and minerals.  But a word of warning, don't take iron unless blood tests reveal you actually need it, and if you are taking it your levels must be regularly monitored because too much can make you ill.  (And if you are currently taking iron, that might actually be making your stomach sore - it did mine, so my GP changed my iron supplementation to a gentler form, ferrous gluconate). Lastly, have you been trying to take anything to lessen the pain in your gut?  I get a sore stomach periodically, usually when I've had too much rich food, or when I have had to take an aspirin or certain antibiotics, or after glutening.  When this happens, I take for just a few days a small daily dose of OTC omeprazole.  I also follow a reflux or gastritis diet. There are lots online but the common denominators to these diets is you need to cut out caffeine, alcohol, rich, spicy, acidic food etc and eat small regularly spaced meals.   When I get a sore stomach, I also find it helpful to drink lots of water.  I also find hot water with a few slices of ginger very soothing to sip, or camomile tea.  A wedge pillow at night is good for reflux. Also,  best not to eat a meal 2-3 hours before going to bed. If the stomach pain is getting worse, though, it would be wise to see the doctor again. I hope some of this helps. Cristiana    
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.