FDA Recalls Batch of Gluten-Free Hamburger Buns

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration is recalling 2,200 cases of Udi’s Classic Gluten Free Hamburger buns, and customers are being asked to throw away the product or return it to the store where it was purchased.

The reason for the recall is not gluten related. According to the FDA, the affected products may contain small pieces of plastic. The problem, the FDA reports, was likely a dough scraper that was accidently incorporated into the buns during the manufacturing process. The FDA noted that the problem only affected a small amount of product.

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If you recently purchased Udi’s Classic Gluten Free Hamburger buns, check the bag for the following codes:

Case UPC: 10-6-98997-80913-2 

Item UPC: 00-6-98997-80913-5 

Bag Closure Code: 191971U 

Any bag with the above codes should either be thrown away or returned. Since the announcement the product has been pulled from store shelves.

Gluten-Free Granola Recall

Manufacturer Purely Elizabeth is voluntarily recalling several gluten-free, grain-free granola and bar products due to possible contamination with foreign matter such as glass, plastic or rocks.

The company was alerted to the issue by a customer, and no injuries or illnesses have been reported, according to CBS News.

The products all contain cashews and all have best-by dates starting in November and running through the end of the year. The recalled items include:

• 16-ounce packages of Coconut Cashew Grain-Free Granola (sold at Costco; UPC code 855140002946; best by 11/30/19, 12/3/19, 12/5/19, 12/4/19)

• 8-ounce packages of Coconut Cashew Grain-Free Granola (UPC code 855140002700; best by 10/19/19)

• Coconut Cashew Grain-Free Bars (carton UPC code 810589030073; 1.4-ounce single bar UPC code 855140002137; best by 11/27/19, 12/20/19, 12/21/19)

• Banana Nut Butter Grain-Free Bar (carton UPC code 810589030059; 1.4-ounce single bar UPC code 855140002090; best by 11/26/19)

• Peanut Butter Grain-Free Bar (carton UPC code 810589030042; 1.4-ounce single bar UPC code 855140002076; best by 11/29/19)

• Chocolate Sea Salt Grain-Free Bar (carton UPC code 810589030066; 1.4-ounce single bar UPC code 855140002083; best by 11/28/19)

• 8-ounce packages of Banana Nut Grain-Free Granola (UPC code 855140002724; best by 10/17/19, 12/12/19)

• 8-ounce packages of Pumpkin Spice + Ashwagandha Grain-Free Superfood Granola (UPC code 810589030158; best by 12/7/19)

Customers should not eat the recalled foods, but rather should contact the company for free replacements.

Purely Elizabeth’s products are sold at stores such as Target, Walmart, Costco, Publix and Whole Foods, as well as online on Amazon, Thrive Market and the Purely Elizabeth website. According to a company spokesperson, the recalled snack bars never made it to retailers, and the affected products were not sold at Target or Walmart.

To learn more about the recalled items, see the statement on the Purely Elizabeth website. And for more information, contact the company by phone at (720) 242-7525, extension 106 (9AM to 5PM MST, Monday through Friday), or by e-mail at [email protected].

Gluten-Free Pick-Me-Ups for Good Mornings

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Unearthing from beneath the covers is always a challenge, but some mornings it feels near impossible. These gluten-free shakes and powders aim to give you a little boost on those days when you need some extra oomph.

Shake it up, baby

These high-protein shakes are the perfect addition to your healthy morning routine. Keeping yourself on track can be difficult, but these delicious Orgain Organic Nutritional complete protein shakes containing organic grass-fed protein, brown rice and fiber, as well as 23 vitamins and minerals, can help get your day off to a great start.

 

Check the price on Amazon!

 

 

 


Whey to go

BodyLogix whey protein powder is a quick and easy way to ramp up your daily protein intake without any added sugars or sweeteners. Put it in smoothies, oatmeal or breakfast cereal—or simply mix it with some milk or water. You’ll be whey ahead of the game when starting your day!

 

Check the price on Amazon!

 

 

 


Peas be mine

Pure pea protein can pack quite a punch. While considered the most earth-friendly vegan protein, it also helps keep you full by providing 25 to 30 percent of your day’s iron in just one serving. So infuse your breakfast shakes with these delicious peas—they aren’t just for dinner anymore!

 

 


Wake and shake

PowerBar has been around for a while now, and its protein shakes are raising the bar for healthy on-the-go meals. Available in both chocolate and vanilla, the shake provides 30 grams of protein and only 2 grams of sugar, making it a great choice for those busy mornings when you can’t prepare breakfast.

 

 

 

 

 


Let’s get cooking!

For those mornings when you have the energy, time and motivation to whip up a homemade meal, check out all of our delicious gluten-free breakfast recipes!

 

 

Not a breakfast person? We’ve still got you covered with hundreds of mouthwatering recipes to satisfy any and all cravings.

 

 

 

Hot Product Picks at Expo West 2018

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Expo West, the world’s largest natural, organic and healthy products event, takes place annually at the Anaheim Convention Center. With more than 3,500 exhibiting companies and 85,000 attendees, 2018 was another record-setting year. In fact, the show has grown so large that it encompasses the entire convention center as well as adjacent hotels and outdoor areas.

Gluten-Free Living traveled to sunny Anaheim, eating our way through as many gluten-free products as we could get our hands on. Expo West isn’t open to the public, so it’s our job to be your eyes and ears on the ground and let you know about exciting, innovative and delicious finds that show just how good gluten free (and other dietary restrictions) can be. In no particular order, here are our 20 hot product picks.


1. hellowater contains NO sugar and 5 grams of fiber to help aid a healthy lifestyle. We tried the “LOVE” flavor—cucumber and lime—which was clean, refreshing and very much needed during a long day of walking! ⇒hellowater.com

 

 

 


2. You know when you bake something with cheese in the oven, and when it comes out, there’s that crispy yummy cheese stuck to the pan? That’s what these crisps from Cello Whisps taste like. They have one ingredient—real cheese. Our favorite was the Asiago & Pepper Jack but you really can’t go wrong with any of them! ⇒cellowhisps.com

 

 

 


3.These gluten-free, nut-free, vegan, non-GMO, eggless doughs from Sweet Loren’s make simply incredible cookies, including sugar, chocolate chunk, fudgy brownie and oatmeal cranberry. Seriously, we may never bake from scratch again—there’s no need to with place-and-bake dough that is made of whole food ingredients and whole grains. ⇒sweetlorens.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


4. These brew-it-yourself bone broth kits from Numo Broth contain everything you need to make flavorful bone broth at home—real bones, vegetables, herbs and spices. Just add water and brew for 8 hours or more. It cooks slow, but the broth it yields is well worth the wait! ⇒numobroth.com

 

 


5. We weren’t sure what to think about flavored banana chips, but WOW! These gluten-free, grain-free, no-sugar-added and vegan-friendly delights from Bubba’s Fine Foods are CRAVEWORTHY! They use real flavors and spices to produce these ‘Nana chips that taste nothing like banana. ⇒bubbasfoods.com

 

 

 

 

 

 


6. Uncle Dougie’s has been tantalizing taste buds for more than 20 years with innovative marinades, sauces and spice combinations. And we can attest that their Bloody Mary and Margarita mixes produce refreshingly cool cocktails! ⇒originaluncledougies.com

 

 

 

 


7. I confess: I am a pancake snob. Thin, dense or dry pancakes upset me almost to the point of anger. Happily, we came across Gluten-Free Heaven’s booth featuring a huge variety of baking mixes along with plenty of samples. I can report that even without any toppings, the company’s pancake and baking mix produces little pieces of heaven that are light, fluffy and delicious—so delicious that I forgot to take a picture! ⇒glutenfreeheaven.com

 

 


8. If someone can get me to eat cauliflower first thing in the morning and actually leave me wanting more, I need to keep my kitchen stocked with their product. Path of Life’s All Natural Roasted Garlic Cauliflower seasoned with roasted garlic, extra-virgin olive oil, parsley and sea salt is flat-out yummy and comes in a super convenient steambag. ⇒pathoflifebrand.com

 

 

 

 

 

 


9. Made without gluten, grains, dairy, peanuts or soy, Soozy’s scrumptious muffins are the perfect grab-and-go breakfast option on hectic mornings. Currently available in wild blueberry, double chocolate and sweet potato, with three more flavors coming soon—banana chocolate, coffee cake, and matcha green tea—you’ll have lots of yummy fun finding your perfect morning muffin match. We were able to try the soon-to-be-available coffee cake and were only bummed that we wouldn’t be able to buy them as soon as we got home. ⇒soozys.com

 

 


10. Daiya’s impressive range of products are all completely free of gluten, soy and dairy—but chock full of flavor. We weren’t sure what to expect from the dairy-free “cheeze” products, but WOW, we never would have known the difference between the cheddar-style Deluxe Cheeze Sticks and the real thing! ⇒daiyafoods.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


11. Sometimes plain old water just doesn’t cut it when you need a refreshing drink. That’s where the new Slender Sticks from NOW Foods come in. Just pour into 16 ounces of water, shake and enjoy one of six available flavors. We loved the sweet and refreshing Pomegranate Berry! ⇒nowfoods.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


12. While we’re on the subject of sticks, we had the opportunity to sample the brand new turkey jerky sticks from Chomps, which will be launching in June. Like their other flavors, the delish turkey sticks are tender, juicy and free of gluten, dairy, hormones, antibiotics and MSG. ⇒chomps.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


13. You Are Loved Foods’ gluten-free, no-sugar-added Greek yogurt cheesecake is indulgent, creamy and sumptuous. Sweetened with monk fruit extract, this 150-calories-per-slice dessert is low carb as well as keto and Paleo friendly. As of now, it’s only available in the Los Angeles area, which is reason in and of itself for a West Coast trip! ⇒urlovedfoods.com

 

 

 

 

 

 


14. These immune health drinks from PervidaHealth contain zero calories, zero sodium and zero artificial flavors. It’s not a probiotic drink. Rather, it features pomegranate seed oil, which reduces inflammation in the gut, promoting both gut health and the immune system. ⇒pervida.net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


15. The light and crunchy popcorn from Fresh Ideas is great on its own—but to take it to a whole new level of flavor, sprinkle it with their awesome seasonings! The Sriracha Ranch adds just the right amount of spice that’s perfectly balanced by the ranch. ⇒freshideallc.com

 

 

 

 


16. If you miss those classic candy bars with the sweet cookie crunch, you’re going to be so happy about Schär’s new Chocolix bar, a spot-on gluten- and wheat-free alternative with chocolate-coated wafers and caramel filling. ⇒schaer.com

 

 

 

 


17. GeeFree’s awesome line of gluten-free products—including a light and moist puff pastry—will satisfy any craving that strikes you. We sampled the Buffalo-style chicken pocket, which has awesome flavor and the perfect level of spicy goodness. ⇒geefree.com

 

 

 


18. We stumbled upon the Maxine’s Heavenly cookie booth in the Hot New Products area of Expo West and we were blown away by their mouthwatering wares. In spite of it being March, I was able to sample the seasonal Pumpkin Pecan Spice variety, which was just as awesome as I was hoping. But don’t worry—for you guys, I kept on eating. Any of their four year-round offerings—cinnamon oatmeal raisin, chocolate chocolate chunk, peanut butter chocolate chip and almond chocolate chunk—is an indulgent treat sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. ⇒maxinesheavenly.com

 

 

 


19. These new Grab N’ Go chickpea snack packs from The Good Bean are crunchy little treats that are perfect to keep in your backpack, purse or car for on-the-go snacking! ⇒thegoodbean.com

 

 

 

 

 

 


20. I admit, I was skeptical about this one, but the cauliflower pizza crust from Pasta Oggi, which will be available in May, is SO GOOD that I wouldn’t have known it wasn’t a classic dough. Top it with your favorite fixins and confidently serve it to anyone—gluten free, vegan or otherwise—for a slice of pizza heaven. ⇒oggifoods.com

 

 

 

 

 

 


Many of these products are debuted at Expo West and not available to the general public yet, but they are absolutely worth the wait. Check product websites and social media accounts for release dates so you can hold your own tasting party. Bon appetit!

Want more information on living a healthy gluten-free life? Sign up for our weekly newsletter, full of recipes, advice and more!

 

To see the hot trends and topics of past years’ Expos, check out these links:

Trend Spotting at Expo West: Cricket Bars

Trend Spotting at Expo West 2016

Our Top 10 Gluten-Free Finds at Expo West 2015

What We Saw and Ate at Expo West 2015

 

Trend Spotting at Expo West

Expo West 2016 halls

Expo West, the largest natural products trade show in the United States, takes place annually at the Anaheim Convention Center, and 2016 marked its biggest year of growth yet, with 3,000 exhibiting companies (including more than 600 first-time exhibitors) and 77,000 attendees. The massive, sprawling event has grown so large it encompasses the entire convention center and has now spilled over into the adjacent Hilton and Marriott hotels.

The natural products industry is currently exploding with innovative products that emphasize sustainability, lifestyle, nutrition, transparency and convenience. Products that use simple ingredients, whole and sprouted grains, dye-free colors and flavors, and “natural” forms of ingredients (cane sugar or honey in place of refined sugar, etc.) were prevalent at the show, as was a continued move away from fillers, stabilizers and preservatives.

Walking the Expo West floors, you’ll see a mix of everything from small mom-and-pop startups to massive industry players such as Bob’s Red Mill and King Arthur Flour. Young companies use Expo West as a launching pad for their businesses while more established companies strive to keep up with ever-changing consumer demand.

The overall industry has seen a shift in consumer opinion in which food is judged not only on its flavor, but also as something that contributes directly to our health and well-being. Many consumers now look for organic products with short ingredient lists, and knowing the story behind each product’s creation is becoming very important to them.

Our favorite part of Expo West is that it provides a “sneak peek” of what to expect from the natural products industry. This year’s event introduced a number of interesting trends we saw repeatedly throughout the show.

dailya blue cheeze

One particularly hot trend was innovative vegan and gluten-free products. For the second year in a row, these products continue to expand and push boundaries in terms of taste and texture. Miyoko’s Kitchen introduced vegan butter made from coconut oil and cashews as well as a cashew-based “mozzarella” that puts regular milk-based cheeses to shame. Vegan dressings from Daiya Foods in blue “cheeze,” Caesar and ranch were exceptional in both flavor and dairy-like creaminess. Amy’s Kitchen, known for its vegetarian products, introduced a cheese and black bean enchilada meal made with plant-based vegan cheese.

Desserts made with a focus on healthful ingredients are on an upward trend. Standouts included Cookie Dough’s grab-and-go raw brownie dessert, which is made with whole grains and has the added benefit of being low glycemic. Enjoy Life Foods’ ProBurst Bites™ are protein-packed vegan truffles that are also free of the top eight allergens. Dark chocolate spreads from Freedom Foods, Pascha Chocolate and Nutiva offered a healthful, creamy spin on Nutella. Vegan premade frostings from Miss Jones Baking Co. and Wholesome were so unbelievably creamy they made us double-check the ingredient list.

Companies are looking beyond almonds to make nondairy milk products, using cashews, macadamia nuts, pecans, pistachios and even vegetables to create creamy milks. Notable entries from Nutraw Foods and NüMoo Foods (pistachio milk), Malk Organics (pecan milk), Milkadamia and Suncoast Gold (macadamia  nut milk), and Veggemo (pea protein milk) are blazing new nut- and plant-based trails.

HailMerryNuts also invaded the snack aisle in unique ways thanks to several companies that introduced nutrient-rich nut-based dips and spreads. Examples included a probiotic cashew spread from Leaf Cuisine, almond spreads from La Onda and a cashew hummus from Hail Merry.

Oats were another notable ingredient at the show. We saw protein-packed oat-based meals and sides from Grainful, while portable oatmeal cups were on hand from Modern Oats and Bob’s Red Mill. GF Harvest’s new GoPacks make office oatmeal a real possibility. They’re designed for use with a Keurig machine: Simply tear open the top, fill with hot water (4 ounces), stir and enjoy. These packs are six inches wide and 1 inch thick and fold flat for easy transportation.

Hilarys bites Expo West 2016Vegetable-based products were another hot trend at the show. Jica Chips, made from jicama, serve as a new alternative to potato chips. Packing that same satisfactory crunch, they contain more fiber than oatmeal, as much potassium as bananas and are also low glycemic. Belicious combines fruits, grains and veggies to create nutritional on-the-go pouches loaded with fiber and protein. Hilary’s Eat Well introduced new veggie bites—available in Mediterranean, broccoli casserole and spicy mesquite—provide quick, healthy snacks for busy individuals. Veggie Fries, which combine carrots, broccoli, chickpeas and beans, were another notable contender.

Probiotics had a huge showing at Expo West, showing up in everything from flavored waters to granola. “Gut health shots” from Farmhouse Culture and kimchi shots from Wildbrine put consumers in control to make gut health a priority. Eat Pops showcased a line of “good for you” fruit- and vegetable-based frozen popsicles that are designed to nourish the body and maintain gut health.

The natural products industry continues to surprise and inspire with its creative spirit to keep reaching higher.

Tennis Stars Partner Up for Gluten-Free ArrowBar

ArrowBar 1

Tennis fans already know the names John Isner and Stevie Johnson, as well as former ATP pros James Blake and Michael Russell. But in addition to working up a sweat on the court, they’ve also played an integral role in developing ArrowBar, a new gluten-free energy bar. The all-natural, high-performance bar, developed by athletes for athletes and active people, quickly provides a 200-calorie boost of long-lasting energy.

“Many people know me as a pro tennis player but most don’t know that I am an avid golfer, basketball player and fisherman who loves to be active,” said Isner. “No matter what my days call for, there’s one thing I always lean on to keep my energy level high—ArrowBar. I truly believe that anyone who is active and cares about what they put in their body will love the long-lasting energy and great taste of ArrowBars.”

“The ingredients are natural and beneficial to any athlete or anyone looking for nutrients to help get them through the day,” enthuses Blake. “It helps me still when I work out, play tennis, play golf, or just run around with my kids. It’s not a bar that I feel like I’m forcing down either. The taste makes it so easy to eat the bars on a daily basis.”

Currently available in chocolate chip and cinnamon honey oat, the bars contain organic crispy rice, organic quick oats, natural almond butter, organic honey and organic brown rice syrup as a few of the core ingredients that blend simple carbohydrates with complex carbohydrates.

Blake and Russell played key roles in the initial creation of the bar. Russell, who played on the ATP World Tour until age 37, was known for his fitness and diet regimen. He personally consulted on the nutritional composition of ArrowBar, testing it in practice and competition at the end of his ATP career. “Whether I am deep in the fifth set, crushing a gym workout or just looking for a nutritious, great-tasting snack, ArrowBar provides the energy and nutrients my body needs,” raves Russell, who says he tried every nutrition bar imaginable during his 17-year professional tennis career.

Blake also took part in the early testing, eating it while training for and running the 2015 New York City Marathon. “I wish the ArrowBar had been developed sooner because I trust the process with which it is made. The ingredients are natural and beneficial to any athlete or anyone looking for nutrients to help get them through the day. It helps me still when I work out, play tennis, play golf, or just run around with my kids. It’s not a bar that I feel like I’m forcing down either. The taste makes it so easy to eat the bars on a daily basis.”

The ArrowBar team aimed to meet several objectives with their new bar. “The goal was to create a product that was easy to eat, that wouldn’t fall apart or melt in your bag, and that wouldn’t be tough to digest and sticky on your hands,” says founding partner and former collegiate tennis player Andrew Golub. “We accomplished all of those things with ArrowBar and kept the label extremely clean. As a team, we are all very proud to bring this bar to the market and we know this is a need for all active people.”

ArrowBar is available for purchase online at www.ArrowBar.com.

A Q&A Primer On Gluten-Free Bread

Bread 2   Bread 1

A decade ago gluten-free breads were made by only a few companies and consisted mainly of starchy and fiber-less ingredients. The bread had a reputation for being heavy and dry. Most loaves were not edible right out of the package and had to be toasted. Consumers usually discovered this fact on their own, after trial and error that was time consuming and costly.
Although packaged gluten-free bread has improved dramatically, it still doesn’t behave exactly like gluten-containing bread. Generally preservatives aren’t used, which explains why most gluten-free bread available in supermarkets is either frozen or vacuum packed. Here are answers to questions that often come up regarding gluten-free bread.
Q: Can it sit on the counter like wheat bread?
A: Generally gluten-free bread does not last on the counter and will quickly become moldy. Some bread makers are attempting to address this problem with newer products, but in most cases you need to take the slices you are planning to use from the loaf and freeze the rest. Most bread can be stored in the freezer for 4 to 6 months.
Q: Should it be stored in the refrigerator?
A: No, storing gluten-free bread in the refrigerator can lead to dry and stale bread.
Q: How do you get the slices apart?
A: Some gluten-free bread freezes hard, making it difficult to separate the slices. If you let the bread sit on the counter for a short time, though, you can usually get the slices apart. Return the rest of the bread to the freezer.

 

Q: Can you eat it from the bag?
A: Many gluten-free breads taste much better toasted. This is another issue bread companies are beginning to address. Kinnikinnick, Glutino and Schär all have products that either the company or consumers say don’t need to be toasted.

 

Veggies With a Side of Gluten-Free Turtle Power

Garden Lites TMNT

Packing kids’ lunch is great. After all, it gives your food the chance to get out of the house for a few hours. Oh sure, the crackers are gone—but the fruits and vegetables have returned untouched and, quite frankly, looking pretty sad.

In their quest to produce delicious veggie-rich foods that even kids will eat (voluntarily), Garden Lites has created a line of gluten-free muffins. Like all of their products, the first ingredient in each variety is vegetables. Have a Ninja Turtle fan at home? The gluten-, dairy- and nut-free Ninja Power Muffins are 80 calories—and the first ingredient is zucchini.

Parents can pack the individually wrapped, frozen muffins in their children’s lunchbox in the morning and by lunchtime, they will be room temperature and ready to eat.

The muffins are available in seven gluten-free, veggie-first varieties. To find a store near you, use the Garden Lites store locator.

Our Top 10 Gluten-Free Finds at Expo West

We ate our way through as many gluten-free products as we could get our hands on at last week’s Natural Products Expo West. (And yes, we do love our jobs.) In no particular order, here are our top 10 favorite gluten-free finds.

1. Cookies Con Amore Gluten-Free Linzer Cookies

Cookies Con Amore Easter BasketCookies Con Amore launched several new flavors of their “glutenetto” linzer cookies at Expo West, and a single bite of one convinced us that these cookies are indeed made with amore. With a short, buttery crumb surrounding a sweet-tart jam filling, Cookies Con Amore’s linzer tasted just like the wheat version of this classic cookie. We’d put them on our cookie tray any day.

2. Mr. Cheese-O’s

Mr. Cheese O's Gluten-Free Cheese Snacks

These salty, crunchy cheese snacks were so delicious, we’ve already priced a 18-bag case of them on Amazon. Then again, we’re not sure we can trust ourselves not to burn through an entire case of these addicting little snacks in a week. Made with quinoa, oat bran and brown rice, the “O’s” are corn free and made with real cheese. Available in four flavors: Sweet Chili, Original, Cheddar and Tuscan Herb.

3. Zemas Madhouse Sweet Potato Pancake Mix

Zemas Madhouse Sweet Potato Pancake Mix

We ate a lot of pancakes at Expo West, but the sweet potato pancakes made from a Zemas Madhouse mix stood out from the pack. These carrot-colored flapjacks were creamy, lush, and slightly sweet without being cloying.  We think they’d work as a sweet breakfast with whipped cream and powdered sugar or as a savory one with crumbled goat cheese and bacon.

4. Canyon Bakehouse Brownie Bites

Canyon Bakehouse Gluten-Free Brownie Bites

This brand-new offering from Canyon Bakehouse elicited an “Oh. My. God.” from one of our editors. Fudgy brownie lovers will flip for these moist, oh-so-chocolaty mini-brownies. Expo West visitors got an exclusive first taste of this new product; look for them in stores and online starting May 1st.

5. Natural Decadence Herb Stuffing Mix

Natural Decadence Stuffing Mix

At Expo West, we ate cookies, crackers, muffins, bagels and pizza, but nothing brought us to our knees quite like Natural Decadence’s Herb Stuffing Mix. The warm, soft, savory stuffing brought back memories of our family Thanksgiving dinners, and one bite made us instantly forget we were crammed into a crowded convention center with 60,000 other people. Good news for multiple-allergy families: The stuffing is also egg, dairy, and nut free.

6. Surf Sweets Candies

Surf Sweet Jelly Beans

We fell hard for these organic, gluten-free and allergen-friendly candies at Expo West. While most gummy bears taste like vaguely fruit-flavored bits of rubber, Surf Sweets’ version actually tasted like fruit, with a pleasantly chewy (not rubbery) texture.  The gummy bears were a revelation, but the jelly beans stole the show: With their bright, not-too-sweet fruity flavors and perfect texture, we may never buy another brand of jelly beans again.

7. Wtrmln Wtr

Wtrmln Wtr at Expo West

This watermelon water, or “Wtrmln Wtr,” admittedly sounds like something out of a Portlandia sketch: Cold-pressed, never heated, no preservatives or sugar, made from hand-peeled watermelon. But as ridiculous as it may sound, this cool, crisp, watermelon-packed drink was wickedly refreshing—exactly what we needed during a long day of walking around in the hot California sun. On a beach trip or on a scorching summer day, we’re betting nothing would taste better.

8. Lucy’s Brownie Crisps

 

Lucy's Brownie Crisps

Are you the kind of person who snags the corner pieces of brownies to enjoy those crispy, chocolaty edges? Us too. That’s why we love Lucy’s new brownie crisps, which offer a crispy-crunchy take on the classic brownie. In addition to being gluten-free, the crisps are vegan and free from dairy, eggs, peanuts or tree nuts. We think they’d be divine crumbled over vanilla ice cream.

9. Love Grown Foods’ Mighty Flakes

Love Grown Foods Mighty Flakes

On the list of things we never would’ve thought of, bean-based flaked cereal has to be pretty close to the top. But Love Grown Foods’ Mighty Flakes, made with navy beans, lentils and garbanzo beans, were surprisingly good, with a hearty crunch and just the right amount of sweetness.

10. Russo’s Pizza

Russo's Gluten-Free Pizza

Gluten-free pizza options were everywhere at Expo West, and we ate everything from margherita pizzas to gluten-free bagel pizzas. Our favorite of the bunch? Russo’s Gluten-Free Mulberry Pizza, which was packed with four different types of meat and an abundance of mozzarella cheese. The crust was crispy, the toppings were plentiful, and we couldn’t help but smile as we ate a slice.

A Rainy Friday in July

It’s 4:15pm on Friday and it is raining AGAIN. We have had a fairly gorgeous July, but we were supposed to go to a luau tonight on the beach for cocktails, BBQ and fireworks. So the rain out, coupled with the new dishwasher sitting in my living room to be installed on Monday because the old one went KA-PUT and the fact that I discovered my refrigerator leaking water this morning is making me exceedingly cranky.

However, today I was working on New for You, the section in our magazine that features new products to market for the gluten-free consumer and I’ve got to say that I am so pumped by what is new! Several times, as I read press releases, tasted samples or browsed through the websites, I found myself saying “that is a really cool idea.”

There are so many new things out there that we here at Gluten-Free Living have to break things down into new categories like—food, services, travel, books and more.

So since it is all hellfire and brimstone outside, maybe I’ll just sit on my computer and keep discovering new things in celiac-land. Come to think of it, it’s 5pm somewhere, maybe I’ll just crack open a bottle of gluten-free beer too. I have four different beers to choose from in my leaky fridge.