For the past few years, I’ve been hearing a lot about folks deciding to eat a gluten-free diet. Some out of choice, and others, because they suffer from Celiac Disease, which means their bodies can not properly digest foods that contain gluten. I’ve also heard those on a gluten-free diet complain that gluten free foods taste worse than cardboard. Eww! For many though, the benefits of living a gluten free diet outweigh the lackluster flavor and texture of the gluten free foods. The talented chefs at Udi’s Gluten Free foods asked me to taste test their products, and see how going gluten free made me feel over a 2 week time period. I’m happy to report that the Udi’s foods I and my family tried were excellent, and that the overall experience of going gluten free was a good one for me. Read on to find out more about Udi’s yummy, full-flavored product line!
Gluten – What Is It?
Gluten is the protein found in wheat, barley, rye and related wheat species such as spelt and kamut. It helps baked goods keep their form and chewy texture and is also added to other food items more and more, both for consistency and taste purposes. Gluten is also hidden in lots of other foods like: sausages, soups, chips, sauces, salad dressings, chocolate, oats, breath mints, and many more. You can find a more complete list of foods with hidden gluten on Udi’s website.
Udi’s Gluten Free Foods – Taste-Test Approved by My Whole Family!
I love to cook and bake. We typically eat at least 5 homemade dinners a week, so for me to “go gluten free” for 2 weeks, my whole family had to basically go gluten-free as well. Gluten is in so much of what we Americans eat, that I was a bit concerned about how I was going to go about all of this. But with a diverse product line, Udi’s came to my rescue! Udi’s website is also a fantastic resource for all things gluten-free, including links to gluten-free research, recipes, an interactive community, and a gluten-free living blog.
I can honestly tell you that my family thoroughly enjoyed all but one of the many Udi’s products we tried. I was floored by the wonderful texture of the baked goods – nothing tasted like cardboard. The breads tasted like specialty breads you would get at a bakery, and we LOVED them toasted. They reminded us of a crunchy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside ciabatta bread. My mom, who often bakes her own bread, also gave the Udi’s bread a thumbs up.
We tried the muffins, muffin tops, cinnamon rolls (great warmed) and cinnamon raisin bagels as well. The first package of cinnamon raisin bagels were finished 2 days after we got them, and I only got 2 bites of one of them – my husband and kids loved them! The blueberry muffins and cinnamon rolls made great breakfasts for our entire family. The brownie bites were delish as well.
We even enjoyed our regular pizza night using the Udi’s pizza crusts. I have to admit that my kids were prepared not to like the Udi’s products. Anything that sounds overly healthy gets their yuck radar up. But, both of my girls devoured the goodies, enjoying the textures and flavors just as my husband and I did.
Going Gluten-Free With Udi’s Products – My Experience
It’s hard to make drastic changes to one’s diet. I wasn’t perfect the 14 days I attempted a gluten-free diet, but I did pretty well. I did notice some additional spring in my step, and less of the after-lunch energy low. These are common experiences of folks that go gluten-free. I have already recommended Udi’s product line to a few friends of mine that, due to medical conditions, need to start a gluten-free diet. To me, Udi’s product line makes it much easier to take the gluten-free plunge. Their great tasting products take away the feeling of having to “give up” favorite baked goods and entrees. With Udi’s you can still enjoy your favorite foods, and stick to a gluten-free diet.
Buy Udi’s Gluten-Free Products
You can purchase Udi’s gluten-free products on their website, and at local groceries near you. For a list of grocers that carry Udi’s product line near you, click here and enter your zip code.
This was not a paid post. My own opinions were used based on my perceptions and experience. Thank you to Udi’s who provided me with their products for review.
