Gluten Free the old style way

daisiegg

I use http://www.goodnessdirect.co.uk/cgi-local/frameset/script/home.html for dairy free food and I think they have loads of gluten free stuff too, though not sure how it compares for price. If you choose to order from there, if you send me a pm I can give you a 10% off code that I think is valid for a couple of days.

Hollyberry

I used Goodness Direct too, and also Holland and Barrett for GF crackers and biscuits. I'm both gluten and lactose intolerant, so find that there are plenty of options there. In the past few months, I've moved away from eating much pasta, and eat more rice or potatoes and sweet potatoes to give me the carbs. Mr S's free from range is more reasonably priced, and Mr T's own brand GF rolls are good. I now put loaves in the freezer and just toast slices when I need them.

Sarah-V

I don't know if this will be the case for you, but my mum is prescribed gluten free food by her doctor.

She has coeliac disease so this may not be the same, but for anyone who does suffer there is info on how you can get this here.

Even if you can't get food on prescription, you will get a hamper of gf foods if you sign up here and they will give you info on supermarket offers.

I know she also does some ordering here but I'm afraid I don't know how it compares price wise.

Ballymackeonan

Have you tried using polenta as an alternative to pasta - I get it in big bags (cornmeal) from the big Tesco nearby!

xmillyx

I'm GF, and manage it fairly cheaply (without a prescription) I completely limit the amount of bread/pasta I eat now it's only 1 or twice a week.
I eat other GF things - eg Breakfast I'll always have porridge during winter and a poached egg on GF toast during summer. Lunch I'll have a jacket potato and tuna mayo or a bean salad etc or soup.
Dinner - curries and brown rice, lots of potatoes, both sweet and normal. Rice noodles in stir fries etc etc.

I buy the genius bread from Tesco and yes it is expensive but I make the most out of it by freezing it a few slices at a time and getting them out as and when I need it.
Also the end bits I blitz up in the food processor to use as breadcrumbs so I can make GF chicken nuggets/kievs, fish fingers etc.
It's really quite easy when you set your mind to it!

Just_a_Girl_2

I'm coeliac and found it much easier to just eliminate those kinds of foods rather than try to find substitutes, which are often filled with lots of other crap that I'd rather not be consuming.

kboss2010

Cornmeal (maize flour) is naturally gluten-free and you can buy 1.5 kg (Natco brand) in the world foods aisle for £1 at A$da.

Avoid pre-prepared foods where you can and stick to carbohydrates which are naturally gluten-free like rice, rice noodles, quinoa, beans, unprocessed nuts, eggs, meat and plenty of fruit and veg.

It takes a small amount of planning but how about pre-preparing your own scotch pancakes using buttermilk and cornmeal instead of plain flour and freezing them for breakfast instead of porridge/toast? Also bulk-buy and freeze reduced g-f loaves if you have space. My local S'burys reduces lots of g-f loaves at least every few weeks to 99p so I buy as many as I can fit in my freezer. Next time you go shopping, maybe check the expiry dates on the g-f loaves and try to plan your next trip for the evening before they go off!

Julie67

I'm also GF for health reasons, and I've been without Gluten now for five weeks. I feel I'm getting the hang if it now, despite a few false starts, ketchup, popcorn and cheese spread. These can all be bought Gf but I just hadn't realised how much stuff it's in.
I also buy the Freedom bread just for me and freeze it. I tend t just have this at Breakfast and avoid bread the rest if the time. I also eat jacket potatoes for lunch.
It is fairly easy once you get the hang of it. I buy GF pasta as well but just for me so it works out not too expensive.
I buy the Sainsburys gf crackers which are lovely and no more expensive than ordinary crackers.
I'm working my way into gf baking, there are lots of recipes in the net.
Also I bought rice flour and made wraps or a bit thicker you can make pancakes and make them sweet or savoury.
Hope that helps

strandedinaber

Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone! I'm not quite sure I can give up my porridge for breakfast because I like having it with loads of fruit, flaxseed and coconut oil and find it really sets me up for the day. I will start looking at other alternatives as opposed to gluten free stuff though, as I'm already a big fan of quinoa. And I'll check out goodnessdirect for the stuff I definitely need to replace I had no idea that gluten was in ketchup - must watch out for that!

Just_a_Girl_2

Oats don't *contain* gluten but are often cross contaminated due to how they're grown. Thankfully you can buy gluten free oats which are just as delicious and one of the few GF foods I do indulge in occasionally

And a big YUM to coconut oil, I adore the stuff too!