5 Affordable and Tasty Gluten Free Snacks

Sometimes it can be hard to find affordable and tasty gluten free snack options, but they are out there. With the exception of the Envirokidz, which is more easily found in larger stores that stock an aisle full of gluten free items, these affordable and tasty gluten free snacks can be purchased at Walmart or your local grocery store quite easily.

Quaker Rice Cakes: Quaker Rice Cakes are an affordable and tasty gluten free snack, costing about $2.49 (not on sale) at most grocery stores across the country, according to their press release earlier this year. In general, I can pick these up for about $2 a pack on sale. They are packaged in two separate sleeves of rice cakes, which helps with keeping them from going stale or getting too sticky. My favorite is the Apple Cinnamon, but there are other gluten free varieties such as: Butter Popcorn, Caramel Corn, Chocolate, Lightly Salted, Unsalted, and White Cheddar.

Envirokidz Crispy Rice Bars: Envirokidz Crispy Rice Bars, manufactured by Nature's Path, can be found in many organic sections of grocery stores. In addition to being organic, they are also gluten free. They come in several varieties, including a berry, peanut butter and my favorite: peanut butter chocolate drizzle. I have found these in several stores priced at approximately $4.00 per box of 6, making them very affordable at a cost of about 66 cents per bar. They are also available in bulk on Amazon.com, and you can further reduce the cost by subscribing to the product and pushing the subscription date back several months until you might want to order them again.

Popcorn: Popcorn is one of the most affordable and tasty gluten free snacks available. An easy way to practice portion control is to purchase popcorn in snack size bags, though you won't want to just hit the popcorn button on your microwave if you are popping a snack sized bag. Some celiac patients are also lactose intolerant, so bear your own tolerance for milk products (butter, cheese) in mind when making your selection. I like the Pop Weaver brand, which can be found at Walmart for approximately $5 for 24 bags, or about 20 cents per bag if you average out the cost per box. Toss in a bag of regular M & M's for an extra sweet snack.

Cracker Jacks: In that same popcorn vein, Cracker Jacks are another cheap gluten free snack option. A three-pack of this caramel and peanut snack shouldn't set you back more than about $2. Cracker Jacks also comes in a small bag for about $1. This is a favorite gluten free snack for me, particularly for in the car, and is great for kids because there's a prize in the box.

Simply Asia: Sometimes you are just in the mood for soup and, if you are eating gluten free, you may find your pre-packaged soup options sorely lacking. Simply Asia makes three products quite similar to Ramen noodles, only they are made with rice noodles. The three gluten free varieties of Simply Asia noodle soups that are gluten free are: Spring Vegetable, Garlic Sesame and Sesame chicken. These are relatively cheap at about $1.50 when not on sale, so stocking up on these for a quick lunch snack or for when you are under the weather is a great way to save.

Sources:
Quaker press release
Cracker Jacks nutrition/gluten free status
Simply Asia spreadsheet showing gluten free items
Envirokids
Pop Weaver FAQ (gluten free)