***I am a Certified Holistic Nutrition Health Coach however, this blog is for informational purposes only and should not be used as nutrition or medical advise. See my blog’s disclaimer for more information.
I’ve been gluten free, for the most part, for 8 years. No, I do not suffer from Celiac however gluten does cause an inflammatory response in my body, so I try my best to avoid it when I can.
For me, too much gluten contributed to my cystic acne, sinus issues, headaches, and gut issues. I used to also have anxiety which I believe gluten was the culprit of as well. Isn’t it crazy how our bodies can react to what we’re eating and doctors won’t blame the culprit…they’ll just write you a prescription…but I digress.
As a holistic health coach, I love to read ingredient labels so I know what I’m putting into my body. Unfortunately, so many foods labeled “gluten free” contain a bunch of additives to compensate for the lack of gluten…yuck!
I’m also not someone who likes to eat food that tastes sub par. I’d rather eat a delicious chocolate chip cookie full of gluten, then eat a gluten free chocolate chip cookie that tastes like cardboard.
If you want to know my favorite gluten free pantry staples and gluten free snacks I usually have on hand, keep reading!
***We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and other affiliated sites. Please see this blog’s Disclosure for more information.
Pantry Staples:
Gluten Free Oat Flour:
I LOVE Baking with Oat Flour. The flavor is so nice and it make your baked goods nice and moist (sorry, I know people hate that word.) My absolute favorite gluten free pancakes are made with oat flour. I also love to bake banana bread with it too.
The nice thing about oat flour is if you don’t have any, you can blend oats in a blender to make it! I always have a bag of oat flour on hand at all times.
Chia Seeds:
One of my favorite gluten free snacks is chia pudding, so I always have chia seeds in my pantry. Chia seeds are packed with protein, fiber, and omega-3’s which makes them a super healthy snack.
I also like to add them to my smoothies and I add ground chia seeds to my oatmeal.
Fruits & Vegetables:
Fruits and Vegetables are a great gluten free snack or addition to any meal. I love to make smoothies for breakfast, I love eating watermelon and bananas as a snack, and I finish my dinner off with a salad.
Fruits and vegetables are naturally gluten free and they are super nutritious! The fruits and vegetables I always have on hand are bananas, lemons, apples, leafy greens, celery, watermelon (in the summer), pineapple, avocado, blueberries, and carrots. Then depending on the season or what I’m cooking, I’ll have other fruits and vegetables as well.
Gluten Free Pasta:
I always have a bag of gluten free pasta on hand for an easy meal. I love the organic gluten free pastas from Wegmans. They have lentil pasta, chickpea pasta, black bean pasta, and others. The ingredients are really clean and they’re really affordable too!
Food For Life GF Sprouted Grains Bread:
I LOVE the Food For Life breads. The ingredients are super clean, they don’t contain any preservatives which is why they have to be stored in the freezer, and I love that they make a gluten free version!
I love the sprouted grains bread because sprouted grains are the healthiest form of grains. They are not processed what so ever, they are easy to digest, and they are low glycemic. Our body also absorbs the nutrients from sprouted grains better!
I always keep this bread in my freezer to make a quick sandwich or piece of toast if I need a little snack.
Eggs:
I LOVE eggs. Eggs are so nutritionally dense and they keep you full! I always have a few eggs for breakfast, if I need a quick and easy lunch, I’ll make a few hard boiled eggs too. I also like to take hard boiled eggs on road trips to snack on, which is so much cheaper and healthier than stopping for fast food on the way.
Nut Butter:
Nut butter is a great way to stay full as well and it’s gluten free! I love eating a spoonful of nut butter as a little snack, I like to eat it with fruit, and I like to put it on toast too.
Make sure your nut butter contains ONLY the nut and possibly salt. For instance peanut butter should only contain peanut butter + salt…almond butter is almonds + salt. If there is any added sugar, oils, preservatives, look for a better brand!
Now that we’ve covered the items I always have in my pantry, let’s move on to my favorite gluten free snacks! The snacks I’m referring to are packaged, ready to eat snacks…not snacks you have to prepare.
My Favorite Gluten Free Snacks:
Jerky:
I love beef jerky, wagyu jerky, really any kind of organic or grass fed jerky is a good option! Jerky is really filling, and if you buy the right kind, it can be really healthy too! I like the EPIC Grass Fed Jerky.
My biggest advice with jerky is to make sure it is organic or grass fed and CHECK THE INGREDIENT LABEL! Make sure there are no nitrates or other preservatives and check what they season it with too.
Dried Fruit:
I love dried mango but any dried fruit is a great snack if you’re craving something sweet! They contain natural sugar, loads of vitamins and fiber, and they give off a similar vibe to fruit snacks…they’re just WAY healthier!
Just make sure there is no added sugar to the dried fruit!!!
Lara Bars (or Wegmans Wholesum Bars)
I love how simple the ingredients in Lara bars are and they’re gluten free of course! The base of them is dates and they add cashews, chocolate chips, peanut butter, etc. to make the different flavors.
Wegmans Wholesum bars are basically the same thing (they’re just cheaper!) The simpler the ingredients, the better!
I love these for days where I’m on-the-go non-stop, when I’m working an event and need a quick bite, or on road trips. I don’t eat these daily, but they are a great option if you need something quick and mess free!
Applesauce Pouches:
Applesauce pouches are also a great on-the-go option! They are mess free, gluten free, and they contain simple ingredients. Just make sure there is no added sugars or flavors in yours! And organic is better too.
Siete Kettle Cooked Chips:
I have been OBSESSED with these lately! The Siete Kettle Cooked Chips are gluten free and made with avocado oil instead of vegetable oil or canola oil. Even the flavored ones are clean as they list all the seasonings used to flavor them. No “natural flavors” listed.
I really like the Sea Salt and the Chipotle BBQ…they’re soooo good! (I even give the sea salt ones to my dog as a treat.)
Siete Grain Free Cookies:
These cookies are gluten free, made with coconut oil and avocado oil, and they contain coconut sugar instead of refined white sugar! They taste so good too! My favorite flavor is Mexican Chocolate!
I love having the Siete Grain Free Cookies as a bedtime snack with my cup of tea.
I hope this gives you some fresh gluten free snacks and food ideas! Let me know what your must have gluten free item is in the comments!
Leave a Reply