While eating gluten-free can be expensive, an affordable gluten-free diet is possible by planning and using some cost-saving tips. A great way to save money on gluten-free food is to shop around and stock up on shelf-stable gluten-free items when they are on sale or if they are less expensive at one store vs.
another store. For example, I have three grocery stores on rotation because they select my favorite gluten-free brands for the best prices.
Another great option is purchasing items at a warehouse store such as Costco. I have found that the best way to save money on my grocery bill is to make and follow a shopping list. Doing this will prevent you from buying all those tempting gluten-free specialty products at the store that are always expensive.
They have lower prices than most stores for gluten-free bread, pasta, and prepared frozen convenience foods. Another great option is to check with your local supermarket. Online Shopping on sites like Amazon, Walmart, or Target for the best deals on gluten-free products can also save you money.
One thing I love about modern grocery shopping is that you can easily order your groceries on many store apps, making it easy to delete costly items before you check out.
This also helps when comparing prices between two stores. It makes it possible to shop at two stores at once, thus saving you time and money in the long run. My experience from having celiac disease for the past 17 years, as well as counseling families of newly diagnosed children who have celiac disease, is that an affordable gluten-free diet is possible if you stick to the basics, plan, and save the treats for special occasions.
I hope you find eating gluten-free on a budget a little more accessible. Lee AR, Wolf RL, Lebwohl B, Ciaccio EJ, Green PHR.
Persistent Economic Burden of the Gluten Free Diet. Joseph S. Adedeji Current applications of gluten-free grains — a review. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, , , DOI: Prakriti Jnawali, Vikas Kumar, Beenu Tanwar, Celiac disease: Overview and considerations for development of gluten-free foods.
The cost of that is often included in the price. There are a few key tips on staying on budget. As the years go on you learn how to master this and you find creative ways to save money.
Make sure you always have quick gluten free meals for your busy nights. Set yourself up for success! So, that is the majority of my secret sauce. If you can only do of these items, then start with a solid meal plan and baking and cooking in bulk.
It makes such a difference! Some of them are newer. When I want to stretch my dollars I tend to go for vegan meals or I use meats that are on sale. If I see a good deal then I will buy a lot and freeze it.
I went to 2 stores to shop. There were 2 items that Trader Joes did not carry and I went to Sprouts for them.
I try to buy organic whenever possible. Garlic Pasta. This includes a side vegetable. We use Banza pasta because it holds up really well, has a good amount of protein and is free of all of our allergens.
If I have chicken or shrimp to use up then I will add it. I have even made some sausages and served them on the side. Grab the recipe HERE. This recipe is a family favorite.
My kids love it. I also add a bag of frozen green beans and I need to update that on the blog post. This is hearty, delicious and easy to make. That was with organic products and grass fed beef.
Homemade pizza is a very budget friendly dinner and there are never any complaints! I love using up ingredients in the fridge. I used vegan cheese and uncured pepperoni. Sheet Pan Fajitas. This recipe is great for a simple one pan dinner.
Items like meat or seafood are packaged separately in their own plastic bag to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
Each meal kit has a full-page recipe card with colorful photos illustrating the cooking process. We ordered and tasted four meals as part of our evaluation of Green Chef:. We found that even the pre-made sauces tasted fresh, and we liked how easily the dishes came together.
Pros: Hungryroot makes it easy to customize your meals, with access to over 2, recipes and detailed search filters. Cons: Be prepared for your ingredients to arrive with lots of single-use packaging.
More adventurous cooks may also find the recipes too simplistic for their liking. Think of Hungryroot as your weekly meal planner and grocery shopping tool in one. After taking a food preference quiz, Hungryroot builds a personalized meal plan for you, complete with accompanying groceries for your meals.
This quiz is essential—while it takes 15 minutes to complete, it allows you to specify your dietary preferences pescatarian, dairy-free, gluten-free, etc. With an archive of thousands of recipes and plenty of convenient search filters, it's easy to mix and match with preportioned and premeasured grocery items to create a household meal plan.
Recipes include breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, with most meals ready in 10 minutes or less. You will have to sign up for a subscription before you can make your food and recipe choices. Because Hungyroot has more in common with an online grocery store than a traditional meal kit service, pricing will vary depending on what you order.
Hungryroot delivers to all U. states except for Alaska and Hawaii. Your box will arrive with your items much the same way they would be if you picked them up from the store. We ordered and cooked four recipes from Hungryroot:. Overall, our testers found Hungryroot to be a mixed bag.
Pros: With its vast menu and quick prep time, Daily Harvest was a favorite with busy testers who needed a quick meal on the go. Cons: With exclusively single-serving items, this service may not be the best choice for larger households.
Daily Harvest boasts an array of gluten-free vegan snacks, entrées, and beverages made with sustainably-sourced ingredients. Build a custom box from three size options—Small nine items , Medium 14 items , or Large 24 items —and fill your shipment with any dishes you like from the menu.
You can choose from a wide selection of soups, smoothies, flatbreads, harvest and forager bowls, snacks, desserts, and beverages. Items arrive flash-frozen, which means you can store them in the freezer for up to three months but can still be ready in minutes.
If you opt for overnight oats, those will be the most time-consuming, as they will need to soak overnight. Harvest bakes and flatbreads will require 20 to 30 minutes of baking time; everything else will take you about five minutes to reheat.
Pros: ModifyHealth creates dietitian-backed, premade meals packed with organic ingredients, and we liked how it takes some of the work out of eating a medically-necessary diet. Backed by dietitians, ModifyHealth creates chef-made meals designed to support customers suffering from gastroenterological, digestive, and inflammation issues.
The company features low-FODMAP, Mediterranean, diabetes-friendly, gluten-free, heart-friendly, and carb-conscious meal plans with breakfast, lunch, and dinner options.
Additionally, organic ingredients are used whenever possible. With dietitian support available, this service is dedicated to improving gut and chronic health issues in tandem with a science-based approach. Changes can be made via your account on the website, or you can also call a toll-free number.
Shipping is included, and the service is available in all states except Alaska and Hawaii. Each meal is individually packaged in vacuum-sealed recyclable trays and can either be stored in your refrigerator for up to 10 days or in your freezer for six to eight weeks.
To microwave, you must remove the cardboard band around the meal and vent the clear film on top, either by puncturing with a fork or peeling back the corner.
If using your oven, you must remove the meal from its plastic tray and transfer it to an oven-safe dish. Cook times will vary depending on the method you use as well as whether or not the meal was thawed prior to cooking.
Either way, be sure your meal reaches an internal temperature of degrees before you dig in. While some of us wished for more seasoning, we had to acknowledge the balancing act that ModifyHealth has to perform in order to keep its sodium content within a low range.
Still, if you want a low-hassle, healthy meal, ModifyHealth helps take the guesswork out of your meal planning and could be especially helpful for seniors on medically necessary diets who may struggle with getting to the grocery store regularly.
Pros: Epicured takes nutrition seriously; the nutrition of its meals is overseen by physicians and dietitians, allowing the service to offer meals that adhere to many diets, including low-FODMAP and several GI conditions.
Epicured stands out by collaborating with doctors and nutritionists to offer meals that are both medically approved and nutrient-dense. These meals cater to individuals with various gastrointestinal conditions, including those with IBD and IBS symptoms.
Additionally, customers can choose from a variety of other dietary needs and filters, such as vegan, pescatarian, low-sodium, low-calorie, and dairy-, shellfish-, and soy-free. The menu includes curated meal bundles, breakfasts, snacks, soups, salads, bowls, sides, and beverages, all of which arrive fresh and can be reheated in the oven, on the stovetop, or in the microwave.
With its large menu complete with nutrient-specific accommodations, we love how Epicured makes being on a strict diet feel like less of a chore. Pricing is à la carte, so your mileage will vary. Epicured does not deliver to Alaska or Hawaii. Your meals will arrive fresh and individually packaged in a cardboard box and cooled by several ice packs.
23 Budget-Friendly Gluten-Free Dinners · Loaded Cauliflower Bowls · Spaghetti Squash Casserole · Baked Lemon-Pepper Chicken · Tofu Tacos · Herb- (Buy a bigger package of chicken and split for different meals which makes it less than $10) Make rice. Make noodles. Have it 2 ways. Broccoli I stick with naturally gluten free carbs such as potatoes, rice/ rice noodles, and quinoa. Buy whatever meats are on sale, portion them out and