Decoding Gluten-Free Food Craze
Gluten-free foods are quite the rage these days. Gluten-free macaroni and cheese. Gluten-free cereal. And gluten-free cake mix. More than 1,300 gluten-free products showed up on supermarkets last year alone. Oprah even went on a gluten-free diet. Those foods are good for people with celiac disease, which is on the rise. It damages the small intestine. That damage prevents people with celiac disease from absorbing the nutrients in food. Gluten can show up in unlikely places, such as hot dogs, tea, deli meats, and even lip gloss. But Consumer Reports ShopSmart says gluten-free products do have nutritional deficiencies, and they can cost two to three times more. ShopSmart says consider cheaper alternatives that offer good nutrition—grains such as quinoa, amaranth, and buckwheat. And corn is gluten-free too. So don't bother paying more for gluten-free tortillas. And for cereal, you can get Rice-Chex or a generic rice cereal. Other money-saving ideas for naturally gluten-free snacks—consider vegetables, nuts, and popcorn. And some Web sites can help you shop for savings. ShopSmart says Amazonglutenfree.com has extensive listings of gluten-free foods. And though they offer fewer products, Super Target and Costco are worth checking. With the money saved, you can splurge on a gluten-free dinner out. That's because more and more restaurants such as Outback Steakhouse are offering gluten-free entrées. Consumer Reports has no commercial relationship with any advertiser or sponsor appearing on this Web site. Copyright © 2005-2009 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.
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