Going gluten free doesn't have to mean going without your favorite grilled cheese sandwich or French toast breakfast. You CAN have bread and it CAN taste good!

Gluten free just means a little tweak in your staple bread entrees.




However, depending on which bread you choose, you could find yourself thinking you'll never have a tasty sandwich again. Trust me, we've tried some pretty nasty gluten free breads over the past few years. But, we've also found some yummy options and have compiled a list for you of the top three brands (and no, none of these companies are endorsing this post; we just want you to eat what tastes good).

Top gluten free bread companies:

1. Canyon Bakehouse

Canyon Bakehouse has some of the most moist and squishy gluten free bread out there. We particularly like their cinnamon raisin and 7-grain breads. Perfect for a sandwich!

2. Rudi's Gluten Free

Rudi's is also quite moist for a gluten free bread. Their multigrain and cinnamon raisin breads are great for making toast in the morning. We also really like their plain tortillas

3. Udi's Gluten Free

Udi's bread holds a special place in my heart, just because it was the first gluten free bread I tried that tasted good and when toasted I didn't feel like it was going to break my jaw as I attempted to bite it. I also appreciated that it wasn't crazy crumbly like other breads (none of these three breads mentioned are!). Again, we like their whole grain, as well as their hamburger and hot dog buns. We also REALLY like their blueberry muffins. They're a great thing to pack (with Justin's peanut butter packets) for out of town trips!

Another great thing about Udi's is that Trader Joes is now carrying it!!! I think it's about $1 cheaper there than the health food store I usually buy it at! Score!

Now, granted, you can buy mixes and make your own gluten free bread, but honestly, we don't have time for that. When we're making something with bread (which we don't do every day) it's usually something quick like a sandwich or toast. Having these breads handy makes those quick meals that much tastier! Trust us, we've tried the funky stuff...it's gross! ;-)

One SUPER important note...we keep ALL our gluten free bread in the freezer so that it keeps longer and better. We just take off a slice or two and defrost in for 30 sec in the microwave or toast it in the toaster oven (just make sure you don't burn it!).

Happy bread eating!

Did we miss an amazing gluten free bread on this list? If so, please tell us and we'll see if we can check it out.

Rachel aka Gfreegal

Did you know that if you have Celiac disease you can deduct your extra expenses in your taxes?



Source

It's true.

Because the treatment for Celiac disease is to follow a gluten free diet, the IRS allows you to deduct those extra food expenses. It's a bit of a tricky process and requires consistency and follow through on your part.

To make this easier for you, here's an easy to follow list from our friends at CeliAct.

Gluten Free Tax Deductions

Good luck and hopefully this helps ease the expenses for you!

Rachel aka Gfreegal

I came across this wonderful trip today and I just HAD to share it with you!

Jen, over at Zenfully Delicious is hosting an amazing, all gluten free, tour of Tuscany, Italy!

Can you believe it?

This trip sounds incredible!




The tour is October 18-25, 2012 and it will take you through Florence, Chianti, Siena, and San Gimignano as you enjoy the sights, and most importantly, the tastes of Italy!

That's right, this trip is so stinkin' awesome that there's already plans for the meals, along with a cooking class (swoon) for the entire trip!

I promise I'm not trying to sell this to you (I can't even go!). I just think this is one of the most amazing trip offers I've ever seen!

If you can go, you should. And then show me all the pics when you get back so I can live vicariously through you! ;)

Here's all the details for this awesome trip.
Gluten Free Tuscany Tour 2012

Wouldn't it just be amazing to go?!?!


Rachel aka Gfreegal

Embarking on a gluten free journey can be a daunting adventure.
If you're like I was, you had SO many questions and didn't know where to start. That's what this post is for (thanks to the suggestion of a friend). :)

If you think you (or a family member) may have Celiac Disease, or even just gluten sensitivity, GET TESTED! This can save you a lot of time and frustration.

If the test comes back positive, breath. You, or your loved one, will be ok.




Find out what you can eat.
Eliminate what you can't eat.

Foods you CAN eat:
I'm just going to start here with a basic list (I don't want to get TOO crazy on you).

All fruits
All vegetables
Meats (unseasoned-seasoning is often where gluten can hide)
Dairy products (milk, yogurt, cheese)
Certain grains (gluten free oats, millet, teff, sorghum, quinoa, buckwheat)

Foods to be careful about:
Seasonings-Often anything "mixed," such as garlic salt, can contain gluten to prevent caking. I learned this one the hard way, after many months of unknowingly "poisoning" myself. Once I learned about the contamination, I promptly went out and bought garlic powder and salt. Now I just mix the two.
Dressings & Sauces-Again, you never know what could be added to these, so you always want to read the label, call the company, or talk to the restaurant manager to double check that something is safe.
Anything packaged-I know this is hard, really hard, but it's super important. There are so many products that may seem safe, but in reality that may contain gluten. Check that ice cream container, that frozen meal, and your lunch meat. Those are the top three packaged items that come to my mind that may be dangerous. I always check and double check labels just to be safe.

Foods to AVOID:
Wheat
Barley
Rye
Regular Oats (often processed in the same facility as wheat)
Bread
Cookies
Cakes
Cupcakes
Crackers
Any wheat/flour containing products

***If you're just starting out on a gluten free diet, again remember to breathe. This is a journey, and while it can often be frustrating, it will get easier.

Hopefully this list helped! If you have any other questions, feel free to leave a comment.

Two last tools to help you:

1. A few grocery stores with gluten free lists-Albertsons, Fresh and Easy, and Trader Joes. Did I miss any?

2. Som great places to eat out at-BJs Brewhouse, PF Chang's, Outback Steakhouse, In-N-Out, Panera Bread. Again, what did I miss?
*Just make sure you ask to speak to a manager, so that they will insure your food order is safe for you to eat. I know it's hard and awkward, but it's important to speak up about your health. Also, at In-N-Out if you tell them you have an allergy to the bread, they'll mare your burger as an allergy burger and keep it safe for you! Our store cooks it on a separate grill! :)

***As always, make sure you check and double check everything. These are some tips that I've found to be helpful, but always make sure you check for yourself as things are constantly changing,

Nothing like a baseball game on a warm summer day! This past Saturday we enjoyed a lovely game at Dodgers Stadium (well, Sunday's game would have been more lovely, since the Dodgers won!). We had perfect seats, reserved section behind home plate, and we were ready to enjoy some baseball.

For me, I was even more excited to enjoy a gluten free Dodger dog! I had heard that there was a complete gluten free cart complete with nachos, hot dogs, the works! I was so stoked to check this cart out!!

Much to my dismay, the cart was not what I was expecting. Turns out, there's a little store called the "marketplace" where you can purchase gluten free goodies.




Here's what I found.



While I think it's super awesome that they have a section with gluten free snacks, I was really disappointed to find that they weren't what you'd typically eat at a baseball game. No nachos, no hot dogs...

My suggestion would be to buy these snacks beforehand, at a much cheaper price, and bring them in with you. :)




One very cool thing though is that they serve gluten free beer here. So for those who like Redbridge, you can still have your peanuts and beer at a baseball game.




For the rest, make sure you eat ahead of time and bring your own snacks.

Luckily for me, we ate In-N-Out on the way and I brought water and a Larabar!

However, towards the end of August (I believe it's the 25th) Dodgers Stadium will be hosting a Celiac Awareness Night, which will mean more gluten free goodies!! At least for one night...



Rachel aka Gfreegal