Lucy's Sugar Cookies

Lucy's Sugar Cookies
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Cookies come in a million different flavors and are especially fun to eat in just about any type of combination with no shortage of creativity coming from dessert makers who are quite apt to taunt individuals who can't eat wheat or gluten with tons of different wheat-filled masterpieces that have everything from chocolate to lemon to pecan flavoring. 

Fortunately, finding gluten-free options has become markedly easier in the last few years as the gluten-free revolution has taken off and gotten immensely popular. But not all gluten-free cookies are created equal and one of the biggest problems that cookies tend to have when they're gluten free is that they're a bit gritty or they don't have the same sort of consistency that a gluten-filled version might have.

And there seems to be two schools of thought surrounding cookies and one is the art of imitation where a cookie is meant to taste just like the "real thing" while the other is an attempt to make a good tasting cookie that offers a nice dessert or snacking experience. And with Lucy's Sugar Cookies, it's clear that the company is attempting to mimic the style and taste of cookies that have gluten in them as a sugar cookie is usually a soft, sugary experience in the cookie world.

Lucy's Sugar Cookies
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

But beware, upon biting into one of these sugar cookies, it's definitely not going to be a soft experience as these little suckers are fairly taut in their presentation. And this isn't something that makes them taste any less delicious, but it is something that some people might not like as far as the consistency of a traditional cookie is concerned. And the interesting fact about these cookies is that they do taste good, but they're awfully crunchy.

And crunchy just doesn't seem to be the most interesting word one would want to apply to a cookie. It's more a descriptor that should be used for a cracker. These cookies certainly aren't Soft Batch, that's for sure. But perhaps some enterprising individual could pop them in the microwave for ten seconds and see what happens...

The basic appeal of these cookies is going to be that they taste good and not necessarily their lack of an accommodating texture. They're a crunchy sugar cookie and the taste certainly isn't something that would immediately suggest that they were something that was free of gluten. If you enjoy sugar cookies or any cookies really, they're worth a taste as the recipe is definitely something that tastes great.

Lucy's Sugar Cookies
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Lucy's Sugar Cookies Report Card

What's Good:

The basic taste of these sugar cookies is exactly what you would expect and there's only the barest hint that they are a gluten-free variety and as a snack, they are great for getting a sugar fix. Tons of sugar will fly off these things every time you take a bite as they crunch in half, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. That's just the fun of eating a sugar cookie.

What Could Improve:

As noted above, the consistency of these cookies is really stiff! And it's going to catch some people off guard. But it's not something that would necessarily doom these cookies as something that shouldn't be tried at least once. In fact, the taste of these cookies is very satisfying and they're a tasty dessert or snack.

Ian's Popcorn Turkey Corn Dogs

Ian's Popcorn Turkey Corn Dogs
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

You wouldn't think corn dogs would have wheat in them, but it's likely the only way to whip up that smooth corn dog batter is to mix in a whole lot of wheat in the bowl as it would seem that most gluten-free corn dog options are a lot less smooth in texture. 

No wheat means no food glue and this means nothing really sticks together or smooths out as it should. Corn dogs are something that is probably near the top of the list of unhealthy things to eat and they usually have so much fat and calories in them that the only appropriate place to eat them is while walking around a fairground where your next meal will either be cotton candy or a funnel cake. 

It is perhaps fortunate that people who require gluten-free varieties of corn dogs aren't otherwise likely to eat the full-fat versions since they can really throw a diet out of whack. Fried dough is never a good thing. Well, nutritionally anyway, because corn dogs do taste delicious even if they are an evil food. 

Ian's Popcorn Turkey Corn Dogs
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

 For slightly less egregious examples of tasty corn dog style foods, there is Ian's Popcorn Turkey Corn Dogs to consider, which is clearly aimed at children with the cartoon-style drawings on the exterior of the box, but is something that anyone of any age could eat. The major issue with any corn dogs that don't have the benefit of a wheat-filled smooth batter is always going to be the consistency of the exterior of the dogs and whether they stay intact under the pressure of cooking.

And this isn't really an area where these corn dogs excel as they do tend to leave a bunch of crumbs during every part of the experience whether it's just taking a few out of the box to pop them in the oven or whether it's where you eat them and get crumbs everywhere that seem to just pop off of the dogs at will whenever they're moved.

But really, this is more of a logistics complaint than a taste complaint and if a person is dedicated to finding an option for a corn dog, Ian's is certainly a good place to start. One of the good things about these corn dogs is also their shape and size as there's no traditional wooden stick to get in the way when you're eating one. Just a fork will do (your hand will probably be covered with corn bits if you try to eat these as a finger food, and they are rather hot when they come out of the oven).

Ian's Popcorn Turkey Corn Dogs
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

And regarding ovens, it really is recommended that you utilize one for the cooking of these dogs as the microwave just isn't going to go very well with the gluten-free covering and the interior where the turkey dog rests will probably not cook evenly either. This is just the way microwaves tend to be with turkey dogs or hot dogs.

Fortunately, they don't take that long to cook and there's enough in a box for a few meals worth (probably a few lunches for the average adult). Taste-wise, if you can get beyond the slight inconsistency of the batter, these little dogs are a decent substitute for the real thing although it's very apparent that you're eating a food that's been altered in some way to offer an eating experience that someone who can't eat gluten wouldn't otherwise get to have.

This author is of the opinion that gluten-free food is always going to be best if you can't actually tell that you're eating gluten free food. Perhaps Ian's just needs to do a little more investigation into how best to make the batter on its corn dogs less granular. Taste-wise though, the turkey-dogs are great and the batter does indeed taste better than average.

Ian's Popcorn Turkey Corn Dogs
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Ian's Popcorn Turkey Corn Dogs Report Card

The Good Stuff:

These corn dogs do taste good and are fun to eat as well. They're definitely something that can give you that county fair food fix and the basic taste should satisfy your need to do something very bad with your diet (the nutritional content on these little suckers sure isn't innocent). Well worth a taste if you like corn dogs.

What Could Improve:

Gluten free food sometimes tastes like gluten free food and Ian's Popcorn Turkey Corn Dogs don't actually taste like they're gluten free... but they do look it. The company that makes this snack would get a huge thumbs up if they could find some way to approximate that gluten-laden batter...

Late July Dude Ranch Multigrain Snack Chips

Late July Dude Ranch Multigrain Snack Chips
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

It would seem that chips of all kinds are one of the more popular items for companies to offer the public in a gluten free form and this is often because traditional tortilla chips don't usually have any wheat flour in them anyway unless it's in the flavor mixture. 

Notice I say "usually" as a lot of seemingly innocent tortilla chip manufacturers toss soy sauce in their mixture and this ingredient has wheat - so always look on the label of any tortilla type chips to confirm ingredients and even then, consider asking the company itself whether its chips contain any gluten or wheat, even if the listing of ingredients suggests they don't.

But generally speaking and as far as snack or tortilla chips are concerned, a company can usually come up with a tasty topping for the chips that is naturally gluten-free or isn't really missing anything significant if substitutions are made. The nice thing about a number of these chip varieties is that they often taste almost the same as a general snack for anyone to eat whether they have problems with wheat and gluten or not.

Late July Dude Ranch Multigrain Snack Chips
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

And often such chips can also be considered copies of mainstream gluten-filled options such as Doritos (who would have thought Doritos would have wheat?) as often the texture and taste of a lot of these chips will tend to mimic more well-known varieties and brands.

(Note that Frito Lay suggests on their website that several varieties of their Doritos DO NOT contain wheat. The original flavor of Doritos - Nacho - DOES contain wheat)

Copying well known manufacturers is fine in most cases as there's no reason to reinvent the wheel. Since ranch tastes good on everything (personal observation but likely an opinion held by anyone who has ever tasted ranch dressing), it's not surprising that a gluten-free style chip would be created in this flavor.

Late July Dude Ranch Multigrain Snack Chips
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Regarding Late July Dude Range Multigrain Snack Chips, these chips are likely trying to imitate the popular Doritos flavor "Cool Ranch," as they are not only triangle in shape but are a tortilla-style chip that's ranch-flavored. And generally speaking, the taste of these chips does come close to what an actual bag of Doritos would taste like although the Late July chips seem to be a little thicker overall.

Taste-wise, there aren't any real complaints to be had outside of the general note that these chips are somewhat impressive in their ability to come visiting your senses for hours after you actually eat them. You might have popped a few of these during lunch, but you'll definitely be left a stark reminder in your nostrils hours later when you sit down for dinner. 

Late July Dude Ranch Multigrain Snack Chips
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

One of the better aspects of these chips though is that they've got significantly lower calorie and fat content than Doritos as 28g of chips from Late July (which is approximately 12 chips) has 120 calories and 5 grams of fat while Cool Ranch Doritos pack 150 calories for the same weight and a heavier 8 grams of fat. 

Even if you're not looking specifically for gluten free products (which, realistically you could actually eat the Cool Ranch Doritos if you chose and had gluten-free requirements), the calories and fat on the Late July chips are a lot more attractive.

Late July Dude Ranch Multigrain Snack Chips Report Card

The Good Stuff:

There are a lot of chip varieties that you wouldn't think would have wheat, but do indeed contain a type of gluten and so if you're a fan of ranch chips, this snack should do the trick. The calories and fat, as pictured above, are also pretty respectable for a bag of snack chips.

What Could be Better:

These chips won't knock your socks off and you probably won't fall to your knees thanking the heavens above that you've been granted some ranch flavored chips, but they do the job admirably and anyone who enjoys ranch flavored tortilla chips and requires gluten-free food should be plenty satisfied with a bag of Late July Dude Ranch Multigrain Snack Chips.

King Arthur Flour Gluten Free Brownie Mix

King Arthur Flour Gluten Free Brownie Mix
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Baking is a fairly tricky thing to accomplish as someone who requires wheat or gluten-free food since wheat flour is essentially the lifeblood of just about every traditional baked good. There are virtually no recipes outside of a flour-free cake (which is very dense) that offers a wheat free experience as far as the baked goods world is concerned even though there seem to be many companies that have tried to offer gluten free baked goods in the past (most of them have had the consistency of chalk or cardboard). 

To get a baked good that tastes good, substitutions and changes that are fairly significant in how much they change the consistency of the finished product must be made. And this can be hard for people who don't have a lot of experience in baking as finding a mixture that offers a result that's close to the "real" thing can be a challenge. 

King Arthur Flour Gluten Free Brownie Mix
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

One company who offers up a lot of different wheat-free baking options is the King Arthur Flour Company who ships a variety of gluten-free flour options to grocery stores across the United States. For the purposes of this review, we'll be using King Arthur Flour Gluten Free Brownie Mix.

One of the pluses of using a baking mixture is that most such recipes call for nothing more than a few eggs and a few other ingredients such as butter and that's exactly what this mixture calls for. So it's pretty easy to dump the mixture, the eggs and some butter into a bowl and swirl it around a bit. Remember to melt the butter for just a few seconds in the microwave before you toss it in the bowl. It doesn't have to be completely liquid.

King Arthur Flour Gluten Free Brownie Mix
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

The cooking time is approximate to a regular batch that uses traditional wheat flour, but it's worth noting whether your oven runs hotter or colder than the temperature suggests because it's pretty easy to make these things too gooey or too dried out. Keeping an eye on them for a bit is usually important to make sure that they don't cook for too long.

Upon coming out of the oven, the brownies should look the same as regular wheat-style brownies and just like a regular batch, it's best to let them cool a bit before you dive into them. Letting them stand allows them to solidify just a tad and will usually ensure that most of the brownies end up in your stomach and not all over the floor in the kitchen.

King Arthur Flour Gluten Free Brownie Mix
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Taste-wise, these brownies will deliver well as they do taste quite good and should satisfy the baking urge anyone might have for something that's mushy and chocolaty. 

Anyone who likes their brownies particularly cake-like might find the consistency a tad bit closer to pudding than cake (but just a tad). 

Either way, if you're restricted from eating gluten and need an alternative baking option, these brownies should do the trick. Generally gluten-free baking can result in some fairly strange creations that either turn out to be something that is quite mushy and strange, even if it tastes good. 

Often gluten-free baking results in a treat that is either spectacularly dry or is kind of like a baked soup. These brownies are kind of mushy, but they do have a mild cake-like texture, which is nice. And the fact that they taste good and chocolaty is a rather nice bonus.

King Arthur Flour Gluten Free Brownie Mix
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

One major plus is that you can probably offer them to people who don't have a gluten allergy and they'll likely be unable to tell the difference in taste. Note that the brownies do have a rather hefty 170 calories per brownie and so it's probably best not to eat half the batch immediately. Just a few should suffice.

King Arthur Flour Gluten Free Brownie Mix Report Card

King Arthur Flour Gluten Free Brownie Mix
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

The Good Stuff:

This mixture tastes like a traditional batch of brownies and as long as you cook it for the appropriate amount of time, you should be fine with your batch. It's also recommended that you let them cool a fair bit since they have a tendency to fall apart if you try to toss them down the hatch three seconds after you've removed them from the oven.

Another perk of these brownies is that they're easy to make and cleanup should include nothing more than the baking pan and the bowl you used to stir them up prior to baking them.

What Could Change:

Well, like many gluten-free items, this mixture is expensive! But it does make a whole batch of brownies, so if you're really aching for some baked goods, this mixture should offer you a brownie that is nearly indistinguishable from a wheat-flour filled brownie. 

They are also kind of rich and thick and this might not be suited to your tastes if you're more of a cake fan than a pie fan (but really, what sane person is?). Brownies are supposed to be a bit more like cake than these brownies tend to turn out. But this isn't really a huge detriment unless you're very particular about the consistency of your brownies.

Popchips Sour Cream & Onion Potato Chips

Popchips Sour Cream & Onion Potato Chips
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Out of all the common flavors for potato chips these days, sour cream and onion is likely the one that will offer the most significantly pungent and noticeable aroma. One of the general issues with potato chips that have a very noticeable smell is that they can tend to overtake the other foods that might be eaten at the same time (say a sandwich or soup of some sort). 

This is why it's usually best to keep the chips closed until the main course is done unless the chips are just a plain sort without any heavy flavoring. But there are some varieties of potato chips out there that won't knock someone over when they're opened up and aren't going to be a flavor that a person seems to smell in their general vicinity hours after they actually ate the chips.

One of these tasty varieties is Popchips Sour Cream & Onion Potato chips, which are one of a fairly extensive line of different flavors that have been on the market for a few years from a company suggesting that its snacks are healthier than most of the other versions out there on the market right now. And generally they would be right since their version of potato chips often has less fat and fewer calories than many of their competitors.

Popchips Sour Cream & Onion Potato Chips
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

But the Popchips folks seem to go a bit further than just offering a chip that has more attractive nutritional stats as they also suggest that their chips don't have unneeded extras such as preservatives, artificial flavors and colors and cholesterol. And of course one of the best parts of this approach is that they don't have any gluten either.

The company has put out a fairly extensive advertising campaign to get people to try the chips based on their friendly nutritional content, such as the lack of trans fat in the chips, but honestly, all this company would need to do is offer free samples to get people on their bandwagon. The famous faces acting as spokespeople for the chips are literally overkill because these chips are a really great snack, no matter their nutritional content.

And the great thing about them from a gluten-free perspective is that there is likely a flavor out there to suit every taste and if the Sour Cream & Onion variety doesn't float your boat, there are at least a dozen other flavors out there that range from the fairly common (cheddar) to the more exotic (Thai sweet chili).

Popchips Sour Cream & Onion Potato Chips
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

The most important thing about any food that is gluten free is that the person eating the food because they're allergic to wheat or gluten should be able to enjoy the food without thinking they're having to put up with some sort of lesser substitute. Popchips definitely don't taste like a gluten-free substitute and their light and fluffy (really, they're fluffy, only way to describe them!) texture makes for a fun snack.

For their Sour Cream & Onion flavor, the manufacturer has done a decent job of allowing the taste to stop just short of slapping you across the face with that pungent and familiar flavor of onions.

Popchips Sour Cream & Onion Potato Chips Report Card

Popchips Sour Cream & Onion Potato Chips
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

The Great Things:

As you can tell from this review, I'm a fan of these things. Although the Sour Cream & Onion isn't their best flavor, this might be a purely subjective observation. 

Not only do Popchips have a great texture and consistency, but they're fairly guilt free as far as the calories and fat content are concerned. 

Often a person requiring gluten free food will have to be very careful with some products as they do tend to be highly caloric or filled with copious amounts of fat (likely due to the manufacturer having to find a replacement for gluten). Not so with Popchips. Feel free to toss back a bag as they taste great and they're not going to put a dent in your diet.

What Could be Improved:

There isn't a lot to suggest for improvements to these little chips. They taste great and are a decent price, plus you get the benefit of the whole "no preservatives, no artificial stuff" advertising pitch as well. It is recommended that you try the different flavors though as it's likely a particular flavor might strike your fancy more than another.

Glutino Gluten Free Pretzel Twists

Glutino Gluten Free Pretzel Twists
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Pretzels aren't really a complicated food, but the are something where the main and first ingredient is usually wheat and this means they're off limits as a tasty snack to anyone who needs gluten free food. 

And that's unfortunate since they're a terrific snack that can be flavored in all sorts of ways and can be made in just about any shape imaginable (I am partial to the classic twisted pretzel shape).

Coming in a rather giant bag, Glutino Gluten Free Pretzel Twists seem to be available only in a party size (at least at most grocery stores in Los Angeles), but for anyone who has the storage room for a big bag of these simple snacks, it's probably worth the space. There are a few manufacturers out there who make gluten-free pretzels and Glutino might have a lock on the best snack in this category that tastes really close to what a traditional wheat-filled pretzel would taste like.

And any food that has gluten-free stamped on the front of the bag yet tastes like an item where the gluten hasn't been removed is a big positive in this author's opinion. Grabbing a handful of these pretzels definitely won't leave you feeling like you've just had some solidified sawdust (early versions of gluten-free pretzels from a few manufacturers have definitely earned such labels).

Glutino Gluten Free Pretzel Twists
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

These pretzels definitely have a satisfying salty flavor and although the salt content in foods is usually something that a person should be aware of and adjust their diet for if a particular food happens to have a ton of salt, pretzels are a food which probably don't need such consideration. They're supposed to be a salty food and pretzels with no salt kind of taste like sawdust whether they have wheat in them or not. Do be advised that these pretzels have a fair bit of fat in them though. It shouldn't be a concern unless someone accidentally downs an entire bag in one shot.

Glutino would get huge gluten-free brownie points if they added soft pretzels to their selection of gluten-free pretzels as so far such an item has yet to hit most store shelves from any manufacturer. Since Glutino has gotten into a few types of frozen dinner type entrees, the least they could do is think up a recipe for a big soft pretzel. That food would be reviewed in this blog immediately if it existed.

Glutino Gluten Free Pretzel Twists
Photographh Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

At a basic level, everyone loves snack food and being able to toss bag a few handfuls of pretzels while watching a movie, doing homework or driving on a road trip is pretty satisfying and for anyone requiring a gluten free version, Glutino's Pretzel Twists definitely fit the bill.

Glutino Gluten Free Pretzel Twists
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Glutino Gluten Free Pretzel Twists Report Card

What They Did Right:

Pretzels are not an especially complex food and as long as the right amount of salt and buttery taste covers these simple snacks, it's hard to go wrong (unless you decide to try a fat-free, low-salt pretzel... but why would anyone sane ever do that?)

Pretzels earn a nice distinction as a food that won't break the scale with the calories and fat and although they're a salty little food, as long as someone doesn't go overboard with them, they probably won't break the scale. It's lucky that people who require gluten free and wheat free versions of pretzels actually have a version that tastes good (honestly, it's probably the fat content in these things that makes them taste delicious; the fat is a tad bit high per serving).

What Could Be Better:

A soft version! This really isn't something that impacts their current pretzel offerings, but consider it a request for the future...

As for the only item that really warrants being criticized, it's probably the fat content. It's easy to throw back a few servings of these pretzels in a sitting and each serving has six grams of fat (this author is not sure what ingredient has caused the pretzels to have a few extra grams of fat per serving than they should). Just be careful about eating no more than about two servings for a snack.

Thai Kitchen Thai Ginger Instant Rice Noodle Soup

Thai Kitchen Thai Ginger Instant Rice Noodle Soup
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

For anyone who is a college student and is on a tight budget, it always seems like one of the most popular foods that people end up eating to save money is the eternally boring ramen noodle dish which often sells for less than a dollar and is sometimes even cheaper when it's bought by the dozen. But this inexpensive meal option isn't available to individuals who are allergic to wheat or gluten because the Chinese-style noodles that are used in most ramen meals are wheat based.

And the same can be said for many different noodle dishes and soups in general, even if they don't have wheat based noodles in them. Wheat seems to be the perfect thickener for soup and even simple dishes like tomato soup are filled to the brim with wheat. And this is a shame since soup is often such a warm, comforting dish. One of the only ways to get around this issue is often by making soup at home, but part of the ease of soup is often that it can be made so easily. Homemade soups don't really fall under this category and take a lot more effort than just a simple microwave job.

Thai Kitchen Thai Ginger Instant Rice Noodle Soup
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

But gluten free and wheat free soups aren't impossible to find and one intriguing option is a selection from Thai Kitchen called Thai Kitchen Thai Ginger Instant Rice Noodle Soup and instead of using wheat-based noodles, the noodles in this soup are made of rice. Generally speaking, rice noodles do need some sort of seasoning on them otherwise they are kind of plain and unwieldy to eat.

And the seasonings in this soup are surprisingly tasty as ginger lends itself well to soup alongside an application of rice noodles. Just like a bag of ramen noodles, this soup cooks in the microwave in only a few minutes and making the soup doesn't require anything more complex than adding a few things to a bowl and stirring them up.

Thai Kitchen Thai Ginger Instant Rice Noodle Soup
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

This soup is definitely a great option for an easy-to-prepare dish though it's probably best paired with another food such as some cookies if it's for lunch or even something more substantial like chicken if it's going to be eaten at dinner. One thing of note is that the sodium is quite high for this simple soup and since you'll get close to half of the sodium you need in an entire day just from a single bag, it's best to pair this soup with something else that's not got a lot of sodium in it.

Thai Kitchen Thai Ginger Instant Rice Noodle Soup
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Thai Kitchen Thai Ginger Instant Rice Noodle Soup Report Card

The Good Stuff:

This is a great basic soup that can be eaten as a comfort food on a cold day or when someone wants an easy lunch and doesn't have a lot of time. It's also worth noting that the taste is a big positive as well. In addition, cost is also very low, which is a fairly attractive element for any type of gluten free food since such meal options are often so much more expensive than their wheat-filled counterparts. It's likely that you can pick up a bag of this soup for less than a dollar in most circumstances.

Improvements to be Made:

There aren't a lot of negative things to say about this soup outside of the fairly high sodium content, but this element shouldn't keep you from trying the soup. The best thing to do to accommodate a little extra sodium from this dish is to simply make sure that the other things you plan to eat during the day aren't filled as well with an excessive amount of salt.

Envirokids Organic Peanut Butter Panda Puffs

Envirokids Organic Peanut Butter Panda Puffs
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Finding cereal that doesn't have gluten in it is either excessively hard or terrifically easy as it's usually something that would be completely obvious as far as gluten content (Puffed Wheat) or it's something that has nothing to do with wheat at all (Corn Flakes). 

But either way it's usually worth reading the ingredients on the side of the box because even the most innocent looking cereal could be a virtual minefield of dangerous gluten filled pellets.

For anyone who has a hankering for a peanut butter flavored cereal, finding one without wheat or gluten is generally impossible unless you happen to visit the organic aisle where the Envirokids cereals hang out. There are a number of flavors of cereal made by this company and it's fairly easy to find a flavor that will appeal to someone's varied tastes.

Envirokids Organic Peanut Butter Panda Puffs
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

And for the peanut butter flavor, this company has really done its homework on how to create a cereal that tastes just like candy yet has enough items of interest printed on the box to make you think that it's good for you since it's organic, gluten free and feeds endangered pandas (no joke, apparently some of the profits go to endangered animals so you have no choice but to think the company is awesome).

Envirokids Organic Peanut Butter Panda Puffs
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

For the nutritional content, the organic angle is certainly a plus and the calories and fat don't seem to be anything to scream over. It might be a tad high for children, but assuming we can trust what the doctors say and peanut butter has healthy fat in it, a bowl of this cereal isn't going to put a dent in anyone's diet.

As far as the basic taste of a peanut butter flavored cereal, Peanut Butter Panda Puffs hit all the right notes and should make you think you're eating a bowl of peanut butter flavored Cap'N Crunch. But honestly, Envirokids is better. They actually feed pandas. And you can't really compete with that even if you've got a jaunty pirate hat and an entire cereal named after you.

But overall, this cereal is terrific because it does exactly what it needs to in a cereal and offers a great breakfast to someone who can't eat gluten, but who doesn't want to feel like they're missing out on anything cool because they can't eat peanut butter flavored cereal that comes out of a box with a pirate on it.

Envirokids Organic Peanut Butter Panda Puffs
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Envirokids Organic Peanut Butter Panda Puffs Report Card

What's Tasty:

The whole bowl. Really. This stuff tastes good. And as far as cereal goes, it does tend to have a great consistency when put into milk. It doesn't stay rock solid, but it won't melt either after the milk is poured in. Overall a great, quick breakfast.

What Could be Better:

It's probably worth mentioning that the price on this cereal is a little higher than what you might pay with a regular cereal. Although honestly, regular cereal these days seems to be sky high anyway and one of the additional pluses for this cereal is that it's organic. So overall the price is a very minor consideration since if you caught it on sale, you could likely get it for not much more than the standard wheat-filled stuff.

Glutino Gluten Free Dream Cookies

Glutino Gluten Free Dream Cookies
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Offering joy sleeve by sleeve for the past hundred years, Oreos are a classic comfort food that generations of kids have grown up around, dipping them gleefully in milk and going into delirious sugar comas.

Over the years there have been many significant developments in the world of Oreos from cookies that have twice the amount of stuffing to Oreos that are dipped in chocolate like a cone from Dairy Queen.

The food trucks at your local fair have even come up with a delicacy involving the Fry Daddy and Oreos. Because the only thing that an Oreo is missing is being dipped in a deep fryer, right?

For those of us who are considerate of our cholesterol levels and are looking for an Oreo type of cookie that isn't filled with gluten, one option is a box of Glutino Gluten Free Dream Cookies, which look suspiciously like Oreos in their design and might lead one to think that heaven has indeed arrived.

Glutino Gluten Free Dream Cookies
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

But the reality of these cookies is not quite like a dream. Sure, they look like Oreos, but they are definitely impostors!

The signature taste of an Oreo is something that is likely almost impossible to fully imitate with the limited ingredients available to a gluten-free bakery and while Glutino has certainly done well with the basic taste of some of their other foods, these cookies definitely fall victim to issues of tasting a little stale when they've clearly just been opened.

In addition, the cream-filled center of these cookies is a tad bit gritty and isn't as smooth as what one might find in an actual Oreo. And this is confusing since they have almost as much fat as regular Oreos with six grams for two Dream cookies versus seven grams for two Oreos (bet you didn't know that a handful of Oreos or Dream cookies would offer you an entire day's supply of fat, did you?)

Overall, these cookies should taste a lot smoother for the amount of calories and fat they pack since if someone is going to have to deal with such high calorie content, the food should at least be unforgettable. Like a fresh Oreo dipped in a crisp glass of milk.

Glutino Gluten Free Dream Cookies
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Glutino Gluten Free Dream Cookies Report Card

The Good Stuff:

If you were on a desert island and you needed some dessert to forget your troubles, these cookies might do the job. Or perhaps you could tie them together with palm fronds and use them as a life raft to get off the island.

What they Forgot:

While this cookie is clearly supposed to make you think of an Oreo, the taste is just not there. There are definitely other cookies on the market you might want to consider. If you want a better chocolate experience and must resign yourself to eating gluten free options, try Kinnikinnick Foods KinniKritters Chocolate Animal Cookies as they are quite delicious and you won't feel like you're sacrificing your cholesterol level and good taste by eating a handful.

Asian Authentics Gluten Free Sweet and Sour Chicken

Asian Authentics Gluten Free Sweet and Sour Chicken
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

There are some foods out there that don't seem like they'd have any connection to wheat or gluten, but Americanized Chinese food is not one of those foods. Whether you're eating at a restaurant that offers Thai food, Chinese food or any sort of food connected to something Asian, there is likely going to be wheat in absolutely every dish. Seriously. 

Every single dish. 

And why? Because every dish has soy sauce and soy sauce always has wheat. There are certainly methods for making soy sauce which don't use wheat, but there are exactly zero Chinese restaurants out there who don't pray to the flour gods every time they whip up a batch of soy sauce. 

This author has been to just about every Chinese (and Thai) themed restaurant in the greater Los Angeles area (okay, perhaps I'm exaggerating) and too often I've been stuck in a corner eating plain white rice or boring plain old noodles because absolutely every dish on the menu has wheat in it. 

Can you tell this is a sore subject for me?

Asian Authentics Gluten Free Sweet and Sour Chicken
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

And the process of finding gluten-free entrees for my favorite Chinese foods that don't otherwise taste like a freezer-burned Lean Cuisine has been quite a trial. There aren't exactly a lot of full meals to choose from that are specifically Chinese themed and are also gluten-free. It's likely possible to find gluten-free Chinese food at an authentic Chinese food restaurant, but those places have got some seriously scary entrees on their menus for anyone with a less exotic American palate.

Up for consideration here is a frozen entree called Asian Authentics Gluten Free Sweet and Sour Chicken, which comes in a box that's clearly meant to remind one of a small box of left-over Chinese food that you find in the refrigerator the next day and pop into the microwave oven to nuke. And that's really all you have to do with this box. Unwrap the plastic and toss it in the microwave for a few minutes.

And while the box itself doesn't look as though it contains that much food, especially after you open it and realize it's not absolutely full, the amount overall is actually a satisfying amount of food and the caloric figures and other nutritional values are pretty respectable as long as you treat the box as though it was a full meal and not just an appetizer.

Asian Authentics Gluten Free Sweet and Sour Chicken
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Taste-wise, the entree isn't half bad either and is actually a little surprising as even though it's just a frozen nuke-and-serve, the dish does arrive out of the microwave looking tasty once it's put on a plate. Overall, there are a lot less tasty entrees out there that gluten-free seekers have had to put up with regarding Chinese food.

Asian Authentics Gluten Free Sweet and Sour Chicken
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Asian Authentics Gluten Free Sweet and Sour Chicken Report Card

The Good Stuff:

Easy to make and a good-sized portion, this is a nice meal for lunch and is probably great to take along to work if you reside in an office all day and have to make use of the company microwave. It probably doesn't need any accompaniment and would likely survive just fine as a stand-alone dish. 

It's not going to knock your socks off and take your breath away, but the taste is good enough to recommend it to anyone who would like a bit of Chinese food.

Improvements to be Made:

This entree could use just a few more pieces of chicken. But just a few. It's not hilariously short on the amount of chicken needed to actually have "chicken" in the name without verging into the territory of false advertising, but it could use just a few more pieces. Perhaps two or three. Overall, not a lot to condemn regarding this gluten-free entree. You get what you expect.

Kettle Cuisine Chili with Beans

Kettle Cuisine Chili with Beans
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Chili is often a terrific option for people looking to increase their protein intake without simply diving into a slab of beef, but many recipes for chili will include wheat in the mixture and so finding chili that is truly gluten free is usually impossible at most restaurants and means that most chili on store shelves is off-limits as well. 

An option for wheat-free chili that is found in the freezer section of the grocery store is that of Kettle Cuisine Chili with Beans, which is not only a gluten-free item, but is also dairy free (until you decide to slather it with shredded cheddar). While likely not sufficient for a full meal, the size of this small entree would likely be enough for a light lunch so long as it was joined by something else such as a bag of gluten-free chips.

Kettle Cuisine Chili with Beans
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Chili is often a food that can either be completely full of vegetables, meat and beans or it can be a soupy mixture where a spoon becomes necessary and this particular type of chili is definitely in the middle somewhere. It's not a completely soupy mixture where there doesn't seem to be any heft to the finished product, but it's not a chunky variety of chili by any means.

But when it comes to gluten free chili options, there aren't very many from which to choose, so the fact that this particular type of chili isn't just watery soup is a good sign. It's also easy to make and anyone with a microwave and a few minutes of time can get a hot bowl of chili with this entree. The calories and other assorted nutrients seem to be accommodating toward most diets as well, so nobody needs to worry about eating one of these little bowls for lunch.

Kettle Cuisine Chili with Beans
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Of course, when the chili emerges from the microwave, it's likely that it would be greatly helped by the addition of some cheese for a bit of flair as the chili itself isn't exactly hearty or entirely flavorful. Perhaps it's the vice of the freezer section, but the recipe utilized by Kettle Cuisine isn't a taste which is all that memorable. For gluten free options of the chili variety, it might be better to consider the Hormel varieties of chili as they have many hearty and tasty varieties that their website confirms as being gluten free.

Kettle Cuisine Chili with Beans
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Kettle Cuisine Chili with Beans Report Card:

The Good Stuff:

This entree is small, but it does taste like chili. And it's gluten free. So those are positives. But there aren't a lot of reasons why this particular gluten-free item would stand out against others of the same type.

What Could be Better:

The overall taste of this chili isn't something that will impress anyone who is a true fan of chili, but it will do the job if someone has a hankering for chili and there don't seem to be any handy cans of Hormel nearby. Covering the finished product with a half pound of cheese seems to do the trick for improving the taste.

Boulder Canyon Jalapeno Cheddar Potato Chips Gluten Free

Boulder Canyon Jalapeno Cheddar Potato Chips Gluten Free
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Plain potato chips, plain french fries, unadorned mashed potatoes... enjoying potatoes as someone who can't eat wheat or gluten is often an exercise in eating plain food as so often the tasty topping and dusting of flavors placed on chips and french fries have been to Crazy Town with Wheat and Gluten.

This usually means that half the time a person who needs gluten free food walks into a restaurant, they can't even have a simple side of chips with their fish.

But plain food isn't something that gluten free folks will have to put up with forever as various manufacturers are indeed warming to the idea that there are certainly methods available to provide toppings for potatoes that aren't infused with wheat. Some restaurants are starting to be extremely cognizant of such allergies and will actually provide a gluten-free fryer in their kitchen for the preparation of foods that might otherwise become contaminated with gluten or wheat if they are prepared in a common area.

But for anyone who is looking for a tasty potato-themed snack at home, Boulder Canyon makes a series of pretty tasty potato chips that are all rated as being gluten free. The garlic and Parmesan variety are quite tasty and offer a pretty subtle way to get your garlic fix. The same cannot be said for the jalapeno and cheddar variety as they are quite a kick to the tastebuds. 

Boulder Canyon Jalapeno Cheddar Potato Chips Gluten Free
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

I honestly don't recommend eating these if you're especially hungry and are in danger of wolfing the entire bag down in a few bites. The Boulder Canyon folks really mean it when they say these chips taste like jalapeno. Some companies just joke around and put only the faintest touch of jalapeno taste into their chips. Not so with Boulder Canyon. They like their jalapenos and they like their chips to slap you around a bit if you're unwise enough to eat through a whole bag without taking a breather. Do have a glass of water nearby if you feel like scarfing these things.

And that's probably one of the only issues with these chips. If you've decided to have some chips with your grilled cheese and have these on your plate, they will completely take over your taste buds and it's possible that you won't really get to taste that much of any other food while you're eating these chips. Of course, some people do like this sort of kick-in-the-pants when it comes to their snacks. 

Either way, Boulder Canyon does put a fine scald on their flavored potato chips and this variety is recommended for a taste if you're a fan of jalapeno and cheddar flavored snacks.

Boulder Canyon Jalapeno Cheddar Potato Chips Gluten Free
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Boulder Canyon Jalapeno Cheddar Potato Chips Gluten Free Report Card:

The Good Stuff:

Overall, Boulder Canyon gives people who have a gluten intolerance or who have problems with wheat a great, tasty snack and they're one of the only vendors on the market who makes flavored potato chips that don't otherwise have wheat in the flavoring mixture.

What Could Change:

They could likely try a bit less of a kick on the flavoring for these chips, but this comment might stem from my personal opinion. They are a bit strong. They will stay with you for the day and visit your senses far beyond when you initially ate them. But if that's your thing, these chips might fit the bill.