Eating Gluten-Free Doesn’t Have to Bust Your Food Budget

Many people are making the switch to a gluten-free diet due to food allergies, sensitivities or dietary preferences. Luckily, shopping for gluten-free food has become easier and is less expensive than it was five years ago, but it can still add up. We have some tips about how to keep your food budget reasonable while eating gluten-free. First, look for naturally gluten-free foods. Meats, poultry, fish, dairy, eggs, nuts, nut butters, potatoes, beans, rice, quinoa, corn, vegetables and fruit are all naturally gluten free before processing. While you should always check the ingredients on any packaged food, this also includes most corn tortillas, tortilla chips, salsa, yogurt, potato chips (check flavoring), rice pasta and ice cream (with safe add-ins).  While oats are naturally gluten-free, they are often found to be contaminated during processing, so you may need to buy specific gluten-free oats if you have an allergy or have reactions to regular oats. Stock up on these basics when they are on sale. For more good tips, visit our sister site, Living on the Cheap. More great ideas there!