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Just starting out..

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Oct 07, 2009
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the cost of gluten free NEW
by: Theresa

Hi, you poor thing! I discovered that I am gluten sensitive late last year [I have a thyroid condition too] and the cost of being GF is always on my mind.
When the biopsy test is positive and you are diagnosed with coeliacs you are eligible for a government subsidy for your food. You get on a prescription so you can get some of that basic stuff cheaper.
Sadly, I'm 'only' [huh!] gluten sensitive - but still have to live like a coeliac, so the cost of food really gets to me. That's probably because of my heritage, mum had 8 kids and fed us all on a crazy budget.

I have found that my approach to food has become quite different over the past 11 months.
Instead of looking at how to substitute my normal food's ingredients with gluten free ones, - such as making heaps of gluten free bread - I have been trying to eat foods that are naturally gluten free. It can be quite cheaper that way too.
Instead of substituting gluten grain for gf grain, just use potatoes or rice and save the bread and pasta for a special occasion.
Some great gluten free cheap meal ideas are: quiche,
all kinds of potatoes,
any meat except sasuages,
most cornchips - go great with chilli beans [budget or oak baked beans, chilli seasoning, cummin, tinned tomatoes and cheese on top],
currys are almost always gluten free depending on the seasoning - and they're cheap to make. Try making a dahl out of lentils too, yummy as!

There is actually so much that we can eat. Have a browse of cook books and the internet, I love getting inspiration from there. :)
I think everyone has to learn their own way of dealing with gluten free life, but don't worry, within a few months you'll be giving other people advice!
I hope everything gets sorted out ok for you!

By the way, there is hope; I just made some gluten free mallow puffs today! woop!

Oct 06, 2009
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Starting Out Reply NEW
by: GFK

Hey Melanie.

I find there is a trick to gluten free bread.

1. Freeze it when it is fresh.

2. Thaw it out in the toaster from frozen.

3. Use a spread (butter/olivio/avocado etc.) to help with dryness.

Your cheapest option in the long run would be to buy a bread maker with a gluten free setting and make your own (if you eat bread a lot). You can either buy bread mix or mix your own (cheaper but more time consuming).

As far as buying gluten free products. Christchurch has 2 really good bakeries - the ginger bread man and the totally gluten free bakery.

I keep costs low by steering away from processed gluten free food and eating more whole foods. The other great thing about this is because you are eating less refined carbohydrates you do not get as hungry and do not eat as much.

It seems like there is a surcharge of a few $ for anything gluten free. I was in Dunedin and ordered a burger that put a 4$ surcharge on for my gluten free bun.

SAVER - Rice noodles - from the Asian section of your supermarket are generally cheaper then buying gluten free pasta.

Breakfasts - I like to bake mini breakfast loaves that consist of eggs and flour - kind of like little quiches which I then freeze and thaw for breakfast. This can be done at a relatively low cost and the egg adds protein.

http://store.pharmacy-nz.com/GLUTENFREE.html can get a good selection of orgran, leda, eskal, Nautrally Good, massel, Sweet William, freedom foods, and wallaby brand foods in - currently there is a limited range on their website but we they will look at adding more products to the website if there is demand for it.

They are also looking at providing discounts if people buy in packs of 9 as they do not have to provide extra packaging and can pass this saving on to the customer.

Hope this helps.

Regards

Lucy Ross

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