A Guide to Gluten-Free Goods: Jeanette's Healthy Living

The following Gluten-Free Guide was first published in Jeanette's Healthy Living blog.

About a year ago, I discovered my youngest son was allergic to wheat, and I have been on a journey ever since to learn how to cook and bake gluten-free. There are times, however, when I don’t have the time to bake. Also, when we travel, I pack a whole suitcase full of gluten-free bread, bagels, cereal and snacks since I never know what will be available nearby.

Compared to ten years ago, there are so many more gluten-free products on the market, some healthier than others. Gluten-free products can be expensive, and we’ve had our share of buying some products that ended up in the trash, so I’m hoping this list provides a starting point for anyone new to the gluten-free diet. Don’t be afraid to ask your local health food store to order any products you’d like to try – they’re more than likely to be willing to accomodate your request.

Gluten-Free Grains/Flours/Blends

• Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free grains (rolled oats, amaranth, quinoa, millet, medium cornmeal) – for hot breakfast cereal, meatballs, cornbread, and cookies
• Trader Joe’s Quinoa – a good value; nice as a pilaf or hot breakfast cereal
• Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free flours (amaranth, quinoa, millet, sorghum, teff,  corn flour, garbanzo/fava bean, brown rice) – great for making your own gluten-free flour mix, and terrific in chocolate chip cookies
• Ancient Harvest Quinoa Flakes – perfect for granola bars and cookies
• Ancient Harvest Quinoa Flour – great in muffins
• Honeyville Almond Flour – wonderful for donuts and coffee cake
• Bob’s Red Mill All Purpose Gluten-Free Baking Flour – perfect for hot pretzels
• King Arthur Gluten-Free Multi-Purpose Flour Blend – makes nice fluffy pancakes
• King Arthur Ancient Grains Flour Blend and King Arthur Gluten-Free Whole Grain Flour Blend – perfect way to up the fiber in muffins

Gluten-Free Baking Mixes

• Pamela’s Baking and Pancake Mix – great for pancakes, muffins and quick breads
• Pamela’s Cornbread and Muffin Mix – an easy cheat for Cornbread Stuffing Muffins
• Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Cornbread Mix – perfect with a bowl of Turkey Black Bean Chili
• King Arthur Gluten-Free Pancake Mix – nice in a pinch
• Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Brownie Mix – contains sorghum flour which is high in fiber, iron and phosphorus
• King Arthur Gluten-Free Cookie Mix – good for birthday parties; add chocolate chips or other mix-ins

Gluten-Free Breads/Baked Goods

• Canyon Bakehouse San Juan 7-Grain Bread  – great for sandwiches, French toast, grilled cheese, croutons, or as a binder in meatballs
• Canyon Bakehouse Hamburger Buns – a must for traveling
• Udi’s Whole Grain Bagels – a must for traveling
• Udi’s Pizza Crust – prebaked; the best crust we’ve found that comes closest to regular pizza crust
• Udi’s Bread – good for Thanksgiving stuffing (it’s firmer and dryer than the Canyon Bakehouse bread) 

Gluten-Free Pasta

Turkey Bolognese served with Corn Pasta

• Ancient Harvest Pasta (quinoa and corn flour) – multi-colored Garden Pagodas andmini shells are fun for kids
• Schar Anellini (corn and rice flour) – perfect for chicken noodle soup and tomato pasta soup
• Le Veneziane Pasta (corn flour) – my kids like their fettuccini pasta and butterfly shaped pasta
• Trader Joe’s Brown Rice Pasta – very similar to Tinkyada, but less expensive, perhaps a private label brand
• Trader Joe’s Corn Pasta – much more inexpensive than other brands

Gluten-Free Cereal

Creamy Amaranth Porridge

• Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free grains (rolled oats, steel cut oats, amaranth, quinoa, Mighty Tasty Hot Breakfast Cereal)
• Erewhon Brown Rice Cereal – I crush this cereal and use it as a coating for chicken strips for baked crunchy chicken tenders, or in no-bake “Clif” granola bars
• Barbara’s Gluten-Free Puffins Multigrain Cereal

Gluten-Free Snacks

• HomeFree gluten-free mini cookies- the chocolate chocolate chip (yes, double chocolate) and chocolate chip were my son’s favorites
• Kinnikinnick S’moreables Graham Style Crackers, for snacking or s’mores
• Mary’s Gone Crackers Onion Crackers and Chipotle Tomato Pretzel Sticks
• Trader Joe’s Savory Thins (rice crackers), perfect as base for Soy Sesame Salmon Tartare
• Crunchmaster Rosemary & Olive Oil Multi-Seed Crackers, terrific with Kalamata Olive and Caper Hummus
• Enjoy Life Double Chocolate Crunchy Cookies
• Food Should Taste Good The Works! Tortilla Chips, great with Roasted Corn, Avocado and Black Bean Salsa
• Glutino Gluten-Free Pretzel Twists and Sticks

Special Gluten-Free Items

• Mary’s Gone Crackers Just The Crumbs – the Savory bread crumbs are a nice crunchy topping for Roasted Cauliflower and coating for Buffalo Chicken Nuggets
• Kinnikinnick Panko Style Bread Crumbs – great for coating chicken tenders and onion rings (for green bean casserole)
• Kinnikinnick S’moreables Graham Style Cracker Crumbs – perfect for Pumpkin Pie
• Orgran Gravy Mix – good in a pinch, especially during the holidays
• Bell & Evans Gluten-Free Chicken Tenders and Applegate Gluten-Free Chicken Nuggets – great for vacations or lazy days
• Annie’s Rice Pasta and Cheddar