The kids are heading back to school, which means easy go-to snacks, and treats are NECESSARY for stocking your home and packing lunches. Despite an increase in children with food allergies/sensitivities and diet restrictions, it can still be challenging to find easy, ready-made snacks. In this post, you’ll find a list of products that I found in my quick trip to Meijer and Kroger. Stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s definitely have similar products, and likely a larger selection, but for those who do not have either of those stores close by Kroger and Meijer do have options!
While I am not (yet) making kiddo lunches, I do have a husband that recently decided to get serious about his gluten-free, dairy-free diet - and the man loves snacks. He has an autoimmune condition, vitiligo, in which the immune system appears to attack the pigment cells (melanocytes) in the skin. Modern medicine doesn’t have an answer to cure this condition (treatment is usually steroids and light therapy), but we have noticed a huge difference in his skin symptoms by incorporating a gluten-free, dairy-free lifestyle.
Now, I am all about cooking and making my own homemade foods, because let’s get real it is generally the best option - but sometimes you just have to take what you can get when it comes to convenience. By all means, always buy or make organic when you can. Organic foods are grown without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, genetically modified organisms, or ionizing radiation. Animals that produce meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products do not take antibiotics or growth hormones. Most of these products are organic, but I realize some are not. I am not endorsing that these foods are "healthy" just because they are GFDF. A well-balanced diet including fruits, vegetables, protein, etc is always encouraged. These products are simply for a quick snack, or "treat". I have not included the obvious fruit and vegetable choices in this post, but make sure you check out the Environmental Working Group 2019 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce to help you reduce your pesticide exposures as much as possible by indicating which produce to buy organic, and which conventional products are low in pesticide residue. **Whatever you purchase, make sure to read the labels. My husband includes butter and eggs in his dairy-free diet.**
For more information on gluten-free dairy-free lifestyle, immune/gut dysfunction, food allergy testing, and children’s services offered at Bio Energy Medical Center, visit our website at www.bioenergymedicalcenter.com.
Black Forest Organic Fruit Snacks (Kroger)
Nature's Path EnviroKidz Peanut Butter & Chocolate Leapin' Lemurs (Kroger)
Simple Mills Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil Almond Flour Crackers (Meijer)
Made Good Granola Minis (Kroger)
Glutino Gluten Free Pretzel Twists (Meijer)
Lance Gluten Free Real Peanut Butter Crackers (Meijer)
Vans Gluten Free PB & Strawberry Sandwich Bars (Meijer)
Annie's Organic Vegan Mac (Kroger & Meijer)
Lara Bar Coconut Cream Pie (Kroger)
Daiya Classic Vanilla Bean Dessert Bars (Kroger)
Additional Resources for Gluten-Free/Casein-Free Diets/ Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance:
https://www.bioenergymedicalcenter.com/services/autism
Marjie’s Gluten Free Pantry (located in downtown Fenton) www.circleoflifenutrition.net
The recipe diva ( www.therecipediva.com)
Celiac Sprue Association (www.csaceliacs.org)
Gluten Intolerance Group of North America (www.gluten.net)
Celiac Disease Foundation (www.celiac.org)
Gluten Free/Casein Free Diet (www.gfcfdiet.com)
Gluten-Free links (www.gflinks.com)
Kinnikinnick Foods (www.kinnikinnick.com)
Pamela’s Products (www.pamelasproducts.com)
The Allergy Grocer (www.allergygrocer.com)
The Gluten Free Mall (www.glutenfreemall.com)
The Gluten Free (www.theglutenfree.com)
Quick Start Diet Guide (www.enjoylifefoods.com)
www.glutenfreeliving.com (magazine)
www.livingwithout.com (magazine)
www.glutenfreedrugs.com (for prescription and OTC drugs)
