Gluten is a hot and controversial topic nowadays. There are raging debates about its efficacy and safety for everyone. Opinions are diverse, but still, there are a lot of medical studies done to support the claim. It is said that apart from those people who suffer from celiac disease, Gluten is safe for everyone else. A survey done in 2013 revealed that almost 30% of Americans actively try and avoid Gluten in their diet. So, it would be nice that there are some gluten-free snacks. But let us understand it first.
What is Gluten?
Gluten is essentially a type of protein. Gluten is a part of the same family of proteins like barley and wheat. We know that wheat is a more common discussion when it comes to Gluten. The effects of Gluten on people affected by Celiac are out of the scope of this discussion, but even for normal people, Gluten in the form of bread can cause bloating, tiredness, depression, among others resulting in Irritable Bowel Syndrome, gas problems, wheat allergy, etc. And somehow, somewhere, we have all experienced that. This is exactly why going gluten-free is a necessity nowadays to progress to a more healthy lifestyle.
The Family Diet
When it comes to a family’s diet planning, a mother’s role becomes very important. Not only shopping for the right stuff, but the mother also plays an active role in shaping the health of the kids and adults in the family through active food-based and diet-based choices. Kids are especially important as if their diet is maintained and correct food habits are inculcated at an early stage in life, they pretty much last the entire duration of the kids lifetimes.
Anyone who has gone shopping for gluten-free snacks/products at the store knows how difficult it is to find one while scoring through several products to find the right one. Today we discuss some of the top few gluten-free snacks available in the market, which will help parents, especially mothers, make more healthy choices.
PopCorners Kettle Corn Snack Pack
Delicious, crunchy, and addictive. That’s how we can describe the popped corn snack in 3 words. We do not have to bother about the nutrition content as it’s a healthy snack. You will have to only worry about stopping yourself from consuming the entire bag.
It contains non-GMO corn with sea salt, cane sugar and drizzled with sunflower oil. That’s it, only 4 ingredients, and you have such a wonderfully healthy and tasty snack. It’s the best alternative to all the unhealthy snacks, especially fruit snacks.
It has a nice sweet and well-balanced salty taste, and you can also combine it with (or use as a base) other foods or make other variations to make it even more interesting. There are no artificial colors or any flavorings added. It is a certified gluten-free product and is also never fried. Not bad. They may not be cheap, but certainly the most harmless product. You can buy a whole pack of 40 1-oz bags available for $42.00.
Mott’s Medleys Fruit Snacks
Snacks don’t have to be corn-based all the time; they can be fruit-based too. Just like the Mott’s Medleys Fruit Snacks we are talking about here. They are gummy treats that are made out of a combination of real fruits and vegetable juice. They boast of having no artificial flavors or colorings.
When it comes to nutrition, they offer just 80 calories despite being gluten-free, fat-free, and gelatin-free. The ingredients include corn syrup, fruit, and vegetable juice concentrate apart from others. They are so tasty and chewy that your kids will be hooked onto them in no time. They are the perfect snack for your kids and also contain 100% of the kids’ daily dose of Vitamin C.
The only point that you should be careful about is that they should not be given to kids who are small and can choke on them. Give them to only those kids who can swallow chewy foods easily. They are available in boxes and 1 box being 40 ct, with o.8 oz weight each and can be purchased for around $6.
Annie’s Gluten-Free Chewy Granola Bars
There are a lot of times when kids get hungry and are not satisfied with gluten-free sweets or even corn snacks. Kids are bundles of energy who need a lot of energy to get through the entire day. Always up to something, they want regular doses of proper diet throughout the day to keep them going.
Also, there are several moments during the day that can be termed as snacking between meals when they need to grab a quick, filling, and energy-boosting snack. This is where Annie’s Gluten-Free Chewy Granola Bars come into the picture. As a quick snack on the way to football practice or a snack after a tiring dance class, these granola bars are what they need.
They consist of wholegrain oats mixed with canola oil and organic cane sugar. They also include real chocolate chips for added benefit and flavoring. As expected, they are devoid of artificial color, flavorings, preservatives, and ingredients. Each box contains 5 granola bars weighing 0.98oz which is just perfect for a quick healthy snack for kids and adults alike.
You can have them at work between meetings, at your desk while working away, or tasty snacks during a hiking session. They are available in tasty options like Chocolate, Oatmeal Raisin, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Double Chocolate chip, and Oatmeal cookie. They are available for $3.18.
Yogurt Covered Pretzels
When it comes to kids or adults, everyone needs a good variety of food. So when it comes to healthy food, it works wonders if you have a range of healthy food options available so that no one missed those unhealthy yet super tasty foods everyone is used to. Here we have a gluten-free snacks alternative which is the Yogurt Covered Pretzels.
These are so close in look, feel and taste that no one will be able to easily make out the difference. Yet they are free from milk, wheat, casein, and of course, gluten. This product is a fine example of the fact that gluten-free does not mean it cannot be tasty and irresistible. Give it to kids, and you will know how easily they get hooked onto them.
It’s a sweet gluten-free product that is perfectly baked to give that crispy feel and taste. You can design them into your special snack like chocolate and peanut butter dipped pretzels or gluten-free pretzel nachos, or add cheese topping on them. They are available for $9.47 in a package weighing 5.5 ounces.
HIPPEAS Organic Chickpea Puffs – Gluten-Free Snacks
Chickpeas are a vegan’s delight food. High in protein and several other nutrition, it’s one of the best foods in the vegan world. Here we present you the HIPPEAS Organic Chickpea Puffs, which are baked into light, crunchy puff snacks. Not just a healthy snack, but because chickpeas naturally release all the nitrogen back as they eventually grow, so environment-conscious people have a reason to buy this apart from the health-related ones.
The snack made same the simple yet super nutritious legume is a non-GMO product that is vegan also certified gluten-free. They are available in flavors like Vegan White Cheddar, BBQ, Sriracha, and more. Vegan White Cheddar is especially good if your child suffers from dairy intolerance.
It does not contain any soy, tree nuts, or even peanuts to avoid all the harmful cholesterol. They do not look anything like chickpeas, and so it’s an interesting treat for not just you but also your little ones. Every 1 oz serving of this snack will give you 4 grams of plant-based protein, 3 grams of fiber, and 130 calories apart from the other nutrients. They are available in 1.5-ounce packs of 12 for $19.99.
Broccoli Littles by Dr. Praeger’s
The next one the list we introduce is the Broccoli Littles by Dr. Praeger’s. As the name might have hinted, these are yummy and nutrition-filled broccoli bites that need to be cooked. This is the first snack we are covering, which needs some amount of cooking, but the effort and time are worth it. The package includes fun-shaped broccoli bites that are Gluten and soy-free and hold 130 calories of nutrition in every pack.
Made from just 9 ingredients, they are kosher and also a very tasty treat. The ingredients will include broccoli, garlic, and salt mixed and cooked with Arrowroot Powder, onions, Egg Whites, and potatoes in Expeller Pressed Canola Oil. The product is prepared before freezing and shipping, and you have to store it that way. When you plan to make it, thaw it for some time and heat them over a skillet for 5-6 minutes. When they turn brown, turn them over and cook for 2-3 minutes more. That’s it. Your snack is not just ready, but since it’s freshly cooked, it feels even better.
If you are planning to microwave it, just set it on high for 11-12 minutes. Filled with ample greens and other nutrition, this is a slightly different and interesting snack to have in your fridge. The packs cost around $8.76 for 10 ounces.
Gluten-Free Snacks: Snapea Crisps – Harvest Snaps
We promised to bring you something new in the line-up every time. So now we present the Snapea Crisps – Harvest Snaps which is a terrific snack for any occasion. These are original green pea crisps that are lightly baked and salted. Everyone is obsessed with peas, basically a legume, but probably the only one that can be consumed whole.
What makes the simple legume stand out and impress us is the remarkable zesty flavors that will get you hooked. You have to try the wholesomeness of this nutrient-packed snack to understand. Being an excellent source of fiber and protein, you can have it straight out of the bag, or you can add it to other foods or snacks to give them the crunchiness. They are available in ranch and black pepper flavors and more. It ships in a large bag of 20 ounces and is available for around $14.89.
Tate’s Bake Shop Thin & Crispy Cookies
Who does not love cookies? The perfect snack, just like that or with tea or coffee. Morning, afternoon, or night, every time is the right time to indulge in a cookie, especially when it’s a healthy gluten-free one. They are a thin signature cookie, which is crispy and give you a nice buttery homemade type of taste.
It’s a good grab-and-go snack that works anytime. Carry a packet in your bag and have it in the car, in the office, or on the way back from the gym. It will give you an instant kick of energy.
What makes them even better is that they are available in a wide 7 flavor options like Gluten Free Ginger Zinger, Walnut Chocolate Chip, White Chocolate Macadamia Nut, Gluten-Free Oatmeal Raisin, Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin, and Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip. With so many flavors, there is surely one you will get hooked on to. They are available in a 3 and 4 variety pack which packs 3 or 4 packs of different flavors and is available for around $22.40.
Extensive Variety of Gluten-Free Snacks
Overall we have seen a variety of gluten-free snacks. Not just are they different in looks, but they also differ quite a lot in taste and function. Some are merely corn-based alternatives which are easy off the counter table snack or something you can enjoy while in front of the TV, other care energy bars that are packed with nutrition. So you do not have to change a lot of things in your diet or adjust a lot.
You can start by planning around these snacks for the moment and start adding more variety to the list. Also, this list is just the beginning, as there are tons of products to explore. I hope this article gave you enough insight and information to start a gluten-free lifestyle. Enjoy your gluten-free snack, and we hope it becomes a part of your new healthy diet plan.