Gluten Free: The Way to Be?

Happy Friday, dear friends!

Today I have three new-to-me food products to share with you.

Before we get to the reviews, a bit of background: over the past ten years or so, I have dabbled in trying a wheat-free diet. Some times are more strict, others more lenient – it’s been pretty sporadic. Overall, the trend for me is that a diet high in gluten containing products (ie anything wheat-based) does adversely affect my system. How? For me, lots of gluten consumption (cereals, bagels, bread, pasta, baked treats) brings on:

• bloating
• gassiness (sure you wanted to know that one!)
• general digestive unhappiness

In the past, I’ve noticed much relief in sticking with corn, oat or rice based products. For example, let’s talk about cereal since it’s a subject near and dear to my heart! Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies, even sugared cereals like Cap’n Crunch and Frosted Flakes go down much easier than either Shreddies or All-Bran – those two are no bueno, as Gina (Fitnessista) would say!  

For the past couple of weeks, then, I’ve made three dietary swaps:

1) OUT with Quaker 100% whole grain oatmeal and IN with Only Oats Quick Oats (manufactured by Avena foods in Regina, Saskatchewan).

[Sidenote: until a few months ago, I was under the impression that oatmeal was gluten free (GF). However…

“What about oats?…The problem is possible contamination of oats with other gluten-containing grains.” (source)

Many thanks to Dorry who also discusses a gluten-free diet on her blog, today! That’s where I found the information, above].

purchased at eating well organically, uptown waterloo

First Impression: love the dainty flakes! much smaller in size than Quaker oats.

Price: I was paying $3.69 at Valumart for a box of 12 x individual Quaker 100% oats sachets. My GF bag cost $3.99. At first, I thought that was a bit expensive; however, now I realize just how many servings I am getting out of the bag, and it’s turned out to be more economical by far than the way I was purchasing Quaker.

Taste: the very same as Quaker

Digestability: awesome: no bloating, gas or rumbles

Rating Overall: A+

Try Again? Definitely. Permanent switch predicted.

2) OUT with wheat-based cereals, IN with GF cereals

I’ve tried a number of specifically GF cereals in the past, particularly corn flakes, as well as other varieties picked up at health food stores. But I had never tried:

yes, they're targeted for kids, but when has that ever stopped me before!

First Impression: these look like Kix! (a product not found in Canada, but that I just enjoyed in Aruba last week). The sweet coating (from sugar cane juice, primarily) reminds me of a less-sugared Corn Pops cereal.

Price: $5.39 for a 284 g box – not cheap, but breakfast cereals in general are not that economical a purchase.

Taste: nice…but they don’t rock my world. I do like the crunch factor.

...but i prefer KIX! which are also GF, did ya know!

Digestability: wonderful: no bloating, gas or rumbles

Rating Overall: B

Try Again? likely not

3) OUT with whole wheat bread or bagels and IN with GF white rice bread:

i've never seen bread packaged this way! it's in like a plastic "box"

First Impression: these slices are TINY!!

yes, one slice is literally the size of the palm of my hand - is it bread or melba toast?!

Price: $4.99 and there are 13 slices in my loaf; definitely more cher than regular bread

Taste: absolutely wonderful – the bread is soft, the taste is mild, the texture is delightfully palatable (I’m keeping it in the freezer to stay fresh).

Digestability: divine: no bloating, gas or rumbles

Rating Overall: A- (the size factor is the only knock against this product)

Try Again? yes

Final Thoughts: I will continue to branch out into picking up more GF products, given the positive personal results experienced with switching to the oatmeal, cereal, and bread listed above. I do not plan to devote myself to seeking out a 100% GF diet at this time. A cookie here, a bowl of Kashi Go Lean Crunch there…a serving or two of gluten-containing products per day does not seem to affect me too negatively. I’m eager to do more experimentation, and try some more new-to-me items.

And a future step could include baking GF! Anyone up for gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, hehe?!!

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Tonight’s project: ripping back the front neckline on A’s sweater:

i'm blocking the front and back of the sweater right now, hence the pins you see there

Given that the neckband is a separate braid that you knit and then attach, I think the neck area needs to be slightly larger. Luckily, this is not a major fix – all in an evening’s work!

Any exciting Friday plans for you? Do enjoy!

Tomorrow is going to be Fashion Saturday!