We’ve been talking a lot about gluten-free shopping and it has made me think . . . WHICH foods are you buying.
Last week I shared what foods can be found in our pantry, and what we buy, to keep us happy and healthy.
Happy – Our kids should be able to grab safe foods they can eat and enjoy.
Healthy – so I can grab the necessary items to pull together a healthy meal with what’s on hand in the pantry.
One item that seems to cause a lot of discomfort for gluten-free shoppers is gluten-free bread.
Gluten-free bread can be
quite expensive, right?
One loaf can run from $3.99- $8.99!
I found one we wanted to try, and it was marked $9.99! No thanks. With a family of 5 eating gluten-free, that cost could sky-rocket our grocery bill!
Finding a good gluten-free bread
can be challenging
Many gluten-free friends will report their favorite foods, including bread. Yet, there are always a lot of complaints mentioned about the bread:
- Too expensive
- Hard to find
- Smaller overall bread pieces
- Crumbles up or dries out
- Goes bad quickly
- Needs to be frozen
- Contains more holes than bread
- Tasteless and hard
Over the years, we have tried a LOT of different gluten-free bread options.
I have to say, we’re always looking for a new one to try. For us, other allergies knock a lot of the bread off our list before we can even buy one.
Corn and xanthan gum, another intolerance in our home, are found in many gluten-free breads on the market. The Paleo versions often contain almonds or nuts, which are also a NO go in our home overall.
High cost and the poor
ingredients – what do we do?
First of all, you can make your own. We’re always trying new recipes! Some work and some don’t. (Check out our GF Sourdough Bread here)
Most are best if you eat them right away or slice and freeze. Overall, rolls seem to work well for us, which are fun for picnics and lunches.
But, over the years we have decided that bread is not always an everyday affair at our home. Instead, we have found alternatives and there are many!
Check out these
alternative bread ideas here:
#1 Waffles
Waffles, whether store-bought or homemade, make great bread alternatives for sandwiches or even a mock pizza. We enjoy avocado toast with our favorite waffles.
#2 Lettuce leaf
You can fill a lettuce leaf with anything for a fabulous wrap or sandwich!
We use lettuce to wrap our burgers in place of a bun, as a wrap for tuna or chicken sandwiches, or as a replacement for a tortilla in our taco. They are also great to fill with a veggie stir-fry!
#3 Rice Cakes
Rice cakes are great with peanut butter or sun butter and sliced banana for lunch or breakfast. Place some cheese, avocado, or hummus on top.
The large ones work well. This Lundberg Company makes a small, thinner square-sized rice cake that’s easier to bite into, making a great bread replacement, and they offer different varieties.
#4 Cucumber Slices
These are easy and delicious. Just layer up your filling on top and enjoy. Tuna, salmon, and hummus are all great on a cucumber slice.
#4 Large Tomatoes
Tomatoes are fabulous in the summer right out of the garden or Farmer’s Market. Place your delicious topping on top of a slice and enjoy!
#5 Tortillas or wraps
Read the ingredients as many of the gluten-free tortillas and wraps contain xanthan gum or corn – or many other unwanted ingredients. The healthier versions are a bit expensive which doesn’t help much with the cost comparison of the gluten-free bread but does offer another option if interested. There are multiple varieties to choose from in this category.
#6 Pancakes
We are crazy about pancakes at our house. Our zucchini pancake is a tortilla replacement when we make our gluten-free tacos. The sweetness of the zucchini offsets the spiciness of the tacos – a perfect blend!
#7 Bok Choy, Kale or Chard Leaf
Much like a lettuce leaf, you can use any green leaf to roll around and hold your fillings for a healthier option for your snack or meal. This Chard leaf would make quite a large sandwich!
#8 Sweet Potato slice
Recently I saw someone using a large slice of sweet potato as their “bread”. They grilled it on both sides with a little olive oil, and then placed their meat on top, like a burger. Delicious!
#9 Bagels or English muffins
This is another form of bread but you can always use this instead of a slice of bread. Read the ingredients to make sure it is something you want to eat or add to your diet. You can find some delicious GF bagels.
#10 Going Breadless Overall
You can always opt to have a hamburger or bean burger without the bread and just enjoy it alone or with fun toppings.
Overall, gluten-free bread does not need to stress you out! There are so many options to use instead.
Which one would you choose?
Learn to enjoy your GF food!
Get in the kitchen and learn
amazing recipes and GF tricks and tips
in Jennifer’s Cooking Classes
Check them out below
2 Responses