Friday, December 30, 2011

Restaurant Fridays - Wild Willy's (Worcester)

Welcome to Restaurant Fridays - My Friday reviews of gluten free dining options in Boston, Worcester and their surrounding areas.


Wild Willy's - Worcester

I have no idea how it's taken me this long to write about Wild Willy's. I think it's because the burgers and sandwiches are so good that I usually scarf mine down before I remember to take pictures. Wild Willy's is a restaurant chain that has a several locations across New England. The owners of the Worcester location, (Bob and Jan Stein), have chosen to take gluten free to the next level.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Product Review - Choice Batter

About a month ago, Mike proudly came home with a new gluten free find, Choice Batter. I generally don't fry things, but we decided to give this product a try at least once out of curiosity. We decided to make buffalo chicken salads for dinner using this mix. One batch of chicken we fried with light olive oil spray and the other we pan fried in peanut oil.


Choice Batter

Upon opening the package, I was immediately hit with the rather zesty smell of the mix. It definitely had some spices mixed in. This worried me a little bit because sometimes the spice mix in gluten free products can leave a lot to be desired. I think some companies must use the heavy spice mixes in an attempt to mask the gluten free taste and texture...


Dry Batter

This mix was fairly easy to use. We just added water, let it sit for a little bit and dunked the chicken pieces in. After that, we tossed it in the frying pan and cooked it until golden brown. The batch that we made with the light olive oil spray came out a lot cakier, whereas the version we fried in the peanut oil came out nice and crispy. If you plan on pan frying your battered items , be careful! The oil spits a lot more than I've ever see another product spit. Make sure you aren't wearing nice clothes and make yourself a frying shield with foil if you need to. Also, you could use a fryer if you have one, which would probably take care of the spitting problem all together.

Fried with light olive oil spray


Pan fried in peanut oil


After we cooked all the chicken, I saved two pieces to try sans hot sauce. My earlier fears of the spice mix being gross or overpowering were thwarted by the tasty fried chicken. It was good without the buffalo sauce and even better with it. If and when we decide to treat ourselves to a buffalo chicken salad with batter fried chicken again, we will be using this mix for sure. We had some left over after the chicken, which sent me cruising for more stuff to fry, but we opted against it since the fried chicken was enough for the evening.

Next time though.... bloomin' onion!

Buffalo Chicken Salad

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

This Week Only: Donate $2 To Help Send Children To A Gluten-Free Summer Camp!

I was recently contacted by the folks at www.glutenfreesaver.com to help them promote a really great fundraiser that's going on this week.






For one week only, donating $2 will go toward providing scholarships for children to attend a gluten-free summer camp hosted by the Celiac Disease Foundation (CDF) in Southern California.


The summer camp will be held in San Bernardino from July 30 to August 3, 2012, and is open to all 7-15 year old gluten intolerant and gluten-sensitive children – not just those diagnosed with celiac disease.


Van's Natural Foods has paired with Gluten-Free Saver and has generously agreed to match peoples' $2 donations up to $1000, making your donation actually worth $4!


The fundraiser runs from this past Monday December 19th through Sunday 25th.


The goal is to raise $2,000 and they are already half way there after two days of fundraising! Any excess funds over the goal will be put towards scholarships at other camps across the United States. 100% of all donations will go directly to the Celiac Disease Foundation.


**Donations aren't limited to $2. If you are able to and would like to donate more, please do because this is a great cause.**


Please go to Gluten-Free Saver's website to check out the details and donate today! Thank you and I hope you all have a wonderful holiday.


-Becky

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Treat Cupcake Bar - Needham, Ma

I was recently invited to try one of the gluten free cupcake options at Treat Cupcake Bar in Needham, Ma. I have a mild sweet tooth and was happy to take a detour on my way home from work last week to stop in and check out Treat's gluten free options. The shop is located on Highland Ave in Needham near the intersection of Great Plain Ave, which is close to A New Leaf Natural Foods Store. So, if you're out picking up some gluten free staples, stop in and try a cupcake. 



Friday, December 9, 2011

Restaurant Fridays - Freshii (Boston)

Welcome to Restaurant Fridays - My weekly review of gluten free dining options in Boston, Worcester and their surrounding areas.

Freshii

I heard about Freshii a few weeks ago from my co-workers and decided to check it out one day. What I found was a fantastic gluten free lunch option in Boston's Financial District.

Lunch!

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Gluten Free Pasta - A Basic Nutritional Run Down

The other night, I was cruising the kitchen looking for something healthy to make for dinner. After rooting around for about 20 minutes, I came up with a medley of frozen veggies, chicken sausage and tomatoes. All I needed was a little bit of starch in the form of pasta. We had a bag of corn pasta that my [very kind] friends bought a few weeks ago so I could feel included in what everyone else was eating. I never wound up eating it because I was distracted by other delicious foods so I just took it home and it just sat in our cabinet.

I decided to take a quick peek at the nutritional info prior to cooking it up and was completely floored. A small serving garnered you 200 calories and a staggering 45g of carbohydrates for only 2g of fiber! Yikes. I almost didn't eat it, but I hate to waste stuff so ... into the pot it went. 

I know pasta is calorie laden and absolutely exploding with carbs, but those numbers were so high. Since then, I've decided to do a nutritional comparison of the different types of gluten free pasta so that I can make an informed decision.


Just so we're comparing stuff apples to apples... I'll be listing the nutritional info for standard gluten free spaghetti.














Made From: Brown Rice
Serving Size: 2 oz
Calories: 210
Fat: 2g
Sodium: 15mg
Carbs: 43g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 4g

Comments: This is a pretty tasty spaghetti. However, it has the highest calories and the most sodium. It' also easy to mess up if you don't cook it properly. I liked the spaghetti by this brand and would gladly try the rest of their products.




BIONATURAE

Made From: Rice, Potato & Soy
Serving Size: 2 oz
Calories: 195
Fat: 0g
Sodium: 5mg
Carbs: 43g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 5g





Comments: This is one of my favorites. I actually like it better than semolina pasta because it's light and tasty. Pasta always sat like a ton of lead in my stomach after a meal. This stuff leaves you feeling full, but not weighed down. 

ANCIENT HARVEST

Made From: Quinoa
Serving Size: 2oz
Calories: 180
Fat: 2g
Sodium: 5mg
Carbs: 35g
Fiber: 2.5g
Protein: 4g







Comments: I really like quinoa pasta because it usually has a decent amount of fiber and protein as well as a lower carbohydrate and calorie level. The only downside to this product is that it doesn't survive very well as a cold pasta dish that you store over night. I made pasta salad in Florida and it was crunchy the next day.





MRS. LEEPERS

Made From: Corn
Serving Size: 2 oz
Calories: 200
Fat: 0.5g
Sodium: 0g
Carbs: 46g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 3g








Comments: This pasta was surprisingly okay considering my luck with corn pasta. It was awkward to cook. I followed the instructions on the pack and wound up with a scary bright yellow pot of bubbling goop. This was remedied by rinsing it thoroughly and then continuing to cook it for a little longer. The texture was pretty good for corn pasta, but still left a bit to be desired. I'm not sure I'd buy it again because it has a high amount of carbs and not enough fiber/ protein to offset.


When you look at the number comparison, the quinoa pasta wins hands down nutritionwise. The lower carbohydrates and the higher fiber/ protein content leaves you with a healthier meal. However, it is still lacking slightly in texture and longevity of left overs. If there were to be a runner up, it would be the Bionaturae because the product has decent nutritional qualities and nice texture. 

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Product Review - Bakery on Main

Mike and I recently attended the New England Celiac Conference where we were able to meet vendors and sample a myriad of gluten free products. One of the tables we spent a some time at was Bakery on Main's.


Bakery on Main makes delicious granola, nut bars and cereals that are gluten and casein free. I was able to try their entire product line thanks to their generosity at the Celiac Conference.


Monday, November 28, 2011

I'm Back!

It's been just about two weeks since my last post and it feels like forever. As you may have garnered from earlier posts, my fiancee Mike and I moved back to the house he owns in Worcester due to a serious lack of reliable renters. It's been a rough ride, but we're mostly settled in thanks to us hosting Thanksgiving five days after we moved and my relentless need to unpack and organize. Starting this Tuesday I'll be returning to my usual Tuesday/ Friday posting schedule. This time with a little Worcester weaved in. Thanks for reading and enjoy!


Our first Thanksgiving at the house!





Friday, November 11, 2011

Restaurant Fridays - Bellaluna Milky Way (Jamaica Plain)

Welcome to Restaurant Fridays - My weekly review of gluten free dining options in Boston, Worcester and their surrounding areas.


Bellaluna Milkyway Restaurant and Lounge


Last Friday, I went out to dinner with two friends, one of whom is a vegan. I suggested Bellaluna in JP because I had heard they had both gluten free pizza and vegan pizza. 


Tuesday, November 8, 2011

The Two Week Cupboard Challenge!

In less than two weeks, Mike and I are moving. Both the apartment and the house are a total disaster and I'm coming to the realization that everyone comes to when they move... I have WAY too much stuff. My cupboards and the freezer are no exception. So, in honor of our upcoming move, I've decided that we need to eat/ use as many things as we can from our cupboard.


Yikes!!


Cupboards Stuffed Full!

Friday, November 4, 2011

Restaurant Fridays - Myers and Chang (Boston)

Welcome to Restaurant Fridays - My weekly review of gluten free dining options in Boston, Worcester and their surrounding areas


Myers + Chang


Since we began preparing for the move, life has become hectic. Boxes fill our living room and I have no idea where most of my stuff is. I can't wait to get into one space, unpack, get organized and back on schedule. Tonight was just as hectic as any night, so I decided to call in take-out from a local restaurant that I haven't been to in awhile.


Myers + Chang is in my old South End neighborhood and was the first dining out experience I had when I was first diagnosed with Celiac Disease. Upon perusing their on-line gluten free menu, I was very pleasantly surprised to find chicken and broccoli chow fun! Pre-celiac, chow fun was one of my favorite things to eat. The wide rice noodles are great for soaking up the delicious sauce and I can't get enough of Chinese broccoli. Myers + Chang did not disappoint with their gluten free version. I practically inhaled it before stopping myself so I would have lunch for tomorrow. How have I not gone back to this place in over two years?! Mike of course got bites of my dinner and has insisted that we go there for before moving out of the city. I agree.


Gluten Free Chow Fun


I also ordered the fresh rolls. They were just how I had remembered them. Veggie full and tasty with the perfectly spicy dipping sauce. Yum. I've tried to make these myself on several occasions and they never quite come out the same. 

Along with my order, there was a bag of shrimp crackers. I was scurrying around and just assumed that they were gluten free because my whole order was gluten free. This is a perfect example of:

1. Always check what is in your food before eating it, especially if there is any doubt.

and 

2. You are solely responsible for the food that enters your mouth, not the restaurant. It is always your choice.

The shrimp crackers, while made of rice were fried in the same oil as gluten containing items. Chances are I contaminated myself and my stomach will be crabby for a little while. Lesson learned. 


Gluten Free Fresh Rolls

If you didn't already know this, Myers + Chang is owned by Joanne Chang of Flour Cafe & Bakery and her husband Christopher Myers. Flour, while still a traditional bakery, does have some gluten free options. I treat myself to the meringues every once and a great while. :o) 

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

New England Celiac Conference Fall 2011

This year I was able to attend the New England Celiac Conference. Last year, we were away when it was being held and I was very sad. The New England Celiac Conference is hosted by the Healthy Villi and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center's Celiac Center. This year, it was held on October 23rd at the Four Points Sheraton in Norwood, Ma.


Free Samples From the Celiac Conference


I convinced Mike to join me by offering to pay for his ticket and promising him a day of product sampling and buffets. We wound up showing up around 11am after most of the morning speakers because we had spent the previous day ripping carpet out of the upstairs bedrooms in the house and I was in pain. In hindsight, I was a little sad that I didn't suck it up and go earlier. There were so many incredible vendors giving out tons of free samples & coupons. I felt like we had to rush through them all so we wouldn't miss any and in the end, we did. 


We wound up going to the nutrition presentation in the morning and two workshops in the afternoon. The nutrition presentation was fantastic and segued perfectly into our first workshop on supplements presented by Melinda Dennis, MS, RD, LDN & Christine Doherty, ND . I learned so much information and had several "ah ha" moments when the speakers went over the symptoms of certain vitamin's deficiency. Maybe I'd be less crabby if I actually took my vitamin B supplements....


The second workshop "Dueling Kitchens" was a tiny bit of a hot mess, but it was still fun and informative. I kind of felt like we were watching a comedy routine when the presenter's Beth Hillson & Rebecca Reilly engaged in their cooking banter. At the end of the presentation, we were able to sample the pizzas they were making. While, Beth's pizza made from a pre-made crust was good, it wasn't as good as Rebecca's homemade recipe. I've never really had a desire to try mixing my own gluten free flours, but I do now because the pizza crust she made was amazing. 


Both workshops were pretty great, but let's not forget the oodles of free samples being given away. Have you ever wanted to try a product, but didn't want to shell out the $$ if it was going to be gross? I came home with so many samples to try and coupons for buying a full sized version of the products if I liked them. Win. It brought back the same joy I felt when trick-or-treating as a child.


I had originally scoffed at the $45/ person cost of the conference, but was pleasantly surprised at how much we got for the money. Next year, I plan on getting there first thing in the morning so I can really take the time to meet all the vendors and hear all the morning speakers and course indulge in the gluten free breakfast buffet.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Restaurant Fridays - Wagamama (Boston)

Welcome to Restaurant Fridays - My weekly review of gluten free dining options in Boston, Worcester and their surrounding areas


Wagamama


I recently went out for a nicer lunch in celebration of my co-worker's upcoming wedding. We chose Wagamama in Faneuil Hall Marketplace because of its gluten free options. Their menu automatically has the gluten free options listed on it with a little red symbol.


I chose the Yasai Itame, which is tofu, vegetables and rice noodles in a coconut based soup. This is one of my favorite menu options at this place. The coconut is sweet and indulgent yet healthy. I love the hint of lime and the crunchy bean sprouts. You can also get a bunch of freshly made juices which are incredible and Popsicle for desert! (At least during summer)



If you're ever in the Boston area and looking for a fairly quick, mostly healthy, tasty gluten free lunch - give Wagamama a try. They have restaurants  in Prudential, Harvard Square and Faneuil Hall.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Annie's Gluten Free Product Review & Giveaway!

Recently, I received an awesome gift pack from Annie's in the mail. They were kind enough to send me samples of their gluten free deluxe macaroni and cheese, gluten free cocoa & vanilla bunny cookies, organic orchard cherry fruit bites, organic bunny fruit snacks in grapes galore & pink lemonade flavors as well as a bunch of fun Annie's paraphernalia that I get to share with one lucky reader. 


Read ahead for my reviews of the products and your chance to win some great Annie's swag!


Saturday, October 15, 2011

Restaurant Fridays - Nancy Chang's (Worcester)

Welcome to Restaurant Fridays - My (mostly) weekly review of gluten free dining options in Boston, Worcester and their surrounding areas.


Nancy Chang's {Warning Site Has Music!}


You may or may not have heard this, but Mike and I are moving to Worcester from Boston, (sad face). I will still be working in Boston and I've made Mike promise to meet me there after work every other week so I can keep up with the blog and feel like I'm still part of the city. 


Nancy Chang's is one of Worcester's great gluten free options. If you are jonesing Chinese food and you're in the Worcester area, stop by and check it out. Mike and I were in town painting my future office and the blood red bathroom in the downstairs of the house we'll be living in. After a day of working, Mike's [awesome] parents took us and his sister and her family out for dinner. 


The group I was with, including my ravenous 1 1/2 year old nephew got the buffet and I ordered off of the gluten free menu. I went with the Chicken Lettuce Wraps, which I had planned on sharing and the stir fried rice noodles with chicken, shrimp, egg and vegetables.


Gluten Free Chicken Lettuce Wraps

The lettuce wraps were good, but I think I prefer the ones from PF Chang's because I really like water chestnuts. The sauce was tasty and the veggies were crunchy. I would order these again if we went back. The chicken is chopped small, (as shown), and is in some kind of clear sauce that's pretty mild. I, of course, dumped on some hot pepper to spice it up.

Stir Fried Rice Noodles

When the waitress brought out the rice noodles my first thought was where is the sauce and where are the vegetables?... After having a bite I found the "sauce" or flavoring and it was pretty tasty. As for vegetables, the only vegetable in the dish was carrots, which I mostly refuse to count as a vegetable because they're starchy. This dish needs some legit chinese vegetables thrown in it like bok choy or Chinese broccoli. 


All in all, this is a good place to get decent gluten free food, it just needs to have more veggies in their stir fry mixes.


Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Quick and Tasty Gluten Free Pasta Salad

It's October! Why would I be eating pasta salad you say. Why not?! Pasta salad is still quick, easy to make and darn tasty. Also, I'm not throwing in the towel on nice weather yet. Maybe that's because I'm sitting in Florida writing this from my very awesome future in-law's beach house or maybe I just love this fast and filling recipe.




Here's what you'll need:

1 Box of gluten free pasta (I like Ancient Harvest Quinoa Garden Pagodas)
1 Medium Cucumber
1 Medium Tomato
2 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
Brianna's Real French Vinagrette

First off, toss the pasta in some boiling water and cook until al dente. While you're waiting, chop up the chicken into bite sized pieces and stir fry in a small amount of olive oil until it's nicely browned.

Next, chop up the cucumber and tomatoes. Once you've drained the pasta, strain it and run it under cool water. Shake out the excess water and toss together the pasta, chicken and veggies in a bowl with the vinagrette. Use as little or as much vinagrette as you need.

Depending on your taste, you may want to add a little bit of kosher salt, maybe some red pepper flakes or try stir frying your chicken with a few shakes of celery salt for some extra kick!

Keep it in the fridge or pack it in some tupperware for a great lunch during a casual fall hike!

Gluten Free Boston is Moving!

So, where have I been and what's in store for this blog? Over the last few weeks, my fiancee and I have been negotiating our living situation and finally came to the agreement to move. I've also started teaching a night course at a local college and it has monopolized quite a bit of my time, (in a good way). It's with great sadness that I announce that we'll be moving to Worcester at the end of November. What does that mean for this blog?

Only a little bit. I will still be working in Boston and will have a considerable amount of time of the train to and from work to potentially write more reviews and articles. Since I'll be living in Worcester, you're going to start seeing more information posted about Worcester along with the Boston posts! I've been in Boston for over seven years and am not calling it quits yet!

So, without further ado, I think I owe you all some articles!

Coming Soon...

Review of Annie's Gluten Free Products & Giveaway!

Restaurant Fridays Review - The Melting Pot

Restaurant Fridays Review - Wagamama

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Gluten Free Stuffing - Make Your Own Easily

It's already October! Where has the time gone? Thanksgiving is under two months away and I'm already thinking about this year's stuffing and pumpkin pie. I'm a Thanksgiving Baby so I love this time of year. I've been cooking Thanksgiving Dinner for the family since I was in my early twenties and had pretty much perfected my stuffing recipe. Then Celiac disease showed up and threw a monkey wrench into the mix. I've made several good batches of stuffing since going gluten free, but last year's stuffing was an utter disaster and left me grumbling for several days. This year I'm determined to set things straight. I've already made my first test batch of stuffing using the croutons I made last week and it came out pretty tasty. Read on to see how I did it.


Photo By Tom Curtis


Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Save Your Gluten Free Bread Ends - Make Croutons!

If you're like me, you probably have a strict "No wasting the gluten free bread" rule. It's expensive, so you don't want to just toss it out the birds or even worse... throw it away, but what can you do with all the scraps and bread ends you wind up saving?


Make tasty homemade croutons!!


Tasty Gluten Free Croutons

Friday, September 23, 2011

Restaurant Fridays - Northbridge House of Pizza

Welcome to Restaurant Fridays - My weekly review of the gluten free restaurant options in Boston and the surrounding areas.


This week - Restaurant Fridays visits Northbridge, MA!


Northbridge House of Pizza

Right around the same time I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease, so was the owner of my home town pizza shop.Since his diagnosis, he's been working hard to make a lot of the menu gluten free.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Product Review - Udi's Ancient Grains Millet - Chia Bread

A few week's ago, Udi's was kind enough to send me two sample bags of their fantastic Ancient Grains Millet - Chia bread. Both millet and chia have excellent nutritional properties and when placed together, they give gluten free bread the added fiber, protein and nutrients it needs.


Image From www.celiac.com


Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Congratulations Rudi's Giveaway Winners!

Two weeks ago, this blog ran a giveaway for a free loaf coupon from Rudi's Gluten Free and a really great sandwich Holder. It's Tuesday September 13th and the results are in!

Free Loaf Coupon and Sandwich Holder

Thank you to everyone who submitted an entry! There were so many amazing sandwiches to choose from, but the prizes had to go to...

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Restaurant Fridays - Yankee Smokehouse

Welcome to Restaurant Fridays - My weekly review of the gluten free restaurant options in Boston and the surrounding areas.

Yankee Smokehouse - West Ossipee, NH (Near Conway)

The past two years Mike and I have been joining my parents in Conway for Labor Day weekend, which usually falls in the middle of their yearly two week vacation there. On our first night there we usually go to Yankee Smokehouse because we can't wait to eat their delicious BBQ.

Image From yankeesmokehouse.com


Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Ordering Breakfast Gluten Free

This past weekend, Mike and I were up in New Hampshire with my parents. When we travel, I either eat Larabars and Coffee for breakfast or we grab some quick, cheap grub at a random diner. We had a pretty lazy weekend of hiking and hanging out so we indulged and went to breakfast all three days we were there. Each day we chose a different location to see how they handled someone needing gluten free food. I never really noticed that I had unintentionally come up with a system of how to order breakfast gluten free. This became apparent when I found myself asking the same list of questions each day. If you're out and about and need to get breakfast, but you're in an area where the restaurants have no idea what gluten is... here's my method of ordering.


Amrhein's Brunch Omelet


Friday, September 2, 2011

Restaurant Fridays - Cuchi Cuchi

Welcome to Restaurant Fridays - My weekly review of the gluten free restaurant options in Boston and the surrounding areas.


Cuchi Cuchi (Website has music embedded)


I had been meaning to try Cuchi Cuchi for a long time, but never quite made it there. A friend of mine who also has Celiac Disease told me about their amazing gluten free menu and their lengthy exotic cocktail menu. It sounded like a match made in heaven to me. 



Image from http://www.cuchicuchi.cc/


Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Rudi's Gluten Free Review & Giveaway

I was recently surprised with a very kind package from Rudi's Gluten Free Bakery. It contained a loaf of their original gluten free bread, a bag of their multigrain hot dog rolls & a bag of their multigrain hamburger buns. Right on time for Labor Day Weekend cook outs! Read on for my review of the products and for your chance to win a FREE loaf coupon accompanied by a really handy sandwich box !

Friday, August 26, 2011

Restaurant Fridays - Woodman's Essex

Welcome to Restaurant Fridays - My weekly review of the gluten free restaurant options in Boston and the surrounding areas.

Woodman's Essex

I had heard a rumor on yelp.com that Woodman's in Essex offered gluten free fried seafood. I had been there five years back after a lovely day at Crane Beach and remembered the food being delicious and plentiful. This was of course in my pre-celiac days. When I heard that they had gluten free options, I was ecstatic. Fried clams are my guilty pleasure. I confirmed with their website that they did in fact have gluten free options and we were on our way.

Woodman's Sign (Image from wikipedia.com)

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Fast & Healthy Gluten Free Breakfast Sandwiches

Every Sunday I make some variation of my favorite weekend breakfast sandwich. I change it up based on my mood and the availability of ingredients I have on hand. It takes only about 10 minutes and 4 ingredients to make this simple and satisfying sandwich. 

Breakfast Sandwich with Mango Slice

Friday, August 19, 2011

Resteraunt Fridays - Amhreins Sunday Brunch

Welcome to Restaurant Fridays - my weekly review of the gluten free restaurant options in Boston and the surrounding areas.

Amrheins Restaurant


Amrheins has one of the best Sunday Brunches in Boston and was my last taste of gluten before being fully diagnosed with Celiac Disease. I had always thought I couldn't go back there because there wouldn't be any menu options for me, but it turned out I was wrong.


Spinach, Ham and Tomato Omelet

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

What's in Your Gluten Free Bread?

This morning I was prepping for my Tuesday article on healthy gluten free breakfast sandwiches. I make multiple variations of the same egg white breakfast sandwich almost every weekend and had decided to write about it. While I was writing down the nutritional information for the different components of the sandwich, I noticed one really glaring thing... The healthiest gluten free breads I've found so far still have a lot more fat and calories than the bread I used to eat pre-celiac. I decided to post-pone my breakfast sandwich article for one about the nutritional differences in my favorite gluten free breads. Which one do you think will come out on top?


My favorite gluten free breads in alphabetical order:


Canyon Bakehouse - San Juan Seven Grain
{Buy it on Amazon.com}


Serving: 2 Slices
Calories: 180
Fat: 2 g
Sodium: 200 mg
Carbs: 36 g
Fiber: 4g
Protein: 4g
Comments:
I love this bread, it is my current favorite. It's hearty like a whole grain bread should be and has great texture and flavor. Also, it holds its own when packed as a sandwich for a road trip or a day hike. Nutritionally, it's not too shabby and it can be eaten without having to be toasted!






Rudi's  - Multigrain


Serving: 2 Slices
Calories: 180
Fat: 4 g
Sodium: 270 mg 
Carbs: 34 g
Fiber: 2 g
Protein: 2 g
Comments:
This bread is my favorite weekend treat. It has a rich taste to it without having much more fat and it holds up pretty well once toasted or slightly microwaved. It can be found in specialty/ health food stores like Wholefoods as well as conventional stores like Market Basket in Oxford, Mass. It sells for around $5/ loaf. Check their website for a $1 coupon.









Udi's - Whole Grain
{Buy it on Amazon.com}



Serving: 2 Slices
Calories: 180
Fat: 4.5 g
Sodium: 300 mg 
Carbs: 27 g
Fiber: 1 g
Protein: 4 g
Comments:
This is one of my everyday sandwich bread & toast breads. It's light and airy without being too crumbly and can hold its own as a sandwich. It has good flavor and texture for a gluten free bread and can be found in both conventional and specialty stores for around $5/ loaf. Check their website for a $1 coupon.








The winner is.... Canyon Bakehouse - San Juan Seven Grain. Each bread serving is 180 calories, putting them on equal footing. However, San Juan Seven grain slides into first place with a significantly lower sodium content, half the fat of both Rudi's & Udi's as well as the highest protein to fiber ratio. 



Other Comparisons:


Kinnikinnick - Many Wonder Multigrain Rice Bread





Serving: 2 Slices
Calories: 180
Fat: 9 g
Sodium: 560 mg 
Carbs: 32 g
Fiber: 4 g
Protein: 4 g
Comments:
Kinnikinnick used to be my preferred gluten free bread a few years ago until I realized the fat content was through the roof. The texture leaves a lot to be desired and the nutritional values can't compete with the other breads. Even if it does have the most fiber, the 9 g of fat and super high sodium content knock it out of the running.






Glutino - Genius by Glutino Multigrain Sandwich Bread


Serving: 2 Slices
Calories: 160
Fat: 7 g
Sodium: 220 mg 
Carbs: 20 g
Fiber: less than 1 g
Protein: 4 g
Comments:
I have never tried this particular version of Glutino Bread. I have, however, tried their sandwich bread that is made with corn flour and was wholely unimpressed. Reasons why I would want to try this product - it's lower calorie and lower in carbs while still maintaining 4g of protein. Reasons why I wouldn't want to try this product - a whopping 7 grams of fat and next to no fiber. It's up to you what's important, but I need fiber in my diet... sorry Glutino.












What's your favorite gluten free multigrain bread?