Five Gluten Free Products Under Five Dollars

Gluten free products are expensive for a number of reasons including a small target audience, more expensive ingredients and fewer additives that may reduce shelf life and require more efficient or refrigerated transportation.

That said, as awareness of celiac disease and other gluten related problems increases more and more gluten free products are becoming avail able and some of them are even cheap.

Here's a look at five great gluten free products that cost less than $5.

Glutino Gluten Free Wafer Cookies generally retail for approximately $4 per box. They come in four flavors: lemon, strawberry, chocolate and vanilla with a chocolate coating. The gluten free cookies have a texture and taste identical to other wafer biscuits and are appropriate for everything from casual snacking to elegant tea. With only 150 calories per three cookies, they are a reasonably smart snacking choice. Those who are sensitive to soy or striving to avoid it for other health reasons should be aware that these gluten free wafers do contain soy. Glutino gluten free wafers can be ordered online from several sources and are easy to find at many specialty retailers.

In the entirely healthy snack category are Larabars, which are "raw food" bars made of an assortment of fruits and nuts in specific flavors including pecan pie, cinnamon roll and apple pie. All Larabars are gluten free and generally retail for about $2 each. They are available in stores of all kinds and are also available by mail.

Van's Gluten Free waffles are gluten free waffles that have an utterly perfect texture. They come in boxes of six (or more if you get the gluten free mini waffle variety) and come in several flavors including blueberry, cinnamon and chocolate chip. Each box of gluten free waffles generally retails for less than $5, and, most excitingly, Van's gluten free waffles are often seen in the freezer cases as regular supermarkets. You don't even have to go to a While Foods Market or a health food store to find these gluten free goodies.

Thai Kitchen makes a fantastic range of gluten free Thai noodle soups and other quick and easy gluten free meals. Prices on these items range from 89 cents for a single serve package of gluten free rice based soup noodles to about $2.99 for a microwaveable gluten free garlic noodle dish. These gluten free Thai meals are delicious, cheap and easy to make as a snack or an easy take to work (or on the road) lunch. Thai Kitchen products are available both in supermarkets and health food stores and can also be ordered online.

Enjoy Life makes gluten free cookies that are also free other allergens like nuts, soy and corn. Each box contains 12 gluten free cookies in flavors like chocolate chip, oatmeal (made without oats!), snickerdoodle, lemon, apple and gingerbread. These gluten free cookies are soft baked and taste homemade. Enjoy Life cookies are available by mail order and in many specialty stores for about $3.99 per box.