5 Ways to Eat Gluten Free On a Budget
By Shondell Varcianna
April 01, 2016
Lifestyle
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If you’ve recently decided to eliminate gluten from your diet, or have to stop eating gluten for health reasons, changing your diet doesn’t have to be intimidating. While it’s true that many gluten-free foods cost considerably more than the same foods that contain gluten, there are ways to make the right adjustments to your diet without breaking the bank. Here are a few tips you can start using today.
1. Stock Up On Fruits and Veggies
Fruits and vegetables are naturally gluten free. Instead of trying to buy too many gluten-free versions of “regular” foods, stock up on produce. For instance, roast vegetables and fresh fruit with honey and lemon juice are all gluten free options that are satisfying and filled with nutrients. It’s cost-effective too.
2. Shop On a Schedule
When it comes to shopping on a gluten free diet, don’t go back to the grocery store until you absolutely have to. Plan your meals, so you’ll be on schedule to go shopping again when you’re running low. If you grocery shop any time you run out of one or two items, you’ll be tempted with the newest gluten free cookie, which leads to trying out a new flavor of gluten free ice cream, and before you know it, you’ve gone way over your food budget.
3.Don’t Eat Out As Much
One of the best ways to make sure you save money on a gluten free diet is to make the most of your own food. While some restaurants are becoming more accommodating in terms of dietary restrictions, entrees that are free of gluten are usually still pretty expensive. You can avoid this by only eating out on special occasions. Bring your lunch to work, or invite your friends over and prepare a meal for them every once in a while to save money on food.
4. Find the Right Flour Blend
Once you find a gluten free flour blend you like, you can make your own baked goods at home, which can save you quite a bit of money. Use this flour blend to make breakfast items like biscuits or pancakes, or use it for bread or dinner rolls. The more foods you make at home, the less money you’ll spend.
5. Be On The Lookout For Coupons
Since more and more people are going gluten free, you may be able to find coupons. Whether you order gluten free foods online or find them at your local grocery store, coupons will make a significant difference when you’re shopping. If you can’t find many coupons for gluten free foods, try to find weekly coupons for the other items that you purchase often, such as fruits, vegetables, juices and naturally gluten-free grains. This will help you stay within your budget, and could motivate you to try something new when it comes to preparing your meals.
These are just some of the practical things you can do to make sure that a gluten-free lifestyle doesn’t have to be an expensive one. Once you get the hang of your dietary changes, you may even want to be more creative and come up with a few gluten-free recipes of your own.
Picture by Beth
1. Stock Up On Fruits and Veggies
Fruits and vegetables are naturally gluten free. Instead of trying to buy too many gluten-free versions of “regular” foods, stock up on produce. For instance, roast vegetables and fresh fruit with honey and lemon juice are all gluten free options that are satisfying and filled with nutrients. It’s cost-effective too.
2. Shop On a Schedule
When it comes to shopping on a gluten free diet, don’t go back to the grocery store until you absolutely have to. Plan your meals, so you’ll be on schedule to go shopping again when you’re running low. If you grocery shop any time you run out of one or two items, you’ll be tempted with the newest gluten free cookie, which leads to trying out a new flavor of gluten free ice cream, and before you know it, you’ve gone way over your food budget.
3.Don’t Eat Out As Much
One of the best ways to make sure you save money on a gluten free diet is to make the most of your own food. While some restaurants are becoming more accommodating in terms of dietary restrictions, entrees that are free of gluten are usually still pretty expensive. You can avoid this by only eating out on special occasions. Bring your lunch to work, or invite your friends over and prepare a meal for them every once in a while to save money on food.
4. Find the Right Flour Blend
Once you find a gluten free flour blend you like, you can make your own baked goods at home, which can save you quite a bit of money. Use this flour blend to make breakfast items like biscuits or pancakes, or use it for bread or dinner rolls. The more foods you make at home, the less money you’ll spend.
5. Be On The Lookout For Coupons
Since more and more people are going gluten free, you may be able to find coupons. Whether you order gluten free foods online or find them at your local grocery store, coupons will make a significant difference when you’re shopping. If you can’t find many coupons for gluten free foods, try to find weekly coupons for the other items that you purchase often, such as fruits, vegetables, juices and naturally gluten-free grains. This will help you stay within your budget, and could motivate you to try something new when it comes to preparing your meals.
These are just some of the practical things you can do to make sure that a gluten-free lifestyle doesn’t have to be an expensive one. Once you get the hang of your dietary changes, you may even want to be more creative and come up with a few gluten-free recipes of your own.
Picture by Beth