Thankfully, I have found quite a few ways to save both time and money and serve the GFCF foods that my son enjoys and does so well on. I would feel like a heel if I didn't share these tips with all of you.
First, if you find a product that your child likes and consumes lots of : See if the manufacturer has a website that you can order directly from and look into buying by the case. Also check with the health food stores in your area and ask about buying by the case. Looking for chicken nuggets by the case but don't want to pay $8 a box...try Ian's directly.
Want more gfcf products by the case? Well, Never fear --- because Amazon.com is here. I was amazed the first time I turned to Amazon.com and saw just how many GFCF food options they had. One of the best things is that you can order by the case and many times the orders qualify for free shipping because they are over $25! Amazon.com also offers subscription service so you can set up automatic re-orders... Super convenient and saves both time and money. If you can't find the brand you are looking for on Amazon check out sites like Gluten-Free Mall and glutenfree.com for a variety of brands.
Are there coupons for GFCF & Gluten free Foods?
I love using coupons at the grocery store and at one time was a self proclaimed coupon-queen. Sadly, the grocery store circulars usually don't contain coupons for gluten and allergy-free products and brands. But, that doesn't mean that these coupons do not exist. Once again - the manufactures webpages are the place to go. Go to these pages and sign up for their newsletters and mailing lists. Many also offer on-site coupons that you can print out. There is a fairly new website called BeFreeForMe.com that launched in October 2008 - the site offers a newsletter and a way to sign up for free samples as well as discounts for allergy-free and gluten-free products!
More coupon links to get you started:
Ian's Natural Foods - sign up for coupons, offers $1 off AlphaTots printable coupon
Turtle Mountain
Enjoy Life Foods Save $1.25 off any 2 Snack Bars
Enjoy Life Foods $0.55 off of any Enjoy Life product (go to bottom left of website)
Arico Foods - Sign up for newsletter, they also post coupons on their blog
Bob's Red Mill - doesn't offer coupons but has a newsletter with specials and savings
Nana's Cookies - sign up for their newsletter to receive discounts & coupons by email
*note: these coupon links are valid as of 1/25/09 and are subject to change in the future.
Looking for gluten free meals made easy?
I've long been a fan of meal-prep places where I used to frequent and make up a months worth of meals in just a few hours time - bring them home and load up my freezer. But, since my son has gone onto the GFCF diet, I don't go as much. I recently learned about a GFCF meal service that is pretty comparable and can allow you to stock your freezer affordably - gfMeals.com. At the site you can order single entrees, products by the case, or meal packages. I plan on placing an order here soon and will be sure to report back with how my son likes it. Have you used gfMeals.com? Let me know how you like it by leaving a comment with what you've tried and think of the service! You can also connect with this company on Twitter
Roni Piterman is co-owner of gfMeals, by Your Dinner Secret, and mother of a son in recovery from ADHD. gfMeals makes feeding a child a gluten and casein-free (GFCF) diet easy, delicious and stress-free. Offering a vast menu of family-friendly, ready-to-cook entrees and sides, as well as the most delicious GFCF baked goods, gfMeals ships food nationwide to your door. Every meal comes frozen, with simple cooking instructions. Children will be delighted by our chicken tenders, meatballs, turkey burger macaroni, polenta fries, faux buttermilk sliced bread and chocolate chip cookie dough, just to name a few.
What's YOUR money and time saving tip for GFCF foods?
7 comments:
Those are some great tips - we haven't been gf/cf, but I'm trying to put frog and myself (thus the entire family) and an anti-inflammatory diet - many gf/cf products should fit the bill. Thanks!
there are coupons from Mambo Sprouts, I get them in the mail and have for years. They also have the coupon booklets at Whole Foods.
http://www.mambosprouts.com/
This is why I started blogging! To connect with people like you. So, my answer is "Search online for informative blogs and websites!"
Hmmm...I've found it difficult to save time and money on the diet at the same time. I usually have to choose between the two. We are also limited in what we can buy because we are soy free as well as being gluten and casein free.
To save money I make almost everything from scratch and I buy what I can't easily make from Amazon in bulk (such as Wylde pretzels, Orgran Outback Animals, Mr. Krispers Rice Chips, etc.).
To save time I spend an hour on a Saturday about once a month to mix up flour blends which is easier and faster than mixing per recipe. I also make things in bulk to go into the freezer (everything from pancakes to chicken nuggets and beyond). I'll have to check back to see what others do to save time. My primary concern is saving money and fortunately I don't mind being in the kitchen.
Here's a tip a friend shared with me: she goes to McDonald's and orders 10 hamburger patties at a time. (If asked a manager will clean the grill first.) She brings her own buns. Then she puts them in the freezer to take out later and her son thinks it's a major treat.
Wow, thanks for all the information. I still haven't braved the gf/cf diet, but have been thinking about it for some time. I so appreciate all the advice from moms like you who have been doing this for a while. It helps a lot!
Such grand information, as always! I've got to try that site. We have been on the GF/CF for a year now but my son is not into variety so while I do a lot of pre-making things, it's always the same stuff. He's been on zinc for a few weeks now and I'm hopeful that will spur his tastebuds to try a few new things. Thanks for the great ideas!
Did the Arico newsletter come out already for Jan with your article? I get it at my pacbell acct, which I read about once a week, should go there now to see if amazon cert came yet too.
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