Gluten-free food is expensive. That’s the bottom line. A loaf of gluten-free bread will cost you at least twice as expensive as wheat bread and in some cases as much as $7.99 for a single loaf. Yikes!
A study published by the British Dietetic Association in 2007 found that the availability of gluten-free products varied greatly between types of shopping locations. Online stores and health food stores carried the largest variety of gluten-free specialty products, however the products were 123% more expensive than in regular grocery stores! Yikes again…
So how do you manage a gluten-free diet without breaking the bank? It’s easy, and through this blog, I hope to teach you some great tricks for managing an affordable gluten-free lifestyle!
The number one thing to remember: Keep it natural. You don’t need to buy a ton of gluten-free premade products in order to make delicious food. Look at things that are naturally gluten-free and you’ll save yourself a pretty chunk of change by not paying for the gluten-free certification.
Without further ado, let’s get started!
Today’s Meal:Chili Pecan Crusted Goat Cheese with Peach Salsa & Citrus Spinach Salad
Cost: $19.53from Giant Food
This is a fresh, delicious and tasty meal that looks like it came from a 5-star restaurant. For less than $20 you can feed your family and feel like a skilled chef!
Peach Salsa
2 Semi-Ripe Yellow Peaches
1 Red Onion, diced
2 Tomatoes, diced
1 bunch Cilantro, finely chopped
1 Serrano Chili, finely diced and seeds removed
2 tablespoons Lime Juice
1 teaspoon Salt
In a mixing bowl, gently stir all ingredients together. Chill while you prepare the rest of the food items.
Spinach Salad
1 tablespoon Garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Olive Oil
2 tablespoons Lime Juice
2 tablespoons Orange Juice
2 tablespoons Lemon Juice
2 teaspoons Sugar
Pinch Salt
Pinch Pepper
1 package fresh Spinach
In a mixing bowl, whisk together all ingredients except for spinach to make dressing. Pour dressing over spinach and toss. Set aside.
Goat Cheese
1/2 cup Oil for frying
1 cup Pecans, crushed into a powder
1 tablespoon Chili Powder
1 Egg
1 package Goat Cheese
Heat oil in a large frying pan.
Pour pecans into a ziplock bag and using a mallet, crush pecans into a chunky powder. Add chili powder to ziplock and toss until completely mixed in. In a small bowl beat egg.
Slice goat cheese into 3-inch diameter circles or squares. Dip goat cheese into egg and then coat it with pecan and chili mixture.
Place coated goat cheese into heated oil and fry for no more than 1 minute on each side, just long enough to brown pecans.
Plating & Serving:
On a plate, put a heaping pile of spinach. Top the spinach with a 1-cup portion of peach salsa. Lay slices of chili pecan crusted goat cheese on top of salsa. Enjoy!
Gluten-free food is expensive. That’s the bottom line. A loaf of gluten-free bread will cost you at least twice as expensive as wheat bread and in some cases as much as $7.99 for a single loaf. Yikes!
A study published by the British Dietetic Association in 2007 found that the availability of gluten-free products varied greatly between types of shopping locations. Online stores and health food stores carried the largest variety of gluten-free specialty products, however the products were 123% more expensive than in regular grocery stores! Yikes again…
So how do you manage a gluten-free diet without breaking the bank? It’s easy, and through this blog, I hope to teach you some great tricks for managing an affordable gluten-free lifestyle!
The number one thing to remember: Keep it natural. You don’t need to buy a ton of gluten-free premade products in order to make delicious food. Look at things that are naturally gluten-free and you’ll save yourself a pretty chunk of change by not paying for the gluten-free certification.
Without further ado, let’s get started!
Today’s Meal:Chili Pecan Crusted Goat Cheese with Peach Salsa & Citrus Spinach Salad
Cost: $19.53from Giant Food
This is a fresh, delicious and tasty meal that looks like it came from a 5-star restaurant. For less than $20 you can feed your family and feel like a skilled chef!
Peach Salsa
2 Semi-Ripe Yellow Peaches
1 Red Onion, diced
2 Tomatoes, diced
1 bunch Cilantro, finely chopped
1 Serrano Chili, finely diced and seeds removed
2 tablespoons Lime Juice
1 teaspoon Salt
In a mixing bowl, gently stir all ingredients together. Chill while you prepare the rest of the food items.
Spinach Salad
1 tablespoon Garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Olive Oil
2 tablespoons Lime Juice
2 tablespoons Orange Juice
2 tablespoons Lemon Juice
2 teaspoons Sugar
Pinch Salt
Pinch Pepper
1 package fresh Spinach
In a mixing bowl, whisk together all ingredients except for spinach to make dressing. Pour dressing over spinach and toss. Set aside.
Goat Cheese
1/2 cup Oil for frying
1 cup Pecans, crushed into a powder
1 tablespoon Chili Powder
1 Egg
1 package Goat Cheese
Heat oil in a large frying pan.
Pour pecans into a ziplock bag and using a mallet, crush pecans into a chunky powder. Add chili powder to ziplock and toss until completely mixed in. In a small bowl beat egg.
Slice goat cheese into 3-inch diameter circles or squares. Dip goat cheese into egg and then coat it with pecan and chili mixture.
Place coated goat cheese into heated oil and fry for no more than 1 minute on each side, just long enough to brown pecans.
Plating & Serving:
On a plate, put a heaping pile of spinach. Top the spinach with a 1-cup portion of peach salsa. Lay slices of chili pecan crusted goat cheese on top of salsa. Enjoy!