[Laura]

I have a gluten allergy but the inexpensive foods usually have gluten. Gluten-free options are pricey!

Between inflation and needing gluten-free I’m struggling to pay for groceries.

Would love to hear any tips y’all have. Thanks I’m advance!

[Hannah]

We try to eat mostly naturally gluten-free foods. A standard meal in our house is a protein, veggie, and starch (usually rice or potatoes).

Aldi is great for gluten-free bread and pastas, as they are significantly cheaper there than at most other grocery stores (and actually the same size as the real thing!).

[Julie]

True! It’s super annoying to see products have “less” and cost more. And, companies take advantage of dietary restrictions in all sorts of ways.

I do love that there are more brands these days, maybe the competition will help reduce cost.

Don’t miss: How to Make Homemade Gluten-free Cellophane Noodles

[Calico]

Rice, potatoes, meats, fruits, vegetables, quinoa, rice cakes with peanut butter & jelly,

Avoid using gluten free substitutes regularly.

I grew up with a dad who was a celiac before it was diagnosed much and options were limited. Mashed potato flakes can be used for binder or breading. Rice crispies or Chex (read label) can be used for many things. Chex make great croutons!

[Jamie]

Costco and Aldi are big resources for me. I also tend to shop the clearance sections at the grocery store because gluten free stuff tends to not move as quickly and ends up there.

If there are any Asian markets near you, look at their rice noodle selection and they will also have a wide variety of flours reasonably priced.

Also, check your local food pantry. Folks do donate gluten free items but celiacs never expect that so they don’t even bother.

[Megan]

Ditto Hannah. We just eat foods that are naturally gluten free. I feed a family of 8 3 meals and 3 snacks a day for an average of $200/ week.

[Stephanie]

While I do slip up, the cheapest option for me has been a protein plus a veggie or a salad instead of trying to recreate everything to do without.

Good side effects but not simple. However, a really good chopped salad with a really good dressing with a well prepared steak is hard to beat… or even a really well prepared chicken breast.

Explore these too: We had a sudden death in the family and I’m looking for cheap food ideas

[Becky]

Avoid gluten free foods ir substitutions for ‘real’ foods. But if you must have them Aldi had good prices.

I make things with rice, corn tortillas, and things that naturally don’t have gluten. Progresso soups have a lot of soups that are gluten free but it’s easy to make your own ‘cream of’ soups with cornstarch. There are a lot of crackers that the store now that are naturally gluten free.

[Anastasia]

Think about cuisines that traditionally don’t use much wheat and borrow from those. Many Asian cuisines use rice, etc.

Cook from scratch, don’t use regular bread, pasta. Substitute rice, potatoes, vegetable – zoodles versus pasta.

[Julie]

My daughter and myself eat lots of…. Rice, corn and cornmeal, oats, root vegetables, Walmart brand “alternatives“.

I will often skip the bread, have rice instead of pasta, etc.

[Jess]

Buy in bulk if you can, cook as much from scratch as possible and try sticking to ingredients vs. processed foods. It’s healthier and cheaper.

[Amy]

It’s the gf substitute foods (i.e. gf bread, cereal, muffins, etc) that are the most expensive. Build your meals around naturally gf carbs like rice, corn tortillas, potatoes etc. It will change a lot of your eating habits but it will be a lot cheaper. For instance, my husband and I eat eggs every morning with corn tortillas and salsa as opposed to eggs and toast.

Also, get a rice cooker. They are only about $20, the rice will taste better, and it will be easy to always have rice on hand in the fridge.

Also, check out: What are some foods that don’t need heating up or cooking?

[Amy]

It’s the gf substitute foods (i.e. gf bread, cereal, muffins, etc) that are the most expensive. Build your meals around naturally gf carbs like rice, corn tortillas, potatoes etc. It will change a lot of your eating habits but it will be a lot cheaper. For instance, my husband and I eat eggs every morning with corn tortillas and salsa as opposed to eggs and toast.

Also, get a rice cooker. They are only about $20, the rice will taste better, and it will be easy to always have rice on hand in the fridge.

Also, check out: What are some foods that don’t need heating up or cooking?

[Jess]

Meat, nuts, eggs, and fats—avocados—are what fills you up. I have to eat gluten and dairy free. If you can make it yourself with rice flour—you’re better off price wise.

[Erika]

I get a biweekly box of organic veggies from a local farmer and buy meat from a local butcher. I buy dairy, fruit, and some grains from the grocery store. And coffee. Don’t forget coffee. Right now that probably sounds pretty expensive.

But it really isn’t, because I don’t buy processed food or beverages and I keep my portions in check.

I find spending a little more on whole foods keeps me full and not snacking/turning to processed food that I find to be more expensive. And I’m single. So a pound of meat is at least 4 meals, if not more.

[Rebecca]

I eat around the store. Mostly. Meat. Poultry. Fish. Veg. Fruit. I do get bread from Aldi. And Barilla GF pasta.

I get packaged GF lunch meat for my lunches because boars head is too expensive now. If they have a sale on things like GF pizza I will buy several (if budget allows) to save for throughout time.

Would you also like to explore: I have 50 dollars for food for the next two weeks – So..

[Alison]

I adapt recipes to gluten free for my friends. This past week I made 2 loaves of gluten-free banana bread using a 1:1 ratio flour. Rice Krispy bars, no alterations need.

I’m going to tackle a white bread recipe, or maybe one incorporate seeds and nuts. Oh, and using gluten-free oats is a good option for making granola, or cookies, etc.

[Teresa]

Like most people said, we don’t eat a lot of packaged gf foods. We eat a lot of veggies (and things like cabbage and kale and whatever is in season and less expensive), and smaller portions of meat.

I have a garden and Find especially in the fall (I can’t eat nightshade veggies like tomatoes because of food sensitivitpies so a lot of the typical summer veggies aren’t useful; in summer it’s mostly beans and squash) find I can cover at least half our vegetables from turnip greens, kale, and hopefully this year carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, and brusse sprouts.

I also planted figs, strawberries and blueberries, and hope to get asparagus planted sometime so I have a perennial that doesn’t have to be planted every year. When we do have bread, we often use homemade gf rolls instead of buying loaf bread.

My favorite recipe is equal parts cassava, rice, pecan, and flax flour with water, oil, and yeast.

It isn’t cheap but it’s way less per serving than packaged bread and very high in fiber.

Suggested: Yes, Food prices have gone up.. But because of the economy stores are also in competition..

[Judith]

Don’t know if you have a Whole Foods, but I find their GF bread cheaper, about $6.5 a loaf.

They have best affordable org rolled oats. Org frozen veggies good price too, $3 lb.

I use my vitamix to grind oats and make my own biscuits, big batch and freeze. Sweet potatoes- yum! Costco great price on org sweet potatoes and org quinoa.

[Author]

Posts