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.

Kinnikinnick Foods KinniKritters Chocolate Animal Cookies

Kinnikinnick Foods KinniKritters Chocolate Animal Cookies
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Cookies. They are a favorite treat around the world that milk adores and children yearn for when they've got a plate of vegetables in front of them. There's a reason why a breakfast cereal made out of cookies has earned the love and affection of children everywhere while simultaneously existing as a nightmare for any parent. 


And while people who were stricken with an inability to eat gluten-filled food were once safe from these flour-filled concoctions, there are a number of entries into the market lately that ask people who need gluten free food to open up a box and try one.


From the world of difficult-to-pronounce gluten-free foods, a particularly devilish sort of cookie is the chocolate variety of Kinnikinnick Foods KinniKritters Animal Cookies (they also have a vanilla variety), which are not only a mouthful to say but are also gluten-free, wheat free and dairy free. Although the design of the box would certainly invite one to believe that these cookies are for children and that they're just an innocent bunch of animal shapes, they are not innocent. They are exactly the kind of caloric disaster that can take someone by surprise when they realize that they've consumed an entire box of these little evil cookies while staring slack-jawed at the latest reality television show.

Kinnikinnick Foods KinniKritters Chocolate Animal Cookies
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Without a doubt, these cookies are tasty and while they aren't exactly the sort of soft-baked cookies that would remind one of the delectable aroma of homemade chocolate chip cookies coming out of the oven, they are still more than passable as a type of cookie that has just a bit of a crunch to it, much like a cracker. So far this author has been able to try the chocolate and vanilla varieties and it might be an anecdotal experience, but the chocolate cookies seem to have a better consistency. 


One of the best parts about these cookies is the fact that they don't taste specifically like a gluten free cookie. They just taste like animal crackers/cookies that anyone might pick up in the store. Of course, they will cost a tad bit more since all gluten-free food does, but as long as you don't feel as though you'd be vulnerable to eating the entire box in a single sitting, they are a tasty snack. Remember that if you eat the whole box, you'll be consuming almost a thousand calories and a hefty 35 grams of fat. Perhaps that's okay if you're on the Cookies All Day Diet, but for the rest of us, it's best to take these at a handful at a time.

Kinnikinnick Foods KinniKritters Chocolate Animal Cookies
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Crunchy and chocolaty, these cookies are a great option for anyone looking for a dessert treat that's not something that's going to taste as though something is missing.


Kinnikinnick Foods KinniKritters Chocolate Animal Cookies Report Card:


The Good Things:


These cookies are simply a tasty chocolate snack and are great for anyone of any age group. Just because the box and the contents are of a design that would appeal to children doesn't mean these cookies aren't great for everyone. When everyone else is chowing down on Oreo Cookies, you'll have KinniKritters.


What Could Be Better:


These little cookies do seem to have a fair bit of fat in them and if someone is on a low-fat diet, it's best to eat these in significant moderation.