When I started eating gluten-free in November, it wasn’t because I wanted to. Even though I realize that gluten isn’t technically good for any of us, you can rest assured that had I not developed an allergy to wheat or gluten (I’ve never actually been tested to be sure, all I know is that when I stopped eating wheat, I stopped feeling as if there were bugs crawling all over my body, so – YAY, I’m sticking with no wheat.) I’d still be stuffing my face with gluten-filled donuts, pasta, onion rings, bread, and all that other stuff. But alas, I’m going to have to be g-free for life, apparently. Since Jonah is also on a gluten-free diet, I’m always on the hunt for good gluten-free snacks and recipe ingredients. I make all of our family dinners gluten-free, although the big kids still eat gluten-filled toast for breakfast, PB sandwiches for lunch, and crackers for snack.
I’ve been shopping at ALDI a couple of times a month for awhile now, so I was interested to see what gluten-free items they had to offer. When I inquired, they told me they didn’t have an official list of gluten-free products. So, I told them I’d like to investigate for myself, and they were all, “Well, that’s awfully nice of you, here’s a $25 gift certificate to help you out with that.” (Which I thought was awfully nice of them.) So while they are not officially sponsoring this post, they did contribute to it in that way. $25 can go a long way at ALDI, but I did spend much more than that on my gluten-free items plus my regular weekly groceries for the fam.
I took off to ALDI sans kiddos one day so I could take my time going through the store reading labels. I found quite a few products beyond the obvious (fruits, vegetables, cheese, etc.) that do not contain gluten. One of my favorites is the Fit & Active Fat free chicken broth. I use chicken broth to cook a lot (and no, I don’t want to make my own, thankyouverymuch) and many brands of chicken broth contain wheat for some reason which is VERY ANNOYING. I even got burned by a brand once that was supposed to be gluten-free, but I had an immediate reaction to it. Hmm…anyways, ALDI’s Fit & Active is priced very nice at $1.49 for the carton and I’ve used it many times and it’s gluten-free! Woot woot! So is their Chef’s Cupboard brand chicken broth AND beef broth. Bonus! I also was pleased that their Priano Alfredo sauce is gluten-free, because that’s another thing you have to watch for gluten in.
After my ALDI trip, I came up with a list of gluten-free items. It is by NO means even close to a complete list, but there are some things (like boxed mashed potatoes, for instance) that I thought might contain gluten that don’t. Woot! Here’s what I came up with:
Chef’s Cupboard Roasted Garlic, Four Cheese, & traditional instant Mashed Potatoes
Priano creamy alfredo sauce
Reggano pasta sauce (all varieties)
Casa Mamita refried beans (traditional and fat-free)
Fit & Active Brown Instant Rice
Chef’s Cupboard Chicken broth & Beef broth
Chef’s Cupboard Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato soup
Dakota’s Homestyle Baked Beans
Millville Rice Squares & Corn Squares cereal
Clancy’s Sweet Potato Chips
Fit & Active All-Natural Fruit Strips (all flavors)
Fit & Active fat-free Chicken Broth
Southern Grove all-natural dried cherries (Jonah LOVES these) (they have other dried fruits as well but some are packaged in facilities that also process items containing wheat)
Clancy’s Tortilla Chips
Little Salad Bar Hummus (all varieties)
Other things that I don’t want to leave off but are pretty obvious: canned fruits and vegetables, coffee, yogurt, cheese, un-seasoned meats, eggs…you know what I mean. But two notes about these items: 1) I have seen some flavored yogurts at other stores that do contain wheat – generally if they have a mix-in fruit or other kind of topping – so just watch out for that and 2) ALDI’s Beaumont coffee “fair trade” dark roast variety is AMAZINGLY good and only $3.99! =) You gotsta GET SOME. It’s right up there with our favorite brand, Gevalia.
Well, these are the results of my ALDI scavenger hunt for gluten-free items! Did I miss anything obvious, my g-free friends? If you’re a g-free ALDI shopper, I hope this helped you out! Thanks to ALDI for the $25 gift certificate. It went a long way because of their great prices.
$25.00 at Aldi is like a sh*ton of groceries! This is good to know – I’m forwarding to my friend whose son is allergic to gluten.
Why thank you dear! P.S. that jerk Emily went to see the flood exhibit at Carillon Park WITHOUT ME on Friday. Didn’t even tell me she was going. Can you BELIEVE THAT?
LAME! 😉
We don’t have ALDI here in Virginia Beach, but good to know when we go to PA that I can find some things GF at ALDIs!
I don’t make a point of buying gluten free, but I always get excited when I realize something that I buy and eat often falls into that category! have you tried the Natural White Cheddar Cheetos? they claim to be gluten free and are so. stinking. good. 🙂
Alan’s personal ALDI favorite are the Sim’s turkey sticks. I let him have them. That boy could use a little meat on his bones. He has grown almost two inches in the past year and has gained exactly 0 pounds!
Ha ha, that’s funny Sarah. I’ll have to add that item to my list, but I don’t think I’m going to be buying any anytime soon. Turkey sticks! Eeek!
A great list as my wife and I begin to change the way we eat. Not necessarily going gluten free, but less gluten is usually better. A huge thumbs up on the Beaumont coffee. We’re diehard Starbucks/Dunkin’ Donuts brand coffee folks, and Beaumont is amazing stuff.
Thanks for the comment, Matt! This morning my husband said to me, “I think I like the ALDI coffee better than Gevalia.” I was like “WOW!” -That’s major! It is sooo good. If only that variety came in whole bean…oh well, I can’t complain, especially when it’s just $3.99!
Does coffee ever have Gluten in it? Aldi Coffeee is pretty good.
Fit & Active Caramal Corn Rice Cakes are Gluten free. I like them because of the caramel and only 3 g sugars. 🙂
Thank you for this post! I am a gluten-free and dairy-free person for health reasons and have found your post to be most informative! I have always shied away from ALDI because of me thinking they couldn’t possibly have dairy free without investigating first. I will definitely make it a point to shop here for the items you mentioned since my regular store likes to amp up the prices. Thanks a lot!
I am very new to all this gluten free stuff. We are trying in for my son who has constant vomiting and diearaha. Does anyone know if Aldi’s carry gluten free pasta. Pasta is my sons favorite and I am having a hard time finding it, especially some that is reasonably priced. Oh and bread also. Thanks
Yes they have gluten free pasta and I love it!! I have several bags in my cupboard now!! I made a pasta salad for a family gathering and no one knew the pasta was gluten free so everyone benefits from it!! I am also happy to hear they are going to be carrying more gluten free items!!! Their crackers are awesome as well!!
I am not impressed with this list. Stuff at Aldis is so over processed and the quality is far worse than other places. All those items you posted can be found gluten free at any store.
Aldi’s is cheaper and most of their processed stuff is made in the exact same factories the same way as the rest of the brand name processed food so it’s no better or worse than anything you might by that’s processed.
Thank you for this list! Do you know if their oatmeal (old fashioned and quick) is gluten-free as well?
No it is not. Had to stop eating it when doc put me on GF lifestyle.
Their ranch is gluten free too and its so good!!!
Thank you for your conmment about Aldi’s ranch dressing being gluten free. I’m very new to this and thought I had to give up my ranch dressing from Aldi’s. You don’t know how happy I am!
I also have recently been told i have an allergy to gluten.It hit me like a ton of bricks!!! I do most of my shopping at Aldi’s and I have to say it makes it very easy to find the gluten free products. we have to be so careful of ketchup mayo, spices even things like cheese.I was told that they are going to be carrying more gluten free foods some time this may 2014. I am so happy.
Aldi now has a gluten free product line called live G free
Do you know if the Clancy’s tortilla chips are truly gluten free? I see on the package it says that they are. However, I have a reaction every single time I eat them. I’m wondering if anyone else has had this happen?
I think the Clancy’s might be cross contaminated in their factory or something. I can’t eat them either. 🙁
This could actually be a corn intolerance, or a reaction to GMO’s in the product. Corn, and soy are huge hidden sources for gmo’s.
Do you know if the Chef’s Cupboard onion soup and dip mix is gluten free?
I tried the new G-Free boxed Mac & cheese & it is very good. DH doesn’t have to be GF but he liked it, too.
On May 12th Karen had a question about Aldi’s tortilla chips if they are gluten free . I believe these are gluten free but they do contain oat fiber and some people like my husband can’t tolerate oats of any kind. his may be her problem.
My husband was advised to go “Wheat Free” by his doctor after becoming very ill and discovering his Blood Sugar was 389(Normal is around 90) He also advised we read a book called “Wheat Belly” by Dr. William Davis. Since going Gluten free his blood sugar stays around 90 and anything with gluten he accidently eats gives him a nasty migraine. He also discovered that going off wheat gave him more energy and less back/muscle pain. His doctor said to stay on the diet and in the next month he may be able to go off the diabetic medication and just control it with the diet. He has lost weight too. But becoming gluten free means hours in the stores reading labels. My husband found an App for his phone that he can scan the barcode and if it is a well known brand it will give him a yes or no if he can have it. Our cabinets are becoming gluten free since March, 2014. So he is making great progress. I am upset with Aldi for introducing their Gluten Free items as a feature of the week and may or may not carry them again. Many of the items were very good and so much cheaper than at other stores. I did actually look on your page to see if the Chef’s Cupboad brand Onion soup and dip mix is Gluten Free and I doubt it. But thanks for a great blog.
Sparky
I love Aldi. It may be in part to the fact that I am a previous employee, but not the only reason. One thing that is great is if an item is gluten free it is labeled gluten free right on the back of the package (same with lactose free). And no you can’t not get the same items at other grocery stores nor are their products over processed. There brands are not “generics” or “off brands”, they are private brands that are held to the same or even higher standards than other stores’ brands. Aldi has started carrying several new gluten free items in their Live G Free line, which is now a permanent thing, not just a special. The chewy bars, cookies, stuffed sandwiches, pasta and others are all very delicious. A lot of their Simply Nature products are also gluten free and organic. Aldi also carries items like gluten free pretzels by Glutino. The prices are so much better as well, I bought the pretzels for almost half the price of another grocery store.
I love Aldi. The new live G free are some of my favorite treats to purchase. When my step-son is home we have made a tradition of turning the Live G Free cookie mix into some of the most decadent chocolate chip pancakes I have ever had!! Even before my diagnosis! Just add an egg, some butter or coconut oil, and water or milk! I don’t measure, I just eyeball it. LOL
Aside from the obvious new line called LiveGFree, we made a discovery at our brand-new ALDI in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Breakfast Best Breakfast Bowl: Bacon. We just tried out a couple of those, not checking the others, as we were on a flying reconnaissance mission. I can make better at home, but sometimes don’t want to, or don’t have time. It was better than much of the gluten free frozen meals I have tried in the past. I used to be an avid ALDI shopper when we lived near Manhattan, Kansas, but had not been to one since my Celiac diagnosis. I can’t wait to try all the other offerings. Their bread is much cheaper, but no better or worse than other GFree bread on the market.
I was diagnosed with a severe case of celiac disease about 3 years ago and I have to admit it was a pretty easy transition considering so many companies seem to be jumping on the gluten-free bandwagon the last few years. It was a convenient time to be diagnosed, but it obviously still had its downside when it came to everyday foods you were used to eating and not being able to enjoy the quality of the GF versions. I thought Udi’s had their bread perfected after trying so many different brands of bread. Then I found Aldi’s LiveGFree bread and it blows every GF bread on the market out of the water! It’s a great size for a sandwich (Udi’s struggled with the size) , but the biggest thing is the how incredibly SOFT it is. Amazing! Mad props to the people at Aldi being able to change the way we feel about gluten-free bread. You all MUST try it. I am finally excited about sandwiches again.
I have Celiac, only recently diagnosed but lucky to have an Aldi a mile from home. While I am spending double the amount of money on GF foods than I used to when shopping there, I would be spending triple if not more elsewhere. And I 100% agree that the Live GF Bread at Aldi is by far much better than any particularly because it is very low in sugar and still tastes fabulous. I started using it for my kids knowing how much sugar is in regular bread. Not a big fan of the pretzels but hey they are crunchy and a few for a fix are fine. I have been buying the Live GF brownies for a couple years now before I knew about Celiac. I would make them for teacher appreciation day at my kids’ school and everyone raved about them. I just felt safer doing that not knowing if someone might have a gluten allergy and after trying them myself fell in love with them too.
One thing I am wondering about is the Soy sauce at Aldi. I doesn’t say wheat but I guess I should go on the manufacturer’s website. I know that Kari Out Soy Sauce is GF and really good and I look for it and ask for it at take out chinese restaurants but I wanted some for cooking at home. If you happen to know about Aldi’s sauce, please let me know.
Thanks!!