My Tried-And-True Brands
It’s about time I share my favorite crackers, bread, and sauce brands with you. Just a heads-up before we dive in: I’m all about savory over sweet. And yes, I definitely get lost in the sauce—can’t have a meal without my dipping dish.
Crackers/Chips
Starting strong with Simple Mills. There are few brands I’m emotionally attached to, and without Simple Mills, I’d be lost in the cracker department. If you recall, pita chips were the first snack to leave my rotation. Well, Simple Mills not only revived my pita chip obsession but also took it to the next level with their Mediterranean Herb flavor. They’ve perfected their recipes and given the GF community substitutes that actually work. Cheez-Its? Try Farmhouse Cheddar Squares. Goldfish? Pop Mmms do the trick. This brand is so good, it has my non-GF friends ooo-ing and ahh-ing.
Next up, and a classic for sure is Snyder’s. I’m not sure who’s behind their gluten-free recipes, but if I ever met them, I’d probably ask for a handshake... and maybe a lifetime supply of pretzels. I should mention that I actually preferred Snyder’s gluten-free pretzels even before I was diagnosed. They have some buttery magic going on that makes them miles ahead of other gluten-free pretzel brands & products. Whether crunching on sticks, rods, twists, minis, or the irresistible Honey Mustard & Onion flavor, each bite is better than the next, and I find my hand practically glued to the bag.
While tortilla chips are naturally gluten-free thanks to their corn base, I need to put you on to the best tortilla chip— because trust me, everyone I’ve introduced them to has dropped their jaw after the first bite. Mi Niña Pico de Gallo tortilla chips are something else, ladies and gents. I can’t speak to their other flavors, because I’m fiercely loyal to the Pico de Gallo ones (I won’t stray), but I’m sure they’re just as amazing. The best way to describe these chips? It's like Emilie Remy’s brother in Ratatouille experiencing real food for the first time—a total flavor explosion.
The last chip brand worth mentioning is The Good Chip Company. And let me be frank: they stay humble, but this, my friends, is the greatest chip. While Simple Mills has reimagined Cheez-Its and Goldfish, The Good Chip Company has brought us the gluten-free Pringle and cheese ball. If you’re gluten-free and miss getting your hand stuck in the bottom of a Pringles can, or maybe tossing cheese balls up in the air to catch them (could just be me), The Good Chip Company is about to become your new go-to, must-have, can’t-leave-the-store-without-it snack.
And it gets better: Simple Mills and The Good Chip Company have mastered the art of creating gluten-free snacks that are free from the artificial, processed ingredients often found in many alternatives. Having spent the first 18 years of my life enjoying all the classic snacks I know exactly what those guilty pleasures are supposed to taste like. And trust me, these brands nail it. They manage to pack in both flavor and nutritional value. For those of you who aren't gluten-free, don’t worry—these snacks are just as great without the flour.
Bread
Do you remember my “twice the price, half the size” dilemma? Well, I’ve got some bread options for you that are not only more affordable but also larger than the size of my palm.
Canyon Bakehouse stays replenishing my freezer with their Heritage Style Whole Grain Bread Loaves. I find it ironic that gluten-free bread can be whole grain or honey wheat, but nonetheless, Canyon Bakehouse doesn’t disappoint. Their loaves actually look so normal that a friend of mine once grabbed the gluten-free loaf by mistake, thinking it was regular bread. With a variety of options— Country White, 7-Grain, Hawaiian Sweet— they make sure GF bread lovers are well taken care of.
Perhaps you’re surprised I haven’t mentioned Trader Joe’s yet. It’s because, no matter how great their GF snacks are, nothing tops their GF Everything Bagels. If bagels and I had a phrase to describe our relationship, it would be uncompromising love— and these bagels are my kryptonite. I take my bagels seriously, and I have yet to find a brand— or a local shop— that does it as well as my friend Joe. The size is perfect, and the toasting is spot on, but don’t even get me started on the dough-to-crust ratio. Most gluten-free bagel makers forget there are two essential textures to a bagel: the soft, chewy inside and the crunchy outside. When I bite into a non-Trader Joe’s GF bagel (and no, I won’t name names), I literally let it fall from my mouth in front of everyone. I want them to see exactly what I taste— something quite disgusting, and painfully disturbing.
I rest my case.
Sauce
Here’s the thing about sauce—without it, my meal is just a draft. If you think dipping your mom’s cooking or a gourmet dish into sauce ruins the original flavors, you’re not wrong, but you’re wildly boring. Sauce doesn’t ruin food; it elevates it— spicy, sweet, tangy, mustard, cheese— there’s no wrong way to pair food with a great sauce. It’s become so powerful that it’s even turned Mayo haters into Aioli fanatics. And let’s be real, the simple act of dipping (or drenching, as I prefer) is pure serotonin in a bite. Little did I know when I was diagnosed how much sauce-shifting I’d have to do— flour is often what keeps your favorite sauces thick— but I acted fast and stayed determined.
My sauce list is as follows, and speaks for itself.
No. 1 Truff Sauce- Hotter
No. 2 Trader Joe’s Jalapeño Sauce
No. 3 Trader Joe’s Sauce- Hotter
No. 4 San-J Tamari
No. 5 365 Peanut Coconut Sauce
No. 6 Huy Fong Sriracha Sauce
No. 7 Acid League Umami Miso Sauce
No. 8 Acid League Triple Garlic Sauce
No. 9 Merk’s Cheddar Cheese Sauce
No. 10 Dynasty Hot Chili Sauce
Sauce has become such a staple in my diet that I find myself experimenting with it every day. Let me tell you, sauce experiments are the perfect way to let your 7th-grade science skills shine. The combinations, the ratios, the trial and error—it's like a flavor lab in my kitchen. This goes without saying, but when you see a restaurant or brand’s name followed by 'sauce,' do yourself a favor and try it. A handcrafted dollop can go a long way.
As an eater who values quality, these brands and items will surely satisfy you. Trust me, they deliver every time. And I left out the snack category on purpose— that list is never-ending. Yes, there are hundreds, even thousands, of gluten-free snacks... keep in mind, I can eat rice, potato, and corn, so the options are pretty much limitless.