2023 Favorite Products
Year in review of my top 10 picks
It’s hard to believe it’s only been 6 months since my daughter was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. As so many families know, it was such a stressful time. While we’re happy her symptoms have resolved and she’s a much happier kid, we know there is a long path of learning ahead. A few items in particular have made this transition much smoother and taken some of the stress out of the equation. Below are my favorite products and most used items of 2023.
Lunch Box - In the early days before I felt comfortable ordering out, I brought our Bentgo lunchbox everywhere. Munchkin also makes a great one. This allowed for easy meals and snacks on the go with plenty of variety, and is now super useful at school.
Target Up&Up Kids Complete Multivitamin Chewable Tablets - Essentially Flintstones vitamins, but GF. We take one everyday!
MadeGood - I quickly became familiar with this snack brand, which is not only certified gluten free, but also free from many other allergens. The Star Puffed Crackers (which we call ‘Cheddar Stars,’) has been our top Goldfish replacement. Their granola bars and cookies have been popular special snacks, and the Vanilla Crispy Squares are a perfect rice crispy treat replacement.
Bobs Red Mill Natural Foods - Where to begin! I’ve yet to go wrong with a single Bobs Red Mill GF product. From oatmeal to brownie mix, their GF options are seemingly endless (115 products to be exact). In addition to being my #1 GF Flour pick, I adore their pizza crust mix, brownie mix, GF oats, cake mix, and pancake mix. You really can’t go wrong.
Trader Joes Gluten Free Goodies - As you may have noticed, we love Trader Joes and I am so grateful for the variety of GF goodies they have. From sandwich bread and baked goods to frozen pizza crusts and snacks, TJ’s has a ton of clearly labeled options, often at a better price point than competitors. Lastly, I appreciate that their GF bread isn’t frozen and lends to a much better sandwich and grilled cheese experience than the frozen options.
Pirates Booty - Need I say more? I think a lot of kids are fans of Pirates Booty, but we always have a stock pile of this GF gem. *Traders Joe’s makes a PB knockoff - World’s Puffiest White Cheddar Corn Puffs - we buy all the time as well.
Candy - We don’t doll out candy left and right, but once we approached Halloween, it became clear we needed to become savvy regarding which brands were safe to eat. My favorite, widely available pick is Dum Dums lollipops. Yum Earth also makes tasty and seasonally flavored lollipops. Junior Mints, York Peppermint Patties, Tootsie Rolls, Skittles, Hershey Kisses, and Starburst are all GF as well. Beyond Celiac has a helpful page detailing more information about GF candy.
Popsicles - A summer staple and an easy item to stash at school for celebrations, I’ve become somewhat of a popsicle connoisseur. My favorite brands are Good Pop and Outshine, and certain flavors of Yasso are also GF.
Vans GF Waffles - For quick and easy breakfasts, when homemade muffins are off the table :) Be aware, this is one of those brands that offers a gluten-containing version in similar packaging, so always read carefully!
Betty Crocker - For holidays and birthday celebrations, a large number of the Betty Crocker icings and decorations are gluten free. I recently stocked up for a gingerbread decorating party, and I was thrilled with how many choices we had.
It’s hard to believe 2023 is coming to a close. When I started Gluten Free Kids Club, my objective was to connect with other families impacted by Celiac, and to share recipes, tips and community to make our collective journey a little easier. My goal is to create a space online and ultimately a space in the world where our kids won’t feel isolated by having to contend with Celiac Disease. With our support, they can be empowered, enjoy abundant food choices and trust that we always have their back.
Wishing you all a very happy and healthy New Year!
-GFKC