Top 10s Top 10 gluten free products

Date Published:

13/05/2009

Around one in 100 people has coeliac disease, a lifelong gluten intolerance and an autoimmune disease. Make eating easier with these handy gluten-free product recommendations from Kim Porter at The Nutrition Coach

Going gluten free

With gluten playing such a major part in the British diet from bread to pasta to cake, discovering you have coeliac disease or a gluten intolerance can be a real worry. But fret no more - there is now a wide variety of gluten free products in our supermarkets and health food shops. There are also lots of alternatives to gluten based grains such as buckwheat (no relation to wheat), rice, millet, corn, quinoa and tapioca (remember school dinners?).

Many of the gluten free foods listed below are available in good supermarkets, health food shops, delis or directly from the manufacturer. If you have coeliac disease, you may be able to get some of these foods on prescription.

Often the biggest issue with avoiding gluten is not being able to eat bread. Bread made from wheat, rye or spelt contains gluten so is strictly a no-no for coeliacs. But there are some great gluten free alternatives, or, if you want to get inventive, have a bash at making your own bread with flour made from rice, buckwheat or quinoa - or you can buy gluten free flour.

Gluten free favourites:
Doves Farm - for gluten free flours.
Dietary Specials - try the Brown Multigrain Sliced Loaf.
Artisan Bread Organic - for rice, quinoa and buckwheat bread.

As the majority of cakes and biscuits are made from wheat, finding a sweet treat can be difficult if you are avoiding gluten. If you like baking consider using gluten free flour, ground almonds, or polenta (made from corn). A favourite gluten free treat are almond macaroons which are easy and quick to make. No time or inclination to bake? Try one of the following....

Gluten free favourites:
Honeybuns - delicious gluten free brownies and almond biscuits.
The Village Bakery - great cereal bars, biscuits and cake.
Gluten-Free Kitchen - cakes, muffins and puddings.

Wheat flour is the main ingredient in pastry which means most pies, tarts, sausage rolls, pasties and quiches are all out if you follow a gluten free diet. The good news is that you can now buy gluten free pastry or you could make your own using gluten free flour.

Gluten free favourites:
Gfree - ready made sweet and savoury pastry.
Droppa & Droppa - for ready-made pies and pasties.
Pure Flavour - delicious gluten free quiches.

If you’re an Italian food lover, don’t despair. There are now many gluten free pasta ranges and pizza bases which you can add your own toppings to. Although these are not exactly like the genuine article, they are a pretty good imitation.

Gluten free favourites:
Doves Farm - for pasta.
Orgran - for pizza mix and pasta.
General Dietary - for ENER-G pizza bases.

Most breakfast cereals contain gluten but you can use gluten free flakes such as rice, millet, buckwheat and quinoa to make your own muesli or porridge.

There is a lot of controversy over whether people with coeliac disease should eat oats. Studies have shown that some people with coeliac disease can eat oats which are pure and uncontaminated, i.e. they haven’t come into contact with gluten during the growing or manufacturing process. Nearly all the oats available in the shops are contaminated with gluten grains such as rye, wheat or barley. Specialist suppliers sell uncontaminated oats but not everyone with coeliac disease can tolerate them so do consult your GP before trying them.

Gluten free favourites:
Spoff - for pure uncontaminated porridge oats and oat based muesli.
Alara - gluten free muesli.
Big Oz Organic - gluten free cereals and gluten free flakes for porridge.

You may not associate beer and lager with gluten, but both drinks usually contain malted wheat or barley. Fortunately for beer lovers you can now buy gluten free beer and lager which is made from grains such as rice and buckwheat.

Gluten free favourites:
Green's Gluten Free Beers - for a wide range of beers and lagers.
Hambleton Ales - a small range of gluten free ales.

Many sausages and burgers contain wheat based rusk or breadcrumbs. Ask your local butcher if he makes gluten free products or try one of the following...

Gluten free favourites:
The Black Farmer - a variety of very tasty gluten free sausages.
Sally's Sizzling Sausages - gluten free sausages, burgers and meatballs.
Graig Farm - for sausages and burgers.

Lots of our favourite sauces including bread sauce, soy sauce and cheese sauce contain gluten. But cheese and white sauces can be made from gluten free flour - and you can make a great bread sauce from gluten free bread. Avoiding soy sauce, which contains wheat, can be tricky as it means you need to be careful with Chinese and Japanese food. However, tamari soy sauce doesn’t contain wheat so is naturally gluten free.

Gluten free favourites:
Sanchi - for tamari soy sauce.
Meridian Foods - for tamari soy sauce and a range of creamy sauces.

If you have a sweet tooth, you may be surprised to find that some of your favourite snacks contain gluten. Read labels carefully and avoid chocolate bars which contain wafers or malted products. Also check the labels of crisp packets for gluten.

Gluten free favourites:
Walkers - many of Walkers crisps are gluten free but do read labels to double check.
The Pink Sugar Mouse - a wide range of old fashioned gluten free sweet treats.
Green & Blacks - many of Green & Blacks products do not contain gluten.

Kids and adults alike needn't miss out on foods such as fish fingers and chicken Kievs as there are now some great ranges of gluten free breaded and battered products available. Or have a go at making your own coatings using gluten free flour or breadcrumbs. Some fish and chip shops use gluten free batter on their fish - with any luck your local chippie will be on board.

Gluten free favourites:
Gluten Free Kitchen - for batter mixes and breadcrumbs.

What is gluten?

Adapt these baking recipes on 4Food