Let’s just get it out there right now, I was skeptical of people who cut out gluten in their diets. The dairy I could understand because I have a son who is lactose intolerant and I dealt with irritable bowel in college and would cut back on dairy at times. That is extremely hard because I do love my dairy. However, the gluten thing was another issue. For a long time. I thought it was a made-up thing until I knew couple people with celiac disease and a handful who assumed a gluten free diet and it helped them feel so much better. I admit, I was very mis-informed.
Enter menopause, and while I had no problems with bloating the first year after my surgery, the bloating came back along with extreme gas, so I had to do something. My first source of attack was going to be cutting out the gluten and dairy, which made me so sad. I sometimes I ask myself if all those peppermint chip shakes from Chick-fil-A around the holidays did me in, lol
Anyway, while there are days I have eaten some gluten and maybe had a smidge of sour cream or some kind of dairy, for the most part I’d say it’s been 95% cut out and I do feel a little bit better, and my symptoms are somewhat better. Now I am not going to be a person who is going to stay gluten free, dairy free all my life, but I will do what it takes to feel my best!
Before I get to the satisfying snacks, and I have been researching a lot of them, I want to tell you that none of these are substitutes for wholesome raw foods and lean proteins. My diet is primarily those, but sometimes a girl’s got to have her snacks you know so this list of 10 is my primary my repertoire right now for easy snacks in the gluten-free dairy-free world! And I did include my fav whole foods snacks: Berries and Nuts!
Here is the good news: whether you are gluten-free, dairy-free or not these products are yummy!
I tried to link some of these where I can as many people have said they can’t always find some of these in the stores.
Heavenly Hunks
Hunka Hunka Yumminess! I was overjoyed when I found these. My first ones for the peanut butter chocolate and I was panicking because I couldn’t remember where I got them or if I could find them again after researching, I heard that these and these were really yummy and I was happy to not only get a big bag on Amazon, but find them in another local Target. These satisfy the sweet tooth like you would not believe. Get them HERE.
Air Popped Popcorn
I love popcorn, microwave popcorn is filled with a yucky process stuff. I especially love kettle corn, so I was so happy to find Lesser Evil sweet popcorn, with only blank grams of sugar, of course gluten and dairy free.
Made Good Products
Made Good products are indeed GOOOOD! Last year I had tried the chocolate chip granola bars, and those little bars are wonderful. Also good at the granola bites in a little pouches. However, my favorite Has to be these Crispy Squares. At only 80 cal, dare I say, they are even better than rice, crispy treats.
English Muffins
I love a good English muffin, but man talk about finding gluten-free dairy. Free bread that’s yummy, that’s almost impossible. That is until canyon bakery. The only thing I’ve tried so far is their English Muffins but their consistency is amazing and they toast so well. I like to add no sugar added apple butter or almond butter. I’m going to make egg McMuffins this week for Mr. Nine and I, mine without cheese, of course. I can’t wait to try more of their products.
Berries
Well, I am primarily talking about prepackaged foods of convenience that are gluten or dairy free, I will tell you that I eat the top 4 berries, at least one of the varieties every single day for a snack. Several doctors have said that strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries are the top four fruits of all time packed with antioxidants and to me, they are just the best snack. Go ahead and throw in some grapes and watermelon my two other favorite fruits also in the top 10!
Nuts & Nut Butters
The great thing about nuts is you totally can get them in conveniently prepackaged! If I don’t have them portioned I tend to eat way to many. With nuts being high in calories that’s not what I want to do but I do eat them everyday so I try not to eat too many. My favs are cashews, pecans, pistachios and almonds.
Along those same lines: nut butters. My favorite is almond butter; ideally Justin's Vanilla Almond Butter. My favorite is just on a spoon or a lil inside a date or on apple slices. Stella LOVES almond butter. Crackers & Cheese
Sometimes you just neeeeeed crackers and cheese and man, when you’re trying to eat gf/do that’s tough! BUT I found a satisfying solution. I was loving the Simple Mills Crackers anyway but when I finally found the Boursin Dairy Free spreadable goodness in garlic and herb, it was a whole new WOW and great snack.
Cookies
Let’s be honest, a manufactured cookie, whether gluten-free and dairy, free or not, will never hold a candle to homemade cookies. Mr. Nine even says that my cookies are better than crumble cookies, lol! With my sweet tooth, though sometimes I just want a cookie and I have not yet attempted to bake any that are gluten-free or dairy free. Enter these Partake Chocolate Chip Cookies, two of them are perfect with my afternoon tea or decaf coffee.
These Good Girl Birthday Cake vanilla sandwich cookies are the ones I shared with you on a Friday Favorites and I mean OH SO yummy! I’m super excited because this company.
Tortilla Chips and Salsa
Can you believe that I had no idea that most corn tortillas and chips were gluten-free? Therefore not only do I like getting the grain free Siete Brand, but I can pretty much do most regular tortilla chips as long as they’re corn. Low cal salsa is also a great choice to dip them in. And hummus.
Coconut Rolls
Can you believe I got these at the dollar store for what is now $1.25, lol. These Tahitian rolls of goodness are so amazing and the black sesame seeds really good for you. They have the perfect amount of sweetness and crunch.
Now why can’t there be better cheeses alternatives? I’m craving a yummy pizza so bad. That was actually the last meal I had before my bloating came back with a vengeance on December 14. Who knows but there will be a day soon after being on this diet for a month that I will try Pizza again. Wish me luck, lol.
If this post gets lots of love, I'll be back with meal ideas and other non-repacked and more convenient options.
AND tell me: any prepackaged yummy gluten/dairy free snacks you’ve tried and loved?
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