3 Healthy Gluten-Free Meal Tips

Not to toot our own horn or anything, but here at Snap Kitchen, we’re gluten-free experts. Our entire menu is gluten-free (even the snacks we offer in our stores!), and we’re always looking to find the latest and greatest in gluten and grain-free eating. This is why we figured we’d share some of our favorite gluten-free meal tips and ideas, straight from one of our Registered Dietitians. 

3 Tips When Going Gluten-Free

• Don’t simply rely on gluten-free packaged products. It’s tempting to swap your gluten-filled bread for gluten-free, your favorite crackers for a gluten-free option, or simply choose gluten-free cookies over the glutenous options. Relying on processed gluten-free convenience items won’t help you uplevel your health and wellness. Not only are most of these options quite processed, but they often contain an ingredient list that’s impossible to pronounce and as long as my arm. They’re fine once in a while, but they shouldn’t necessarily be daily staples. Instead, opt for nutrient-dense veggies, high-quality proteins, healthy fats, and portioned amounts of whole foods-focused carbs like beans, other legumes, and gluten-free grains. If you’re looking for further meal ideas check out: How to Build a Healthy Balanced Meal?
• Plan ahead. Especially if you’re new to gluten-free eating, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by what you’re going to eat on a daily basis. That’s why it’s so important to plan ahead. That can mean meal prepping, or simply planning your meals in advance. This takes out some of the guesswork and helps things feel more manageable. Thankfully, there are tons of options when eating gluten-free, and I’ll detail some great options in the next section. 
• Always read your labels. Especially in packaged products, gluten abounds! When you’re reading a label, you’ll rarely see the word ‘gluten,’ but instead ingredients like barley, rye, wheat, wheat protein, bulgur, malt, couscous, and more. There are other ingredients that may contain gluten, too. That’s why it’s so important to read your labels and opt for items that are either certified gluten-free or without any gluten-containing ingredients. At Snap Kitchen, our menu is gluten-free, so you never have to worry about cross-contamination or accidentally ingesting something that contains gluten.

Our Favorite Gluten-Free Meal Ideas

• Grain-free lettuce wrap “sandwiches” – this is my absolute favorite easy weekday lunch. You can make it your own by switching up the type of protein you use, the veggies you add, and the healthy fats you throw on top before wrapping it up. When I think of lettuce wraps, I often think of a lettuce boat, but this is truly a wrap made of lettuce, and it’s so satisfying. Plus, did I mention easy? It bears repeating!
• Chicken or tuna salad. Such a great option to make ahead and enjoy throughout the week. You can dip veggies into it, wrap it up using the above technique, or put a few scoops on top of a salad. Super versatile and balanced for a satisfying meal that will keep you full for hours. 
• This Mediterranean Steak Bowl. My friends over at The Real Food RD’s cook up delicious gluten-free food and share weekly recipes on their blog. You can’t go wrong with any of their options, and since Jess and Stacie are both Registered Dietitians, you know that the meals are always going to be nutritionally balanced. Delicious and nutritious? Win-win!
• Snap Kitchen’s chicken tenders with turnip mash. If you want to eat gluten-free but skip the prep and the cooking, that’s where we come in. We make delicious, comfort food favorites (like chicken enchiladas and bison shepherd’s pie!) that just so happen to be gluten-free, too. Perfectly portioned, heat and eat options developed by chefs and nutritionists. There’s nothing wrong with skipping time in the kitchen to make room for other things you enjoy!