Gluten Free for Less

Answer 1

Sticking to a gluten free diet can be difficult and costly. However, the health benefits of a gluten free diet for gluten intolerant individuals can greatly increase quality of life. It is true that gluten free products tend to cost more; fortunately, with some advance planning, creativity, and strategizing, families or individuals can live gluten free without an undue strain on their budget. Here are a few ideas to get started on the path towards a more inexpensive gluten free diet.

Cook Gluten Free at Home

The convenience of store mixes and instant products is appealing; however, creating gluten free food at home is cheaper and usually healthier than buying pre-made foods from the grocery store. Invest in a few good gluten free cookbooks or look up recipes online. The internet is a great source for all kinds of recipes. Many sites allow users to rate and review recipes they have tried so it is easy to pick out successful and delicious foods. Making things from scratch can seem intimidating, but with the proper instruction can be simple and rewarding.

Stock up During Sales

Often stores will offer special sales for gluten free products. Manufacturer coupons are also a good source of savings for specialty food items. If there is a good sale at the grocery store for a gluten free item that is likely to be used often (and one that will last for several weeks or months) individuals should take advantage of the deal and buy several at once. Similarly, buying in bulk or shopping at bulk food stores can save a good deal of money in the long run.

Look in Unlikely Sources

The grocery store is the obvious location for food products. However, places such as Ebay may have users selling mixes or other gluten free items that are fresh and unopened. Even flea markets sometimes have vendors who sell food at discounted prices. Think outside the box to find savings in unusual places.