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Review: Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Bagels

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff 4 Comments

I discovered my love of bagels when I was 11 or 12 and living in New Jersey. Of course, we lived close to New York City, known for the best bagels. I would choose a bagel over a muffin or other breakfast pastry any day. When I had to begin to follow the gluten-free diet in 2006, I almost felt like I lost a family member. Thankfully, gluten-free baked goods have come a long way and there are many delicious gluten-free bagel options on the market these days.

Trader Joe’s has always been one of my favorite places to shop for gluten-free groceries. They have a lot of options which include many different gluten-free specialty items. On my latest visit to Trader Joe’s, I picked up their name-brand gluten-free bagels. They are priced very reasonably.

I lightly toasted the bagel and made a turkey and avocado sandwich for the following day for lunch. These bagels have a great texture and flavor. I also tried them for breakfast on Saturday after my long run topped with peanut butter and jelly and they were equally as tasty that way.

Trader Joe’s has locations across the US, though not all products are available in all stores, so make sure to consult the gluten-free product list before getting your heart set on a certain product. Have you tried Trader Joe’s gluten-free Bagels? What is your favorite Trader Joe’s gluten-free product?

Review: Gluten-Free Chex Clusters Cereal

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff Leave a Comment

Chex Cereal has been a favorite of mine for as long as I can remember. I became an even bigger fan several years back when they made many of their varieties gluten-free and now continue to expand the line. The latest additions to the line-up include Chex Clusters and Gluten-Free Chex Granola Mix. Today I am going to share my thoughts on the Chex Clusters.

Chex Clusters combines real fruit pieces, rice crisps, and rolled oats together. More about the new cereal:

  • Whole Grain Rice as the first ingredient
  • gluten-free
  • No Colors from Artificial Sources
  • No Artificial Flavors
  • No High Fructose Corn Syrup
  • A 1-cup serving contains 200 calories. If ½ cup of skim milk is added to your serving, it’s 240 calories.

I first tried Chex Clusters right out of the box. Then I poured a bowl and added some almonds (extra protein) and almond milk. There really isn’t a bad way to eat this cereal, as it tastes phenomenal any way you choose. Look for Chex Clusters, and the rest of the Chex family of cereals, on the shelves of mainstream grocery stores across the US.

IMG 6212I feel it is our duty to note that while the Chex Clusters box does say, “gluten-free” on the front, they are not certified gluten-free and do contain “whole grain oats”. All products that carry the “gluten-free” label must adhere to the FDA’s ruling, which says the product must contain less than 20ppm gluten. Here is the specific language directly from the FDA:

Do oats have to be certified as gluten-free to be labeled gluten-free? No. However, as with any other non-gluten-containing grain, oats that are labeled gluten-free must contain less than 20 ppm gluten.

Choosing to eat gluten-free products that are not certified gluten-free is a personal choice. I eat them, as does our son, as it is our personal choice.

Have you tried the new Chex Clusters? What are your thoughts?

Review: Tito’s Handmade Vodka

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff Leave a Comment

When it comes to mixed drinks, I prefer a vodka cranberry or vodka and 7-Up. My vodka of choice in the past was Stoli’s, but I recently had the opportunity to sample Tito’s Handmade Vodka.

Tito’s Handmade Vodka is made right here in the US, in Austin, Texas. More about Tito’s:

Tito’s Handmade Vodka is produced in Austin at Texas’ first and oldest legal distillery. It’s made in small batches in an old fashioned pot still by Tito Beveridge (actual name), a 50-something geologist, and distilled six times. Tito’s Handmade Vodka is designed to be savored by spirit connoisseurs and everyday drinkers alike. It is microdistilled in an old-fashioned pot still, just like fine single malt scotches and high-end French cognacs. This time-honored method of distillation requires more skill and effort than modern column stills, but it’s well worth it.

It is heralded by the country’s top bartenders and mixologists as one of the smoothest expressions of the spirit, and Wine Enthusiast awarded it a score of 95 Points — higher than Ketel One, Absolut, Belvedere, and Grey Goose.

Tito’s is made from 100% corn mash, so it is naturally gluten-free, which makes this girl very happy! I always store my vodka in the freezer, so I popped my bottle of Tito’s Homemade in the freezer the day I received it. I decided last night to have a vodka 7-Up while making dinner.

This drink really hit the spot! So smooth! The only thing missing was a lime! How could I have forgotten to get a lime?

Tito’s Handmade Vodka can be found in select stores across the US. Check Tito’s website to find the location closest to you, as they may vary based on state laws.

Have you tried Tito’s Handmade Vodka? What do you think?

*The products mentioned in this post were sent to me free of charge for review purposes. The thoughts and opinions shared here are mine and have not been influenced by anyone or anything. 

Review: Hungry Jack Gluten-Free Funfetti Pancakes

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff 2 Comments

I believe it was only last week when I heard about Hungry Jack’s new gluten-free pancake mix. I knew right away that my son would be thrilled, as pancakes are one of his favorite foods and they are easy for him to make. He has really broadened his horizons over the past few months in terms of his cooking skills. I checked our local Meijer grocery store when I was there on Tuesday and was surprised to see they already had the new product on their shelves.

IMG 5460

The mix makes approximately 11 servings according to the box.

Ingredients: RICE FLOUR, SUGAR, DEXTROSE, LEAVENING (BAKING SODA, CALCIUM PHOSPHATE, SODIUM ALUMINUM PHOSPHATE), CANDY BITS (SUGAR, VEGETABLE OIL [PALM AND PALM KERNEL], MODIFIED CORN STARCH, CONFECTIONER’S GLAZE, SOY LECITHIN, COLORED WITH [YELLOW 5, RED 40, BLUE 1, YELLOW 6]), POTATO STARCH, PEA FIBER, BUTTERMILK, TAPIOCA STARCH, CANOLA OIL, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: SALT, POTASSIUM BICARBONATE, HYDROXYPROPYL METHYLCELLULOSE, XANTHAN GUM, CALCIUM CARBONATE, EGGS, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, CELLULOSE GUM, YELLOW 5, RED 40. Contains: Egg, Milk, Soy.

The box has instructions to make 6-8 pancakes, 12-16 pancakes, or 18-22 pancakes. Simply add water to the corresponding amount of pancake mix and you are in business. My son likes large pancakes, so while he chose the smallest portion to make, it made less than 6 pancakes. I believe he ended up with 2-3 large pancakes.

He declared these his new favorite pancakes and something he plans on making for breakfast a lot next year when he is living on his own.

Look for the new Hungry Jack gluten-free Funfetti Pancakes in your local grocery stores. Check the store locator on the Hungry Jack website for more information. Have you spotted or tried the new Hungry Jack gluten-free Funfetti Pancakes? If so, what did you think?

Gluten-Free Snack Options at CVS

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff Leave a Comment

CVS has a brand named “Gold Emblem Abound” that offers affordable healthier snack options. It is nice to see that there are more than just junk food options available there, as I know I have fallen into that trap when I just run in to pick up a prescription. Not all of those products in the line are gluten-free, but there are several in the line-up that is. We received four different products from the line to sample and review.

IMG_5316

  • Barbecue Flavored Rice Crisps
  • Sea Salt Flavored Baked Rice Thins
  • Lime & Black Pepper Flavored Rice Thins
  • Cranberry Almond Rice Pop Clusters

In addition to being certified gluten-free, these products are also low in cholesterol or cholesterol free and low in saturated fat or low sodium. While each and every one of the products are tasty, the Cranberry Almond Rice Pop Clusters are my favorite. Look for Gold Emblem Abound products in CVS stores across the US. You can find a coupon for $1.00 off here.

Have you tried any of the Gold Emblem Abound Products? If so, which ones? What did you think? I love that there are options like this available.

*These products were sent to me free of charge for review purposes. The thoughts and opinions here are mine and have not been influenced by anyone or anything.