Another hard part of transitioning to living gluten free is figuring out what to eat for snacks. Here are some of my favorites:
Trio bars: Trio bars are fruit, nut, and seed bars. I buy the big box at Costco. They taste great and are a great source of protein. It's a great pre-gym snack.
Nuts, trail mix, etc: These can also be high protein. Just make sure that you check the ingredient lists to make sure everything is gluten-free. Not all brands will be safe.
Popcorn: Check labels but most are gluten free.
Fresh fruits and veggies: You really can't go wrong with fresh, whole fruits and veggies. If you can, try to pick things that will be high in fiber (it can be hard to get enough fiber when you are gluten free). I usually cut up a few days worth of fruits and veggies and put individual servings in ziplock bags in my fridge then I can just grab 3-4 to take with me to work.
Salads: Add toppings like meat, hard boiled eggs, and nuts for extra protein.
Hummus: I love hummus. You can buy it at the store but it's pretty easy to make yourself at home. I prefer to eat hummus with carrots, bell peppers, and cucumbers but you can also have it with tortilla chips.
Lunchmeat: Make sure to check labels. Sometimes processed meat has gluten.
Eggs: High in protein but they require a little more preparation than most of the other things on this list. Try scrambled, omelets, or fried. For an quicker option, try making hard-boiled eggs ahead of time or mix eggs and your favorite toppings then bake in muffin tins and freeze for a quick snack.
String cheese
Yogurt
Gluten free cereal or granola: I know cereal is traditionally a breakfast food but I enjoy it for snacks too. I eat it dry or with milk, depending on where I am and what else I'm doing while I eat. In addition to the specialty gluten free cereals, check out Chex (not Wheat Chex), Pebbles, and gluten-free Rice Krispies.
Smoothies: Try blending one yogurt with 1 cup frozen fruit and 1/2 cup sugar-free juice. You could substitute Greek yogurt, add protein powder, add more fruit, or even add spinach.
Muffins, breads, etc: I wouldn't rely on these in general but if you have made/bought gluten free baked goods they make a great snack.
Showing posts with label product reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label product reviews. Show all posts
March 18, 2012
Breakfast Ideas
This afternoon my roommate and I talked about the possibility of her going gluten-free and it reminded me how hard transition can be. As I explained to her, I felt like I lived on corn tortillas, cheese, lettuce, ice cream, and potato chips for 2 months when I first got diagnosed. It took me a while to figure things out, and breakfast was one of the hardest things for me to get used to. Here are a few of the things I learned and my favorite options.
Cereals: I love cereal in the mornings and for snacks because it is so easy and fast. Luckily, there are quite a few cereals available now that are gluten free. In addition to the specialty gluten free stuff (expensive and some of it tastes horrible in my opinion), most Chex varieties are gluten free (not Wheat Chex), Pebbles (Chocolate, Fruity, etc) are gluten free, and Rice Krispies are available gluten free (but make sure you buy the ones that say gluten free on the front because the regular box still has gluten).
*One special note about cereal: Some people with Celiac Disease, especially if they are newly diagnosed and/or healing, have trouble tolerating milk. I personally have less trouble with yogurt so recently I've started using a plainer Chex with a flavored yogurt and fresh fruit or slivered/chopped nuts on top.
Granola: You can buy gluten free granola or make your own. One caution here is that some people have trouble tolerating oats. If you do, avoid the granola altogether.
Smoothies: Sometimes I have to do breakfast on the go or I have to be to work or an appointment extra early so I try to do breakfast in 2 rounds. Smoothies work perfect on these days. I blend one yogurt, 1 cup of fruit, and 1/2 cup of sugar-free juice. I like tropical flavors but use any combination of flavors you like. You can also add gluten free protein powder, use greek yogurt for extra protein, or even add a cup of spinach.
Eggs: I don't take time to cook eggs often but they are an awesome breakfast because they are full of protein and budget friendly. If you get bored with your eggs, play around with them. Try scrambled, fried, hard-boiled, omelets, etc. Also add different toppings: cheese, fresh herbs (cilantro, basil, etc), green onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, ham, bacon etc. You can even mix eggs with your favorite toppings then bake them in a muffin tin in the oven and freeze them to grab on a hurried morning.
Frozen waffles: Van's makes a couple of gluten free varieties of frozen waffles. I've seen them carried in most major grocery chains and they are pretty good for frozen waffles. (Just don't cook them in a toaster used for gluten products.)
If you are up for a little more work, check out the "Breakfast label" which has lots of delicious recipes.
Cereals: I love cereal in the mornings and for snacks because it is so easy and fast. Luckily, there are quite a few cereals available now that are gluten free. In addition to the specialty gluten free stuff (expensive and some of it tastes horrible in my opinion), most Chex varieties are gluten free (not Wheat Chex), Pebbles (Chocolate, Fruity, etc) are gluten free, and Rice Krispies are available gluten free (but make sure you buy the ones that say gluten free on the front because the regular box still has gluten).
*One special note about cereal: Some people with Celiac Disease, especially if they are newly diagnosed and/or healing, have trouble tolerating milk. I personally have less trouble with yogurt so recently I've started using a plainer Chex with a flavored yogurt and fresh fruit or slivered/chopped nuts on top.
Granola: You can buy gluten free granola or make your own. One caution here is that some people have trouble tolerating oats. If you do, avoid the granola altogether.
Smoothies: Sometimes I have to do breakfast on the go or I have to be to work or an appointment extra early so I try to do breakfast in 2 rounds. Smoothies work perfect on these days. I blend one yogurt, 1 cup of fruit, and 1/2 cup of sugar-free juice. I like tropical flavors but use any combination of flavors you like. You can also add gluten free protein powder, use greek yogurt for extra protein, or even add a cup of spinach.
Eggs: I don't take time to cook eggs often but they are an awesome breakfast because they are full of protein and budget friendly. If you get bored with your eggs, play around with them. Try scrambled, fried, hard-boiled, omelets, etc. Also add different toppings: cheese, fresh herbs (cilantro, basil, etc), green onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, ham, bacon etc. You can even mix eggs with your favorite toppings then bake them in a muffin tin in the oven and freeze them to grab on a hurried morning.
Frozen waffles: Van's makes a couple of gluten free varieties of frozen waffles. I've seen them carried in most major grocery chains and they are pretty good for frozen waffles. (Just don't cook them in a toaster used for gluten products.)
If you are up for a little more work, check out the "Breakfast label" which has lots of delicious recipes.
July 4, 2011
Product Review: Gluten Free Bisquick
I love pancakes. I mean, I pretty much lived on them one semester of grad school. And I craved them a lot after I went GF but no matter how many homemade pancake recipes I tried, I couldn't find one I actually liked. Until I tried Gluten Free Bisquick.
Yes, it really is that amazing. The pancakes absorb syrup more than the regular Bisquick pancakes do, but that is my only complaint. They taste like regular pancakes and they have good texture.
I haven't tried yet, but I hear they make good waffles and bisquits. I also recently learned that you can make cinnamon rolls with Bisquick and I'm perfecting a GF cinnamon roll recipe using GF Bisquick.
Yes, it really is that amazing. The pancakes absorb syrup more than the regular Bisquick pancakes do, but that is my only complaint. They taste like regular pancakes and they have good texture.
I haven't tried yet, but I hear they make good waffles and bisquits. I also recently learned that you can make cinnamon rolls with Bisquick and I'm perfecting a GF cinnamon roll recipe using GF Bisquick.
Product Review: Udi's Gluten-Free Hamburger Buns
I've had a couple of requests for GF product reviews, so I figured I would start with the hamburger buns we tried this weekend.
To celebrate the 4th of July, my siblings and I had a BBQ. Since half of us are GF, I splurged and bought the new Udi's Gluten Free Hamburger Buns I had been hearing about. I heard they would be hard to find, but found them in the freezer section of the Sunflower Market for $5.99.
The buns tasted great and had a good airy texture but they were a bit dry. My brother warmed his up in the microwave for 30 seconds with a little water and said it helped a lot.
Overall, they were good, but I'm not sure I would buy them again. They are pretty expensive, and after having been gluten free for a year, I think the bun was just too much. However, if you really love buns and/or haven't gotten used to protein-style burgers, they are definitely worth trying.
To celebrate the 4th of July, my siblings and I had a BBQ. Since half of us are GF, I splurged and bought the new Udi's Gluten Free Hamburger Buns I had been hearing about. I heard they would be hard to find, but found them in the freezer section of the Sunflower Market for $5.99.
The buns tasted great and had a good airy texture but they were a bit dry. My brother warmed his up in the microwave for 30 seconds with a little water and said it helped a lot.
Overall, they were good, but I'm not sure I would buy them again. They are pretty expensive, and after having been gluten free for a year, I think the bun was just too much. However, if you really love buns and/or haven't gotten used to protein-style burgers, they are definitely worth trying.
January 31, 2011
La Choy Creations: Sweet and Sour Chicken
Ok, so this isn't a recipe so much as it was a lucky find at the grocery store. It's called La Choy Creations: Sweet and Sour Chicken. I found it in the Asain food section, under the soy sauce. It's a blue box and includes a rice packet and a can of sauce, so all you have to do is add the chicken. I also added a green bell pepper and half a big can of pineapple to liven it up a bit. It was suprisingly good and pretty easy - perfect for after a long day at work when I want yummy food but don't have a lot of energy to cook.
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