Gluten-Free Foods You Should Be Buying At Aldi

Finding delicious food on a gluten-free diet was once an arduous task. But walk into any grocery store these days and you'll likely find entire aisles dedicated to gluten-free living (via Very Well Health).

According to Global News Wire, the gluten-free market was a $22 billion category in 2019 and is likely to surge to $36 billion by 2026. Food Business News adds that the gluten-free food industry is expected to grow by 12 percent annually, and with that growth comes the eternal quest for alternatives that not only dodge gluten but offer additional nutrients as well.

What's sparking this demand for wheat-free living? A gluten-free diet is essential for managing celiac disease and other conditions associated with gluten, but The Mayo Clinic explains that people without these conditions also claim to experience benefits, including better overall "health, weight loss, and increased energy." In fact, Forbes points out that 72 percent of the 3.1 million people in the United States who adhered to a gluten-free diet in 2017 fell into the category of PWAG's, or "people without celiac disease avoiding gluten."

With these staggering numbers, it's no surprise Aldi, which prides itself on delivering high-quality grocery essentials, low prices, and a no-frills shopping experience (via Aldi's website), took note and is the first grocery store to offer private label gluten-free options called liveGfree (via Gluten-Free Living).

Aldi offers a wide array of liveGfree options, from breads and wraps, to snacks, baking mixes, meal kits, and frozen foods. Thankfully, this overwhelming list has been narrowed down by a few savvy taste-testers.

Food 52 recommends a variety of liveGfree snacks and meals, including the multi-seed crackers with sweet/nutty black sesame seeds, the sweet chili brown rice crisps, the light and airy pretzel twists, the sandwich wraps (especially the spinach-flavored version), the buttery yellow baking mix, the brown rice and quinoa pasta (when not overcooked), the Hot Pocket-style stuffed sandwiches, the creamy macaroni and cheese, the plain and pepperoni frozen pizzas, and the soft snickerdoodle cookies. The Kitchn agrees with that noble list and adds that the caramel apple baked chewy bars taste like apple pie and the apple almond honey granola is excellent over Greek yogurt.

Melissa Firman has the hots for the liveGfree cheese lasagna (especially if you add more cheese before serving), as well as the buttermilk pancakes, brown rice spaghetti, and double chocolate brownie cookies. Gluten-Free Baking suggests the light and fluffy donuts – both glazed and chocolate frosted – the savory chicken and beef empanadas, and the cheesy ravioli (with and without spinach).

If you're in the market for baking mixes, Chasing Vibrance recommends the liveGfree pizza crust (for a nice thick crust) and the regular baking mix for tender biscuits, fluffy pancakes, and gluten-free waffles.