The Best Gluten-free Supermarket Foods

Not all gluten-free products are made equal and trying to sift through the choices and find foods with good flavour and consistency can be a mammoth task, so I’ve made it easier with this round-up of tasty celiac-friendly goodies from Australian supermarkets.

When my husband got diagnosed with celiac disease, one of the first challenges was trying to navigate supermarket shelves to find not just gluten-free foods, but celiac-approved foods – they’re not always the same thing. Early on we were most surprised to find that our Woolworths salt and pepper grinders stated ‘may contain traces of gluten’ on the label, which meant hubby could no longer safely consume them. Suddenly we realised we could never mindlessly pick up a packet again, we always had to check the ingredients and allergens. This was possibly the most time-consuming part of the whole transition, so I thought it might prove helpful to someone else in need to share some of our go-to supermarket staples.

Bread

BEST LOAF
Product - Helga’s ‘Big, Soft Slices’ Gluten Free 5 Seed Loaf
Why? – The slices are about the same size as a regular loaf, which is a rare find in the gluten-free bread section! The bread also toasts well without becoming too hard, and overall has a lovely soft texture and hold. As with most gluten-free breads, it does tear apart easily, but the flavour and consistency surpasses all others in this category.
Price – $7
Where to buy – All major supermarkets

BEST PITTA
Product – Genius Gluten Free Stonebaked Pitta Breads
Why? – These are so close to the real thing, it’s almost hard to tell the difference. These pittas do fall apart if you pack them too much, but the flavour is excellent, and they have a delicious chewy texture.
Price – $4.50
Where to buy – Coles

BEST BAGEL
Product - Genius Gluten Free Plain Bagels
Why? – The best thing about these bagels is their size. Every other gluten-free brand seems to bring out huge, dense bagels that are so dry it’s almost impossible to get through a whole one. These bagels from Genius, though, are a great size and thickness, have a nice chewy outside and a perfectly soft middle.
Price – $6
Where to buy - Coles

BEST WRAPS
Product – Mission Gluten Free Wraps
Why? – Unlike every other gluten-free wrap hubby has tried, these didn’t break apart when he wrapped his food inside. The wraps require heating in the microwave before consuming, and this makes them really soft and pliable, perfect for lunch wraps or fajitas.
Price – $5.50
Where to buy – All major supermarkets

Snacks

BEST COOKIES
Product – Byron Bay Gluten Free Triple Chocolate Cookie Bites
Why? – These cookies aren’t dry, unlike many other gluten-free cookie brands, and they have a good chocolate-to-biscuit ratio. Hubby says: ‘When sweet cravings hit, these taste like heaven!’
Price – $3
Where to buy - Woolworths

BEST ICE CREAM
Product – Bulla Creamy Classics Choc Chip Ice Cream
Why? – Perhaps the saddest part of hubby’s diagnosis, to him, was kissing goodbye to many of the ice cream brands he loved. Chocolate ice cream is his go-to treat, and many of his favourites like Ben & Jerry’s and chocolate Movenpick are made with wheat. However, when he discovered this supermarket ice cream the chocolate-shaped hole was soon filled. This Bulla ice cream is mouth-wateringly creamy and is packed with chocolate chips.
Price – $8.50
Where to buy – All major supermarkets

BEST LOLLY
Product – Goodness Me Fruit Sticks
Why? – These are like little strips of fruity heaven! They’re entirely allergen-free, made with real fruit and are incredibly addictive. Thankfully, the sticks are only 52 calories apiece!
Price – $4
Where to buy - Woolworths

Cereal

BEST CEREAL
Product – Aldi Gluten Free Cocoa Puffs
Why? – Not only a bargain price but after trying every (and I mean every) gluten-free chocolate cereal on the market, hubby said these cocoa puffs simply can’t be beaten. He has always loved Kellogg’s Coco Pops, and when we began our search for a gluten-free alternative, he disliked everything he tried except this tasty cereal from Aldi!
Price – $2.69
Where to buy – Aldi

Cooking sauces

BEST CURRY SAUCE
Product – Passage to India Jalfrezi
Why? – If you’re in a rush, then this tasty sauce is ideal. It delivers on flavour and makes enough for four portions with peace of mind that it is completely gluten-free. There are lots of different sauces available, we just love jalfrezi!
Price – $4.70
Where to buy – Woolworths

BEST PASTA SAUCE
Product – Jamie Oliver Tomato & Italian Red Wine Pasta Sauce
Why? – One of my husband’s favourite flavour combos is tomato and red wine, so this sauce from Jamie Oliver really hit the spot! The sauce has only a handful of ingredients with no nasties, and it works really well in a bolognese too.
Price – $4.30
Where to buy – Woolworths

BEST STIR-FRY SAUCE
Product – Passage to Asia Honey & Soy
Why? – Passage Foods’ whole range of delicious Asian sauces are gluten-free and deliver an authentic flavour that goes perfectly with rice noodles and veggies.
Price – $2.99
Where to buy – Woolworths

Best surprise find

Product – Maharajah’s Choice Plain Pappadam
Why? – Hubby went almost a year without knowing he could still eat pappadams! We both love Indian food, and he used to enjoy soaking up the last of the curry sauce with naan bread or roti. While he could no longer have the breads, he was delighted to settle for these cook-at-home pappadams by Maharajah’s that are free from gluten and packed with flavour and crunch.
Price – From $1.50
Where to buy - Woolworths