110 GRILL MENU: A GLUTEN-FREE 110 GRILL REVIEW
The gluten-free review below on the 110 Grill Menu is based on our personal experience at 110 Grill in Albany, NY. Always be sure to discuss gluten-free options with your server and ensure that they are able to accommodate your personal dietary needs. My full disclosure isn’t that interesting, but you can find it here.
It isn’t often that you enter a restaurant and there are as many choices on the gluten-free menu as the regular dining menu—but the 110 Grill menu IS THAT MENU! **cue the cheers!**
I’ve seen other gluten-free bloggers posting Instagram pics of their food and I knew that when one opened in Albany I HAD to try it! And let me tell you—not only did 110 Grill not disappoint, but it honestly exceeded my expectations.
Keep reading to learn more about the 110 Grill Menu and see pics of what we personally ate.
Keep reading for my full 110 Grill review–but also be sure to download our FREE printable restaurant card for safe gluten-free dining! It is business card sized, perfect to keep your wallet and give to restaurant staff to ensure they understand your dietary needs.
Gluten and Allergen Care
In my experience, 110 Grill sets the standard of allergen protocol in a shared kitchen. When seated, the first thing the wait staff asked was: “Does anyone in your party have any allergies to note?” The allergens were recorded and it was explained that all allergen-friendly food would be carried out by senior staff so it would not be mixed up.
Managers at 100 Grill receive Food Safety and Allergen Awareness certifications and staff receive extensive allergen training.
Another cool aspect of 110 Grill’s allergen commitment (which also makes their food WAY better than competitors) is that the kitchen is a from scratch kitchen, so it makes it simple for them to prepare food in a way that’s tailored to your individual needs.
PLUS—when delivered to the table, the allergen-friendly food is also marked with a little allergen marker. Keep on reading to see what we ate!
The 110 Grill Menu
As mentioned, the 110 Grill menu for gluten-free dining is extensive. According to the company, 100% of their regular menu can be adapted to be gluten-free!
At the time we dined, there were 10 appetizers, choices of flatbreads, salads, and soups, plus more than 25 entrees. Plus, there are a number of vegetarian and vegan options as well!
When you’re not used to this many choices—indecision is REAL!
Here’s what we ate for appetizers:
- chorizo totchos (nachos made with tater tots as a base)
- crispy fried pickle chips (with the most amazing honey mustard and sriracha aioli dipping sauces)
- firecracker shrimp with sweet chili sauce for dipping.
The fried pickles and firecracker shrimp were both gluten and dairy free. We devoured the appetizers. They were so amazing!
The main courses:
- steak & cheese sandwich on a gluten-free bun with regular French fries
- Cuban sandwich with regular French fries (this was gluten and dairy free—plus, note the fried pickles ON the sandwich! genius.)
- grilled cheese with creamy tomato soup (the grilled cheese had both American and goat cheese plus garlic aioli).
Each of these sandwiches were great—but I don’t know if I can accurately explain just how delicious this combo of cheeses was on the grilled cheese. It makes me want to keep goat cheese in the fridge JUST for grilled cheese.
THE 110 GRILL MENU—FOR KIDS!
I’m pulling out the children’s menu into it’s own section because I was honestly floored when I saw all the choices on the kids menu—which just like the adult menu—can be 100% modified to be gluten-free!
There are so many options when building the kids meal. The price is also amazing for what you get. Maybe next time I should order a children’s meal?
Children’s meals come with a choice of 6 different main meal options, 3 sides (regular & sweet potato fries and rice), 3 different veggie options, and 3 dessert options—plus a drink!
Here’s pictures of my daughter’s children’s meal. She ordered the gluten-free pasta with red sauce, regular French fries, carrots & celery with ranch dip, and a bowl of berries for dessert. She is a good eater but could not finish it because it was so much food! But she sure loved every bite!
Final Thoughts
The gluten-free offerings on the 110 Grill menu definitely set the standard for gluten-free dining. Not only is there a wide variety, but the food itself is really delicious! Next time you’re in New York, Massachusetts, or New Hampshire, be sure to see if there is a 110 Grill nearby!
Visiting Massachusetts? Be sure to read my reviews of Zaftigs Delicatessen and Wahlburgers!
If you enjoyed this 110 Grill Review, share it on social media and pin it to Pinterest using the share buttons below!
Also, download our FREE printable restaurant card for safe gluten-free dining! It is business card sized, perfect to keep your wallet and give to restaurant staff. Plus, you’ll get FREE instant access to my online library of free printables designed to make your gluten-free lifestyle totally easy!
GLUTEN-FREE TOOTHPASTE BRANDS: THE ULTIMATE LIST
GLUTEN-FREE TOOTHPASTE BRANDS: THE ULTIMATE LIST
This post is the ultimate list of gluten-free toothpaste brands, plus—download my free gluten-free toothpaste list!
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. My full disclosure isn’t that interesting, but you can find it here.
Gluten hides in so many products—not just food. One of those places it can hide? Toothpaste.
What!?!? Gluten in toothpaste??? Yup.
Gluten containing ingredients are often used as binders in all types of personal care products, and toothpaste is no exception. Nothing like realizing you’ve been glutening yourself with your own stinking toothpaste!
But don’t worry—I compiled this list for you by searching toothpaste manufacturers websites and/or contacting customer service directly. So here’s the master list so you know what toothpaste is gluten-free.
Special note: there are other companies outside of this list who may also be gluten-free (such as Aquafresh, Sensodyne), but won’t commit to gluten-free claims. I excluded them from this list. I don’t take chances and stick with what I know is safe gluten-free toothpaste.
Do you want a printable version of my gluten-free toothpaste list? Get FREE instant access to this and my full online library of free printables designed to make your gluten-free lifestyle totally easy!
Arbonne
All of Arbonne’s products are gluten-free and their toothpaste is no exception. In fact, it’s certified gluten-free.
Arbonne products are only available through consultants. Click here to learn more about Arbonne’s toothpaste and browse the entire catalog!
Want to know more about Arbonne products? Click here to learn more about Arbonne and their gluten-free status as a company!
Arm & Hammer
Get a great deal on Arm & Hammer’s toothpaste here on Amazon.com.
Biotène
According to Biotène’s website, all products are gluten-free.
Shop Biotène here on Amazon.com.
Brandless.com
I love ordering from Brandless.com. Not only is everything they sell $3, but they also have gluten-free toothpaste! If you haven’t tried out Brandless yet—do it!
Click here to browse around and save $6 off your first order.
Crest
Shop Crest here at Amazon.com.
Colgate Total
Shop Colgate Total here at Amazon.com.
Dr. Brite
You can purchase Dr. Brite’s gluten-free toothpaste at Thrive Market (and save 25% off your first order) here.
Click here to shop Dr. Brite toothpaste at Amazon.com.
(learn more about Thrive Market and how it works here)
Hello
You can purchase Hello toothpaste at Thrive Market (and save 25% off your first order) here.
Click here to shop Hello toothpaste at Amazon.com
Jason
Many Jason products, including toothpaste, are available at Thrive Market. Click here to and save 25% off your first order.
Click here to shop Jason toothpaste at Amazon.com
Oral B
Shop Oral B here at Amazon.com.
Tom’s of Maine
You can purchase Tom’s of Maine at Thrive Market (and save 25% off your first order) here.
Click here to shop Tom’s of Maine toothpaste at Amazon.com
Young Living
According to Young Living’s customer service, Young Living’s Theives Aromabright toothpaste is gluten-free.
Learn more about Young Living’s gluten-free standards here.
This list was last updated 11/2018. As ingredients and manufacturing processes are subject to change, be sure to do your own research, ask questions, and consult medical professionals.
Do you have another gluten-free toothpaste company that you LOVE? Comment below and let me know so I can add them to this fantastic gluten-free toothpaste list!
Be sure to pin this list for later and share it with your gluten-free friends using the social buttons below.
Are you ready to do gluten-free living totally STRESS-FREE? Get FREE instant access to my online library of free printables, including my gluten-free toothpaste guide designed to make your gluten-free lifestyle totally easy!
ALLERGEN & GLUTEN FREE EXPO–ALBANY, NEW YORK
ALLERGEN & GLUTEN FREE EXPO–ALBANY, NEW YORK 2018
This post contains affiliate links. If you order through one of these links I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you! My full disclosure isn’t that interesting, but you can find it here.
On Saturday, I decided to journey into Albany, New York to check out the Allergen & Gluten Free Expo held at Crossgates Mall. Expos are a great way to try some free samples and learn about some new products—and this expo did not disappoint! I got SO many freebies—it was a good thing they gave me a bag to carry them all in.
The Gluten Free Expo had a large number of brand representatives, local restaurants & bakeries, and even informational stations where gluten-free and food allergy authorities like doctors and school nurses were available to answer questions about gluten-free living. Plus, there were a couple cooking demonstrations by local chefs and bakers.
Here is just a glimpse into some of the fun things we saw and tried at the Allergen & Gluten Free Expo in Albany!
Want some freebies of your own? Get FREE instant access to my online library of free printables designed to make your gluten-free lifestyle totally easy!
Sherry Lynn’s Bakery
Sherry Lynn’s Bakery is one of the (if not THE) first 100% gluten-free establishments. My husband, Tyler, has been eating their baked goods for years. I was super excited to stop by their booth at the Allergen & Gluten Free Expo, eat some samples of their bread and glazed donuts, and even purchase some apple fritters and donuts!
Sherry Lynn’s is located in Schenectady, New York.
O’Malley’s Oven
This is a local restaurant I’d never heard of before—but I’m happy I stopped by their booth at the Allergen & Gluten Free Expo.
In addition to directly selling their pies and other baked goods they also frequent the Troy Waterfront Farmer’s Market, which my family goes to often. This is also a 100% gluten-free establishment.
The Vermont Spatzle Company
The Allergen & Gluten Free Expo is the first time I’ve ever tried spatzle (or honestly…ever heard of it). It’s a German potato noodle, and it’s yummy! One of the downfalls of gluten-free pasta is that it’s prone to mushiness—especially when overcooked. Spatzle is a noodle that is pan-fried, and is ready to eat in 90 seconds! Yay for fast dinners! My 5 year old daughter devoured her sample, which was cooked in butter, in less than 90 seconds.
You can purchase The Vermont Spatzle Company’s products at retailers across New York and Vermont, or order it direct.
Saratoga Gluten Free Goods Bakery
I’ve tried a couple items from this bakery in the past (dinner rolls, cookies, and pies), but it was fun to see them represented at the Allergen & Gluten Free Expo. All of their products are mouthwateringly-delicious. Plus, I enjoyed my sample of pumpkin bread. yummm
The Saratoga Gluten Free Goods Bakery is located in Schuylerville, New York.
Bread Empire’s Buddha Bread
This is a new product I learned about at the Allergen & Gluten Free Expo. This cheese bread is super easy to make and it tastes GOOD! Definitely a great option!
You can purchase goods from Bread Emprie online or at assorted stores across the United States.
Pamela’s Gluten-Free
I got a lot of free samples of Pamela’s gluten-free snacks and flour blend at the Allergen & Gluten Free Expo. I’m familiar with Pamela’s pancake mix (that’s what we use at home!), so I enjoyed the chance to try some other products! I really loved the Whenever Bars and the Big Fig bar. These will definitely be on my shopping list soon.
You can order a variety of Pamela’s products here!
Luna Bars
Listen—I love my snacks. Luna Bars are a trusted staple for me already, and I love some free samples! While the samples were mini, they sure were yummy.
You can order Luna Bars in a variety of flavors here!
WowButter
For kids (or adults!) with nut allergies, Wowbutter is a cool substitute to peanut butter. It’s made of soy, and it tastes great. You can even choose between creamy and crunchy styles. My toddlers dipped apple slices in our free samples of the creamy WowButter and they didn’t even notice it wasn’t peanut butter! It’s a great nut-free option and I’m so happy we got to try it at the Allergen & Gluten Free Expo!
Curious about WowButter? Try it here!
Like I mentioned before, there were SO many vendors there’s no way I could cover them all. Have you been to this, or another Allergen & Gluten Free Expo? What was your favorite part? Comment below and let us know. My favorite thing were all the freebies! Plus, I’ve designed some fun freebies just for you.
Get FREE instant access to my online library of free printables designed to make your gluten-free lifestyle totally easy!
TRUE ROOTS COOKBOOK: A REVIEW
TRUE ROOTS COOKBOOK: A REVIEW
This post contains affiliate links. If you order through one of these links I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you! My full disclosure isn’t that interesting, but you can find it here.
An Overview
You can also get instant access to the FREE weekly menu planner & shopping list here!
The Recipes
The recipes in the True Roots cookbook range from breakfast & kitchen staples (like almond milk), to desserts & treats. They even range from simple (seasoned salt) to fancy (veal braciola with cashew ricotta). With this range of recipes, you are sure to find a recipe for almost any occasion! Also, my kids tried each of the recipes we made and LOVED them—so most of the recipes in the True Roots cookbook are family-friendly!
special note on ingredients: many of the specialty ingredients used in the recipes below can be ordered online. The links below will take you to Amazon, but many ingredients like maple syrup, coconut sugar, and coconut oil can be found for only $3 each at Brandless. Click here to save $6 on your first Brandless order! Another great place to find specialty ingredients is Thrive Market. Click here to read my full review of Thrive Market and get a coupon code for a huge discount.
Baked Oatmeal
According to the True Roots cookbook, this recipe serves 4 and takes 15 minutes.
To make this recipe you’ll use: coconut oil, berries, almond milk, oats (be sure to use purity protocol like these), egg, vanilla extract (make sure it’s gluten-free like this brand!), maple syrup, and ground flaxseeds. For kitchen tools you’ll need and an oven-safe pan.
Not only is this recipe super easy, but it is a great make-ahead recipe. I made a batch of this recipe and divided it into Pyrex containers to use for quick breakfasts!
Whipped Yogurt Parfait with Caramelized Peaches and Granola
The True Roots cookbook states that this recipe serves 4 and cooks for 15 minutes.
This recipe takes sheep’s milk yogurt (or you could use coconut milk yogurt if you need it truly dairy free), pure maple syrup, coconut oil, peaches, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and granola. You’ll need a sauté pan for caramelizing the peaches. We actually topped this with the recipe for Simple But Damn Good Granola also in the True Roots cookbook. This recipe is so simple as well and uses oats (again, use purity protocol if sensitive!), almonds, cinnamon, honey, and hemp seeds. It bakes in the oven, so you’ll need a cookie sheet.
These recipes were super easy as well and made a fun, healthy treat! Even my husband who isn’t a big fan of peaches really enjoyed them caramelized. While this recipe is in the breakfast section of the True Roots cookbook, we ate it as dessert. yum!
Dutch Baby
A “Dutch Baby” is a kind of baked pancake. This recipe will serve 4 and takes about 25 minutes.
This True Roots cookbook recipe will need coconut oil, almond milk, arrowroot powder, oat flour (again, be sure use purity protocol oat flour), lemon zest, eggs, Himalayan salt, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. For kitchen tools you’ll need a high-powered blender like this one and a Dutch oven.
Honestly, this is probably the easiest recipe out of the bunch. So easy in fact, that I might not make traditional pancakes on a griddle until my kids are old enough to flip them—haha. However, it was not only easy, but yummy. We topped ours with maple syrup (as pictured) but this would be great with berries as well!
Roasted Garlic & Sage Chicken
Moving on from breakfast, this True Roots cookbook main dish will serve 4 and need to cook for 45 minutes.
You’ll need olive oil, fresh sage, garlic, chicken breasts, and salt & pepper. You’ll need a baking dish and parchment paper for the cooking.
This recipe was just simple perfection. Sometimes you really don’t need fancy—just plain old good food.
Zucchini Almond Butter Blondies
This is the first recipe I made from the True Roots cookbook. And it left me wanting to make more! This makes about 16 blondies (depending on how big you cut them!) and will take 30 minutes.
To make this recipe, you’ll need creamy almond butter, eggs, Himalayan salt, baking soda, coconut sugar, vanilla extract, dark chocolate chips (I used Lily’s but Enjoy Life’s chocolate chips are yummy too!), and zucchini. You’ll need an 8×8 baking dish, but I also used this Kitchen Aid grater attachment to grate the zucchini quickly and easily!
This was a delicious recipe, the only drawback is that it doesn’t really tell you how much zucchini to use—it just says “large” so it left me guessing. Mine turned out okay though, and I’d estimate I used about 1.5 cups.
Flourless Cashew Butter Cookies
This recipe makes a TON of cookies (30+) with a short cook time of 10 minutes and only 6 ingredients: cashew butter, coconut sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, baking soda, and Himalayan salt. You’ll need a baking sheet and parchment paper because this dough is sticky. But it cooks up really well! You’ll also need a cooling rack.
These cookies were similar in texture and consistency to peanut butter cookies—but the flavor is more mild and subtle.
My Opinion
The True Roots cookbook is great! I was honestly surprised that many of the recipes were not only family-friendly, but actually tasted good! I know I reviewed 6 of the recipes here, but I have a list of many more to try—like pudding pops, golden milk, kids’ favorite fritters, and blueberry cashew bars just to name a few.
It would’ve been nice to have more pictures of the recipes—but honestly, that’s just me being picky. If you are looking for a diverse, family-friendly cookbook filled with gluten-free and dairy-free recipes that are low in sugar, I really do encourage you to try out the True Roots cookbook.
Have you tried any of these recipes? Let us know in the comments below what you thought and be sure to pin this review on Pinterest so you can find it later!
If you are looking for another gluten-free, dairy-free cookbook? If so, read my review of Danielle Walker’s Meals Made Simple here.
Don’t forget–download my FREE printable menu planner and add these awesome gluten-free meals to the list! You’ll also get FREE instant access to my online library of free printables designed to make your gluten-free lifestyle totally easy!
Zaftigs Delicatessen: A Gluten-Free Restaurant Review
The review below is based on our personal experience at Zaftigs Delicatessen. Always be sure to discuss gluten-free options with your server and ensure that they are able to accommodate your personal dietary needs. My full disclosure isn’t that interesting, but you can find it here.
Zaftigs Delicatessen: A Gluten-Free Restaurant Review
Although Upstate New York is our home base, we travel to Boston, Massachusetts frequently to see my husband’s Celiac specialists. Whenever we drive down, we always make it a point to take full advantage of the amazing gluten-free restaurants in Boston! On our most recent trip, we ate at Zaftigs Delicatessen and tried out their gluten-free menu. Zaftigs Delicatessen currently has two locations—we ate at the Brookline location and had a great experience!
Keep reading for my full review–but also be sure to download our FREE printable restaurant card for safe gluten-free dining! It is business card sized, perfect to keep your wallet and give to restaurant staff to ensure they understand your dietary needs.
Atmosphere
The atmosphere at Zaftigs Delicatessen was fun, and a bit quirky—which matches their menu. They have both a “take out” counter (with pastry case) and general seating.
Menu
Zaftigs Delicatessen serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Many of their menu items can be made gluten-free by substituting either gluten-free bread or a gluten-free bagel. There is a wide variety of options including some super fun sandwich creations! Unfortunately, they have a shared fryer, so beware of cross contamination there—shared fryers are not safe for Celiacs. However, they have other options for sides including cole slaw and potato salad that are gluten-free. This was a welcome change from the typical “oh, you’re gluten-free? here’s a salad” that we get at so many restaurants!
Here’s what we ate:
For an appetizer we shared the Stuffed Cabbages. These were really yummy—sweeter than I anticipated due to the cranberries in the sauce. It was a nice flavor combo!
For our main courses we ordered The Reuben: corned beef, swiss, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing on gluten-free bread with a side of potato salad and The Patty Melt: an 8 0z Sirloin Burger, caramelized onions, swiss and Russian Dressing on gluten-free bread with a side of coleslaw.
Each of these main courses were so delicious. The gluten-free bread actually held together while eating instead of disintegrating like so many do.
Not only was the food we ordered really yummy, but the waitstaff was knowledgeable about gluten-free accommodations! They asked if the gluten-free request was due to a preference or a sensitivity/allergy and made note of the serious nature of our dietary requirements. I will note that directly upon being seated someone tried to give us a plate of bagel chips and spreads—we declined them stating that we are gluten-free. Our waitress then tried to give us some the first time she came over (before we were able to tell her that we are gluten-free). But when we told her we were eating gluten-free and she confirmed that it was not a preference, she quickly took it back off the table. Then, without us even asking, she quickly removed the small “bread plates” that were near the bagel chips as well and brought us new ones with our appetizer.
Final Thoughts
We really enjoyed our food at Zaftigs Delicatessen. We’ve said that if we go back we want to try some of the entrees (outside of the sandwiches) but knowing us—we might just get the same things again. We’re creatures of habit. Have you eaten at Zaftigs Delicatessen? Let us know about your experience in the comments!
Also, download our FREE printable restaurant card for safe gluten-free dining! It is business card sized, perfect to keep your wallet and give to restaurant staff. Plus, you’ll get FREE instant access to my online library of free printables designed to make your gluten-free lifestyle totally easy!
Looking for another restaurant in the Boston, Mass area? Read my review of Wahlburgers here!
Wahlburgers: A Gluten-Free Restaurant Review
Wahlburgers: A Gluten-Free Restaurant Review
This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website at no extra cost to you. My full disclosure isn’t that interesting, but you can find it here.
Wahlburgers is a restaurant made famous by the A&E reality show Wahlburgers.
Are you ready to do gluten-free living totally STRESS-FREE? Download a FREE allergy alert restaurant card designed to make your gluten-free lifestyle totally easy!
Atmosphere
I visited the Wahlburgers location in Boston, and the atmosphere is fun. It has a quick to-go counter in the front (so you can get in and out) with a bar and indoor/ outdoor seating in the back. However, this aspect may vary by location.
In addition, Wahlburgers is plastered with memorabilia. Not just from the reality show, but movie posters from the Wahlberg brothers and more! It’s a fun environment.
Menu
Now for the reason why you’re reading this—the menu! The menu at Wahlburgers is impressive in terms of gluten-free offerings. Most of their main entrees can be made gluten-free. They offer gluten-free buns, bread, and croutons for substitution. Their fries and tater tots (both regular and sweet potato) are also GLUTEN-FREE! Ya’ll, they have a dedicated gluten-free fryer! **rejoice** Plus, they even have “Wahlbowls” which are basically a burger salad.
Here’s what I tried:
- The Super Melt: a 1/2lb burger with “government cheese”, bacon, caramelized onions, pickles, and mustard sauce grilled on gluten-free bread)
- Jenn’s Chicken Sandwich: chicken breast with caramelized onions, lettuce, and honey-garlic mayo on a gluten-free bun. Note: the sandwich comes with crispy onions, but the waiter knew to leave them off because they are not gluten-free
- tater tots
- and sweet potato tots
The verdict? DELISH! Honestly, the waiter was super knowledgeable about the needs of Celiac and assured us that they take things very seriously. Without us asking additional questions, he voluntarily shared with us how they protect against cross contamination. Also, he knew what needed to be substituted to meet gluten-free needs. In addition to that, the food is REALLY good. I wish there was one closer—I’d be hitting that to-go counter! Although… maybe it’s good for my waistline that there’s not.
Final Thoughts
If you have a Wahlburgers near you and haven’t tried it—go. It’s not just sensationalized; the food is honestly delicious. It’s a great option for dining with mixed parties in which some order gluten and some do not. Everyone will be satisfied. When traveling around the US and Canada and looking for a safe, gluten-free dining experience, see if there’s a Wahlburgers nearby. You will not be disappointed!
Also, download our FREE printable restaurant card for safe gluten-free dining! It is business card sized, perfect to keep your wallet and give to restaurant staff. Plus, you’ll get FREE instant access to my online library of free printables designed to make your gluten-free lifestyle totally easy!
Against All Grain: Meals Made Simple—A Cookbook Review
Against All Grain: Meals Made Simple—A Cookbook Review
This post contains affiliate links. These links help me to earn enough money to refill my coffee so I can keep up with life! My full disclosure isn’t that interesting, but you can find it here.
Danielle Walker, founder of Against All Grain and author of this cookbook Meals Made Simple, is an author I’ve followed for a LONG time. When Tyler and I first got married, I found her blog so inspiring. I admire her transparency with her readers covering her ongoing journey with autoimmune disease and its effect on daily living. However, I totally respect her ability to use food (specifically, a Paleo diet) to heal many aspects of autoimmunity. While my family hasn’t totally made the transition to Paleo (I’d estimate we’re about 80/20), we’ve been trying out Walker’s second cookbook, Meals Made Simple, for about a month. Keep on reading to learn more about it and discover if it’d be a good fit to add to your cookbook library.
Click here to take a peek at everything else I’m reading this summer!
You can also get instant access to the FREE weekly menu planner & shopping list here!
MEALS MADE SIMPLE: AN OVERVIEW
THE RECIPES
All recipes in Meals Made Simple are Paleo—meaning that they are gluten-free (and dairy-free) by default (this also makes many of her recipes fitting for AIP and other diets). Walker claims that these recipes are designed for busy-living. Many recipes are crockpot meals or even 30-minute recipes. Personally, I rely on my slow cooker a lot, so that’s a major reason why I decided to finally give Meals Made Simple a try.
Meals Made Simple divides its recipes into the following categories: breakfast, soups & hearty salads, poultry, beef/pork/lamb, seafood, sides, basics, and simply sweets. I tried out recipes for you—(you may have seen a couple teases of me making them in my Instagram Stories—if you don’t follow me yet, click here and do it!). Here’s what I tried and what we thought!
Biscuits: Rating 4.5/5
According to Meals Made Simple, this recipe makes 8 biscuits, takes 20 minutes of prep, and cooks for 18-20 minutes.
To make these, you’ll need blanched almond flour, coconut flour, eggs, honey, almond milk, apple cider vinegar, baking soda, salt, and either palm shortening or ghee (I used Thrive Market brand’s ghee—learn more about why I like Thrive Market here). You’ll also need parchment paper, a flour sifter, baking sheet, either a mixer with a dough hook or a pastry cutter (I used my Kitchen Aid’s dough hook), a biscuit cutter (I just used my hands), and a wire cooling rack.
This recipe was easy outside of one issue: you had to sift a LOT of flour, and it felt like it took forever (and it made my hands tired—I know, wah wah). I do think the sifting was necessary though because these biscuits–DANG they were good. The texture was great, but the taste was even better. We ate them warm with some ghee on top and the kids added jelly. I do feel as if the result was worth the work and I’ll probably make these biscuits again, I just know that I wouldn’t have the gusto to make this recipe on a regular basis due to all the sifting. I’m a wimp, obviously.
Overnight Breakfast Casserole: Rating 5/5
According to Meals Made Simple, this recipe serves 6-8, takes 20 minutes of prep, and cooks for 6-8 hours in the crock pot.
To make this breakfast casserole, you’ll use palm shortening or softened ghee (I used Thrive Market’s ghee), breakfast sausage, bacon, onion, white sweet potatoes, bell peppers, eggs, almond milk, full-fat coconut milk, salt, dry mustard, and black pepper. For kitchen tools you’ll need a slow cooker, a skillet (for precooking the sausage and bacon), a grater (I used my Kitchen Aid shredder attachment), a sharp knife for chopping, a whisk, and a bowl.
This recipe was so delicious, and pretty simple (CROCK POT). We actually made it for dinner (which I think was a good choice, since we actually stopped our crock pot early. At only 5 hours of cooking the edges of the casserole were already a bit brown, and we sleep for more than 5 hours at night…). We had quite a bit of leftovers too. Tyler has actually asked me a couple time to make this again! It’s on my list for a repeat next week.
Buffalo Chicken Salad: Rating 4.5/5
According to Meals Made Simple, this is a slow cooker recipe serving 6-8, takes 20 minutes of prep, and cooks for 4 hours.
To make the crock pot buffalo chicken you’ll need boneless skinless chicken breasts, Buffalo sauce, ghee, white vinegar, salt, and cayenne pepper. To turn it into a salad you’ll also need romaine lettuce, celery, shredded carrot, and ranch dressing (Walker includes a recipe for Herb Ranch Dressing that we didn’t try—we used Primal Ranch which is our FAVORITE. You can find it cheaper at some local stores or through Thrive Market). You’ll also need a slow cooker.
I absolutely loved the simplicity of this recipe…almost as much as I love Buffalo anything! It honestly took much less than 20 minutes of prep. To make things even simpler, I filled a couple gallon-sized freezer bags with the ingredients and tossed them into our chest freezer. Now I have meals prepped for weeks when I just can’t get meal planning together! While I ate it as a chicken salad, Tyler ate it as a wrap using a burrito sized gluten-free tortilla. Both ways it was great! One note: it was VERY spicy. Next time I’ll probably leave out the cayenne pepper.
Cumin-Garlic Summer Squash: Rating 4/5
According to Meals Made Simple, this recipe serves 6-8, prep time is only 10 minutes, and the cook time is 15 minutes.
This recipe calls for ghee or olive oil (I used olive oil), garlic, zucchini, yellow squash, ground cumin, sea salt, and black pepper. You’ll also need a knife & cutting board, and a skillet.
This recipe was simple perfection. It was one of those recipes that reminds you that regular food right from the earth is delicious. I’d never had cumin as a seasoning straight up on veggies, and I liked it! It wasn’t anything earth shattering, but a good, reliable way to eat your veggies.
MY OPINION
My overall rating of the cookbook is a 4/5. I really liked the recipes I tried, and there’s more that I still want to try! Not all the recipes fit my idea of ‘simple’—but I think a quote from the book itself sums it up perfectly: “This way of cooking takes a bit of extra prep work but is, in the end, a lifesaver.” (p. 13). It does take extra prep to eat healthy, whole foods. But it does improve your health—and that is worth it.
If you are curious about the Paleo diet (or just looking for more gluten-free recipes), click on over to Amazon to “peek inside” Meals Made Simple and some of Danielle Walker’s other cookbooks (she even has a new one coming out in December, Eat What You Love, which is a whole cookbook of Paleo comfort foods–now that is right up my alley. You can actually preorder it on Amazon, Christmas gift maybe?)!
I know I personally will remake the Overnight Breakfast Casserole and Buffalo Chicken Salad. I mean, it’s two more crock pot recipes in my arsenal. But I’ll also continue trying new recipes from Meals Made Simple.
Have you tried any of Walker’s recipes? Let us know in the comments below.
Don’t forget–download my FREE printable menu planner and add these awesome gluten-free meals to the list! You’ll also get FREE instant access to my online library of free printables designed to make your gluten-free lifestyle totally easy!
Gluten-Free Snack Roundup: Episode 1
Gluten-Free Snack Roundup: Episode 1
This post contains affiliate links for Amazon.com. These links help me to earn enough money to refill my coffee so I can keep up with life! My full disclosure isn’t that interesting, but you can find it here.
My #1 tip when traveling gluten-free is to BRING YOUR OWN SNACKS! Actually, that might just be one of my life tips in general. Married to a diabetic? Bring a snack. Have toddlers? Bring a snack. Gonna be stuck in a car for a while? Bring a snack. You get the idea: before any big trip I stock up on snacks. I always end up with a happy mix of some trusted favorites, some new finds, some healthy choices, and some… less than healthy! Keep on reading for a review of my latest gluten-free snack haul.
note: my followers on Instagram and Facebook got this sneak peek at these snacks as I was packing them. Click here to follow me on Instagram and here to follow me on Facebook so you don’t miss out!
Are you ready to do gluten-free living totally STRESS-FREE? Get FREE instant access to my online library of free printables designed to make your gluten-free lifestyle totally easy!
Chobani Yogurt Tubes—Strawberry
Chobani is one of my favorite brands of yogurt. I love how thick and creamy it is (my favorite flavor is the key lime!). Although I’ve mostly cut out dairy (and been making my own coconut milk yogurt instead), I’m still buying yogurt for Tyler and the kids. And when your kids are young, these yogurt tubes are where it’s at! My girls love that the tubes have super heroes on them, and I love Chobani for having less sugar and more than twice the protein of other yogurt tube brands. Plus, Chobani is non-gmo with no artificial flavors, and their yogurt is gluten-free (but read the labels—the yogurt snack packs like the Flip are not all gluten-free).
Disney’s Frozen String Cheese
Does string cheese need much explanation? It’s a naturally gluten-free snack, toddlers love it, and it is protein-filled with no added sugar.
Glutino—Strawberry Toaster Pastries and Vanilla Crème Cookies
Glutino is one of those trusted gluten-free brands who has been around since I first started shopping gluten-free. They are one of the few brands to offer gluten-free toaster pastries in the grocery stores and on Amazon.com. They are also certified gluten-free which gives us an extra level of confidence in their product. Click here to learn more about gluten-free certification and labeling.
The whole family loves the toaster pastries (in fact, Tyler often hides them from the kids so they can be just his). They compare well to regular toaster pastries. They are a bit crunchier—more like a cracker. But the flavor is great. The Glutino Vanilla Crème cookies are good too. While they are a bit too sweet for me (I find pretty much all vanilla crème filled cookies to be too sweet—gluten-free or not), the texture of both the cookie and the filling are pretty similar to an Oreo. As you can see, these cookies didn’t even make it one night before our tip—my sweet Celiac husband and little princesses got into it while I was packing. haha
Glutino makes other snacks we like too such as bagel chips, chocolate chip cookies, pretzels, and cereal bars.
GoGo Squeeze—Applesauce Pouches
Another healthy gluten-free snack for toddlers—applesauce pouches! There are countless brands of applesauce pouches, but I look for applesauce with no added sugar (like these!). Plus, the kids like the tops on this brand because they take them on/off by themselves. GoGo Squeeze is not only gluten-free but also 100% fruit, non-GMO, nut free, and dairy free. They even make organic pouches and fruit & veggie blend pouches if you wanna sneak in some veggies!
Popcorn Indiana—Black & White Drizzlecorn
Tyler and I first discovered Popcorn Indiana’s Drizzlecorn flavors over six years ago—and we buy it a lot. Whenever it’s on sale we snatch up a couple bags, but buying in bulk from Amazon is always an option too. Tyler’s not a huge fan of kettlecorn, but this decadent dessert-like popcorn is for sure a winner in his book! How could you not like something covered in both white and dark chocolate? This is the first snack we finished off on our trip. While it’s not really healthy—it is both kocher and certified gluten-free. Plus, living gluten-free can be restrictive enough, you have to branch out and enjoy life every now and then.
Ripple Foods—Vanilla Half & Half
Since I am restricted in the amount of dairy I can eat, I dragged along my Vanilla Creamer by Ripple. I knew we’d be drinking coffee all week, and since this trip we were staying in the middle of the Adirondacks, I assumed that specialty coffee creamer would be a difficult find. So I brought it with me! Click here to see my more in-depth review of Ripple Half & Half.
Simple Mills Crackers—Fine Ground Sea Salt & Jalapeño
Simple Mills is another brand I’ve mentioned before on my blog. We’ve had the fine ground sea salt crackers frequently, but the Jalapeño sprouted seed crackers were an impulse buy!
The fine ground sea salt crackers are not only certified gluten-free, but grain free as well. They are crunchy, mildly salty, and actually taste a LOT like Wheat Thins. The kids love them too! I pack them in their lunches with pepperoni slices a lot. One of the things I love about Simple Mills products is they only contain a few ingredients (these crackers have 8 ingredients). These crackers are more than just a gluten-free snack, they are also non-GMO, free of corn & soy, vegan, and Paleo-friendly.
The jalapeño sprouted seed crackers were a new try for us. The ingredients lists are similar, but I wasn’t as big of a fan of this kind. I expected them to be spicy (of course jalapeño flavored would have spice) but the actual flavor of the jalapeño didn’t seem to come through as much as the heat. Tyler also thought these were just ok. The sprouted seed crackers come in other flavors too like everything and garlic & herb. I will try those in the future to see if I like them more.
Wholesome Surf Sweets—Gummy Bears
There has to be candy on the gluten-free snack list, amiright? These gummy bears are certified gluten-free, top 10 allergen free, vegan, organic, and non-GMO. They were pretty good! Not as soft as some gummy bears—a bit chewier. The flavors were definitely fruity.
Vegan Rob’s—Dairy Free Cheddar Puffs
These puffs were another new certified gluten-free snack for us. Our family loves Pirates Booty and I was looking forward trying a vegan version. The texture was great, but I was a little disappointed in the flavor. I know it’s hard to mimic the taste of cheese (even my favorite vegan cheeses don’t come that close). The flavor was really fine—just not that typical ‘white cheddar’ flavor you find on Pirates Booty or Smartfood. And… my kids LOVED these. They polished off the bag FAST. I would say they’re worth the try. I plan on trying some of Vegan Rob’s other flavors
Do you stock up on snacks before trips? What are your favorites? Comment below and let us know!
Plus: Get FREE instant access to my online library of free printables designed to make your gluten-free lifestyle totally easy!
BROWN’S BREWING COMPANY–WALLOOMSAC TAPROOM: A RESTAURANT REVIEW
This is not a sponsored post. This is an honest review and all opinions are my own. My full disclosure isn’t that interesting, but you can find it here.
Brown’s Brewing Company–Walloomsac Taproom: A Restaurant Review
Brown’s Brewing Company first opened in Troy back in the ‘90s and it holds the reputation in the Capital Region of New York as having excellent food and atmosphere. However, breweries can be risky places for the gluten-free. They tend to put beer. in. everything. And in all honesty, Tyler was ‘glutened’ at Brown’s early on in our marriage. He ordered a garden salad with chicken on top, no croutons—but did not tell the waiter that he needed his meal to be gluten-free. I’ll stress, this was not Brown’s fault. We did not inform them that we needed gluten-free accommodations. Furthermore, that menu item did not make gluten-free claims.
note: learn from our mistakes and ALWAYS inform wait staff that you are gluten-free for medical reasons. For simplicity, we usually we just say “wheat allergy.” When your food is delivered, double check: “Is this gluten-free?” Every. Stinking. Time. This was one of our early learning experiences on the need to advocate for yourself when dining out. This is also why I designed an “allergy alert” card to use when eating out. It makes advocating easy peasy!
Download the allergy-alert card for FREE here, plus get instant access to my online library of free printables designed to make your gluten-free lifestyle totally easy!
Fast forward 6 years to today, and Brown’s Brewing Company makes our gluten-free hearts (and tummies) happy! They’ve opened a new location, the Walloomsac Taproom, in an old manufacturing facility about 2 miles from where we live–and it’s one of our current favorites. Keep reading to see why!
Atmosphere
I cannot say enough about the atmosphere at Brown’s Walloomsac Taproom. They’ve restored an old factory complex from the mid-1800s and actually create and distribute their craft beer from the location. We haven’t done a brewery tour, but unfortunately, none of their craft beers are gluten-free, but we can dream huh?
In addition, Brown’s Walloomsac Taproom hosts entertaining theme nights including live music and trivia. Not only does this location have eclectic and rustic indoor décor including original brick walls and antiques, but it’s located right on the Walloomsac River. If you choose to dine outdoors you’ll not only view the river, but hear the little water fall as well.
Menu
The Walloomsac Tavern does not have a dedicated gluten-free menu, but each of the times we’ve dined the waitstaff was very knowledgeable about the gluten-free options available. That’s a big plus! When eating out, it is unsettling to have a waitstaff that does not understand gluten-free accommodations—amiright? The staff at Brown’s explained their gluten-free accommodations and confirmed that each item they brought us was gluten-free. As an added bonus, many of their menu items are locally sourced. (And I mean local. I actually know some of these farmers personally!)
The menu specials change weekly, but there are some staple gluten-free substitutes including gluten-free tortilla chips (note: the gluten-free chips are not the house-fried tortilla chips. They do not have a dedicated gluten-free fryer), gluten-free buns, and gluten-free pizza crust. On our most recent trip we shared the nachos appetizer (made with gluten-free chips) and Yushak’s pizza.
The nachos came topped with onions, tomatoes, peppers, jalapenos, black olives, cheese, and sour cream and served with a cup of salsa on the side. I’m a sucker for nachos, pretty much any nachos, but I’m telling you—these were excellent! The Yushak’s pizza has on a gluten-free shell and topped with chunks of pepperoni, Yushak’s sausage, and bacon. This honestly is probably one of the best gluten-free pizzas we’ve eaten. I actually asked our server a second time if it was actually a gluten-free pizza. The cheese was so melty and stretchy and the toppings were perfect. There were none of the tell-tell signs that the crust was gluten-free. The texture, consistency, and flavor were spot on for pizza crust. It seriously tasted that good. (It definitely was gluten-free! No gluten reactions!) Plus, can you go wrong with bacon on a pizza?
We’ve had a couple other menu items at past visits including the Tiashoke Farm Wood Fire Grilled Hamburger on a gluten-free bun with a side salad. This choice was also super yummy!
Final Thoughts
I am seriously so impressed with the gluten-free food we ate at Brown’s Walloomsac Taproom. While their gluten-free selection is not expansive, we’ve been a couple times and have not been deprived. Especially when there are more pizza creations to try and their specials change weekly. Have you eaten at Brown’s? If so, share your experience with us in the comments! If visiting the Capital Region of New York, I highly recommend you visit one of the Brown’s Brewing Company restaurant locations.
Also–just to make sure that you don’t make the same mistake we did the first time we ate at Brown’s, I made an Allergy-Alert Restaurant Card just for YOU! Download it now and print at your own convenience. It’s business card sized, so it fits right in your wallet to carry with you whenever you eat out. When you order, give the card to your waiter. Happy dining!
Are you ready to do gluten-free living totally STRESS-FREE? Get FREE instant access to the allergy-alert restaurant card and my WHOLE online library of free printables designed to make your gluten-free lifestyle totally easy!
IS THRIVE MARKET WORTH IT?
This post contains affiliate links. These links help me to earn enough money to refill my coffee so I can keep up with life! My full disclosure isn’t that interesting, but you can find it here.
Is Thrive Market Worth It? A Peek into My Last Thrive Order and How It Price Compares To Amazon!
As grocery stores increasingly stock gluten-free items, is a subscription to Thrive Market worth it? For my family, YES! And here’s why:
First, a Little Introduction to Thrive Market:
Thrive Market is an online store full of amazing organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan, allergen-friendly (you get the idea) products. There is a yearly cost of $59.95 to use it (similar to how you pay for Amazon Prime).
Click here to try Thrive Market completely free for 30 days and save 25% off your first order.
Since Thrive cuts out the “middle man,” you save a decent amount of money on each product you purchase. Plus, they stock many products that I haven’t seen elsewhere and add more all the time.
I know many of you already order specialty food from other online retailers. Is Thrive Market worth it then? I’m an avid Amazon Primer. I often find great deals on gluten-free products there.
note: if you still don’t have Amazon Prime, you can start a 30-day trial for free! Click on the image below to learn more!
But Thrive Market offers many products that either: aren’t available on Prime at all (hard to believe, I know!) or it’s cheaper! Check out my most recent order below (with mini-product reviews) and you’ll see how it compared to local stores and Amazon.com.
Are you ready to do gluten-free living totally STRESS-FREE? Get FREE instant access to my online library of free printables designed to make your gluten-free lifestyle totally easy!
The 3 Main Reasons Why I Joined Thrive Market
1. The variety of products.
I joined Thrive Market last September when I first realized I needed to be dairy-free. This meant that we began to transition from just being a gluten-free household {learn more about my why we eat gluten-free here} to needing family meals that were both gluten-free and dairy free. Finding products locally that met both of those requirements was much more challenging. Once I joined, I discovered so many of our favorite brands were on Thrive Market—and at great prices! Horray! They also sell way more than just food. They have beauty and personal care products, nutrition products, baby products, pet supplies, and more!
Note: they recently started selling meat and sustainable seafood! I haven’t tried it yet, but I’ll review it and let you know how it is!
2. Ease of use.
Before joining Thrive Market, I was often running to 3 grocery stores a week to grab this brand cereal, and this baking mix, and this kind of salad dressing. And I was dragging toddlers with me. It was exhausting! Now I just do an order on Thrive Market once or twice a month while watching TV after my kids go to sleep.
Plus, it is so easy to use! At the grocery store, many products we purchase were in the “gluten-free aisle,” but our favorite salad dressing was in the regular salad dressing aisle, and our favorite tortilla chips in the chips aisle, and Chex is with the normal cereal. With Thrive Market, you can shop by value—just click the “gluten-free” value and it will only show gluten-free items in each category! Easy peasy. 😉
note: if you find a product you’re interested in ordering, please still check the label for appropriate gluten-free labeling. Learn more about gluten-free labeling here.
3. Constant special offers (including freebies!)
The other thing I discovered about Thrive Market (after I joined) is that they frequently give away free items with orders. As I think of items to order, I just add them to my cart and let them sit there as I wait for an email from Thrive with a special offer. I usually get a couple emails each week. More information on that later, but yeah, that part’s awesome.
So, we’re back to our original question—is buying a subscription to Thrive Market worth it? Here’s my Thrive order from June 2018. As I do more orders, I’ll add them here too. This way you can learn more about other great products you can find on Thrive (and my honest review of them too).
My Thrive Market Order: June 2018
Ok, so here’s where I’m going to break it down for you. This is everything I ordered from Thrive Market last week, a short review of the product, and how it price compares to other retailers. The caveat is, prices on both Amazon and Thrive Market change. To see current Amazon pricing, click the Amazon links. This way, you can answer “Is Thrive Market worth it?” for yourself.
Barney Foods Bare Smooth Almond Butter
Almond butter is a staple in Keto & Paleo diets. I tried so many brands of almond butter before I tried this one. So many of the ones I tried were kinda… gritty? They definitely could not replace my beloved peanut butter. But this one? It’s totally smooth. And I use it daily, sometimes a couple times a day. Hence: I ordered two jars. It comes in multiple flavors, this Bare Smooth one that I order does not contain sugar or salt. Barney Foods are certified gluten-free as well as non-GMO verified, certified vegan, peanut free, kosher, and the can is BPA free.
Price on Thrive: $11.99 for 16oz. Click to see the pricing for Barney Butter on Amazon.com (note: I’ve seen this at my local WalMart and Price Chopper ranging around $9 for only 10oz. Definitely order this online!
Thrive Market Brand Organic Raw Cashew Butter
Cashew butter is pretty yummy too. It has a very mild flavor. I rarely eat it on its own, but I use it in a couple recipes. You may see cashew butter listed as an ingredient in Paleo or Keto baked goods. That’s because the flavor isn’t nutty at all! This product is gluten-free, certified organic, kocher, and the can is GPA free and recyclable.
Price on Thrive: $10.99 for 16oz. note: since this is a Thrive Market brand, it is not sold on Amazon, but most 16oz cashew butters on Amazon cost around $18-$20. Big savings here!
Himalania Himalayan Fine Pink Salt
This is a staple in our house. We love Himalayan pink salt for it’s high mineral content. I love this one in particular because the salt is very fine (many Himalayan salts are coarse).
Price on Thrive: $6.99 for 10oz. I can’t find the exact product on Amazon, but the same brand sells a but they sell other salt products by this brand that you can see here!
Coconut Secret Organic Coconut Aminos
Coconut aminos are an excellent gluten-free alternative to soy sauce! Did you know many soy sauces contain gluten? Plus, coconut aminos are soy-free and much lower in sodium. In addition to being gluten and soy-free, this brand is non-GMO verified, certified organic, and certified kosher.
Price on Thrive: $4.99 for 8oz. Click here to see this product at amazon.com. (awesome savings!)
King Arthur Flour Gluten Free Yellow Cake Mix
I bought this to make for Tyler’s upcoming birthday (it’s his favorite!). Click here for a more in-depth review of this cake mix.
Price on Thrive: $5.49. Click here to see this product on amazon.com. (Prime Pantry)
Simple Mills Organic Chocolate Frosting and Vanilla Frosting
We’re trying out the vanilla flavor with Tyler’s birthday cake. The chocolate can is for my birthday! Click here for an in-depth review of the chocolate frosting.
Price on Thrive: $4.39 each. This frosting just came in stock on Amazon (it wasn’t 2 weeks ago when I ordered from Thrive). However, it is only available in 3 packs. You can check it out here at amazon.com
Note: Thrive Market tries really hard to be as Green of a company as possible. Check out this packaging the frosting cans came in! These need to be stored at room temperature, so they came in this crazy insulated pack. To dispose of this packaging, you cut out the insulation (which is biodegradable—recycled denim) and recycle the bag. You then cut open the ice pack inside and dump its contents down the drain (it’s a safe, water-based solution) and recycle the bag. I thought that was pretty cool!
Simple Mills Vanilla Cake Almond Flour Mix
I haven’t tried this product yet (I will update this post when I do!), but I’m excited to bake this. I ordered two mixes (one’s for my mom–haha). When I eat Simple Mills products, I actually kinda feel healthy. These cake mixes only have 6 ingredients [Almond Flour, Organic Coconut Sugar, Arrowroot Powder, Organic Coconut Flour, Baking Soda, Sea Salt]. This has no fillers or preservatives. In addition to being certified gluten free, this mix is certified kosher, non-GMO project verified, and made in the USA!
Price on Thrive: $5.99 each. Check out 3 packs at amazon.com.
One With Nature Dead Sea Mineral Soap, Lavender Scent by One With Nature
In addition to food, Thrive Market is a great place to find personal care products. I also order cleaning products and some baby products! This soap is cruelty-free, sustainably farmed & sourced, gluten-free, and vegan. Plus, it smells ah-mazing! I am a huge fan of this product (and will probably order an unscented bar for Tyler on my next order).
Price on Thrive: $3.19 for a 7oz bar (the bar’s huge!). Amazon itself doesn’t sell this bar individually, but you can buy a these in 3 packs on amazon.com. Way cheaper on Thrive Market!
Thrive Market Organic Vanilla Mint Lip Balm, 4 pack
I ordered these kinda on a whim. It’s difficult to find gluten-free chapstick, and I was totally enticed by the vanilla-mint scent. O.M.G. these are wonderful. So smooth, and the scent is heavenly. It even feels kinda minty on your lips. I think I’ll give some away as gifts, no joke. In addition to gluten-free, these lip balms are also cruelty free, certified organic, non-toxic, sustainably farmed, paraben-free, and made in the USA.
Price on Thrive: $6.99 for the 4pk (less than $2 per lip balm). Since this is Thrive brand, Amazon does not have the same product. But I did a quick search for organic 4pk lip balm and discovered they range from $8-$15. However, I’m not sure which ones (if any) are gluten-free.
Thrive Market Organic Ghee & Virgin Coconut Oil
Remember when I said I’d get back to the free product with purchase thing? Well, this was my free product for placing a $59 order. I honestly just fill up my Thrive cart and wait for an email about a free product with that day’s purchase and order away! I’ve gotten free products with each order ranging in values from $8-$25! In my first few orders I made back my subscription cost in free bonus products alone.
Price on Thrive: $10.99 for a 13.5oz jar. Click here to see similar products at amazon.com.
It’s hard to see how much I really saved shopping on Thrive (since many products on Amazon only came in 3 or 6 pks instead of individually), but I’m estimating I saved around $15 not including the free product I received worth $10.99. Two orders like this would recoup the subscription cost. Plus, I didn’t have to drive anywhere or push two toddlers demanding fruit snacks through the store. Is Thrive Market worth the subscription? YES!
Update: Watch me opening my most recent order here:
Thrive Market Order: August 2018
Thrive Market Unboxing August 2018
Have you seen the ads for Thrive Market and wondered if it actually lives up to the hype? I do about 1 order a month from Thrive Market to stock up on essentials and try fun new products! Thrive is one of the tools that helps us live gluten-free STRESS-FREE! If you’re curious, use my referal code to get 1 free month of Thrive Market and 25% off your first order: http://thrv.me/thehelpfulgf
Do you use Thrive Market? Tell us your favorite products in the comments below! Don’t forget to share this video with your friends. 🙂
Wanna know more about Thrive Market? Read my in-depth review here: https://thehelpfulgf.com/is-thrive-market-worth-it/
Want to learn mroe about gluten-free certification and what it means? Click here: https://thehelpfulgf.com/gluten-free-certification-and-labeling-unraveling-gluten-free-shopping-in-the-united-states/Posted by The Helpful GF on Saturday, August 18, 2018
Ok, so you’ve learned about Thrive Market and peeked at my orders to see how much I’ve saved using Thrive, we’re back to our original question. Is buying a subscription to Thrive Market worth it? While not every product is cheaper than Amazon, Thrive is definitely competitive. Plus, I personally find the ease of use makes Thrive Market worth $5 a month. Take the plunge and try it now, for free plus take an additional 25% off your first order! You have nothing to lose—except, maybe, driving to 3 different grocery stores each week trying to find all your gluten-free essentials.
Are you ready to do gluten-free living totally STRESS-FREE? Get FREE instant access to my online library of free printables designed to make your gluten-free lifestyle totally easy!
Are you a current Thrive Market user? Do you find your subscription to Thrive Market worth it? If so, comment below with your favorites from Thrive!
