When you have Coeliac Disease, snacks are often a lifesaver. When you’re out and about, suddenly you get a bit hungry. Are there any gluten free serving places available to grab something? Very rarely. This is why someone with Coeliac Disease needs to have some good on the go gluten free snacks available!
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Not too long ago, I went to a concert with my sister and our friend. I made the most basic Coeliac mistake a person can make. I didn’t take any food with me. It wasn’t until I was hopping off the bus that I realised – what was I going to eat?!
Maybe it was judgemental of me, but I had to assume that none of the events provided bars or food truck would have:
- Something Coeliac safe
- Something my ARFID would allow
In a gluten free panic I ran into the nearest Tesco and grabbed some quick snacks to shove in my bag. Ironically, I didn’t even end up eating them but I felt better knowing that if I did need something, I’d have it.
It got me thinking about how when you have Coeliac Disease, quick and easy on the go snacks are something of an essential. So I’ve put together 5 of the best on the go gluten free snacks that I’ve found since I’ve been diagnosed with Coeliac Disease.
Just a quick thing to note: these aren’t specifically super healthy, good for you snacks. They’re just things that I’ve found in the little supermarkets and shops around me that I’ve found are good to have on hand for a quick something that’s also gluten free!
Want to brush up on your Coeliac knowledge first? Check out Coeliac Disease: Learning the Gluten Free Life for all the info you need!
1. Schär Gluten Free Pretzels
These have been a favourite of mine since before I was even diagnosed with Coeliac Disease! They’re such a good snack to have on you if you’re in the mood for something a little savoury.
These gluten and wheat free pretzels are the perfect size to just chuck in your bag on your way out the door. Then when you’re feeling a bit peckish around midday? A brilliant on the go gluten free snack to keep you going.
I like them because they’ve got plenty of salt on them which is great for me because I put (too much) salt on everything. Plus, I’m usually able to find them in most of the little shops around my home or work making them really easy to pick up. Depending where you get them, they can be a little expensive for the bag size but that’s generally standard for gluten free food!
2. Nairns Chocolate Chip Oat Biscuit Breaks
Another one I am in love with are these choc chip biscuits from Nairns! I’ve always struggled with any kind of oaty, breakfast-y biscuit type of food. A lot of them contain nuts which, as I’m allergic to them, is not ideal. So when I found these I was so pleased that I could actually eat them!
They come in individually wrapped packs of four (four packs to a box). I like to have them as a mid morning snack at work. They’re especially good for a quick breakfast on the go when I’ve ‘accidentally’ slept in and not had time for breakfast. Throw a pack in my bag and I’ve got a great on the go gluten free snack to eat while I’m waiting for my bus or at my desk. They can sometimes be a little dry so I’d advise a good cup of tea (or drink of your preference) to partner them with to really enjoy them.
They’ve also got some other flavours that I’ve yet to give a try. This is mainly because I only ever seem to see these ones in my locals but I’m on the lookout for the salted caramel ones!
Only problem with this one – if you’re reactive to gluten-free oats then these unfortunately will not be a safe option for you. They do state on the box ‘not suitable if you react to Avenin – a protein in oats’.
3. Nomo’s Caramel and Sea Salt Chocolate Bars
This is a delicious on the go snack that I discovered way before I was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease. It was actually their easter eggs that I found first. Having a number of allergies, I was always interested to see what the ‘free from’ options were as so much chocolate these days has ‘may contains’. The Nomo bars are not only gluten free, but also free from nuts, eggs and dairy!
You can read more about the differences between Coeliac Disease and Allergies in this post!
I love these chocolate bars because the chocolate is really thick which is always great. Caramel and sea salt is not a flavour I would normally ever go for but I somehow ended up loving these particular bars. The chocolate is delicious and if it wasn’t for the packaging you wouldn’t even notice they weren’t just regular chocolate. Then they’ve got this great salty kick that just ties it all together.
These are a really good on the go snack for if you’re craving something sweeter. They’re a good size so that you get that sugar hit but don’t overdo it. My only downside to these is they can be a little bit on the expensive side. For their size, it’s sometimes a little hard to justify the slightly higher price.
4. Co-op Milk Chocolate Covered Rice Cakes
Another little snack I found shortly after being diagnosed with Coeliac Disease. I was walking up and down the aisles in my local Co-op trying to find something, anything I could take to work with me that was gluten free. I’d started at the tiny offering on the free from section and came away empty handed.
This was one of my first instances of finding an ‘accidental’ gluten free product. The Co-op Milk Chocolate covered rice cakes are a brilliant on the go snack to have on hand. Even though I’ve always found rice cakes to be a bit of a weird texture, these are great because of the melted chocolate on top.
They come in a pack of six and even though I can usually make a packet last a few days at least – I’ve found them to be very moreish! Weird thing to say about a rice cake, I know.
Because they’re not specifically ‘gluten-free’ they’re at a decent price point (though to ease any Coeliac minds, there is a little gluten free label on the front of the packet!).
5. Tesco’s Free From Chocolate Coated Honeycomb
This on the go gluten free snack is one I discovered very recently and was soo glad I did. I picked them up mainly because I thought they looked like the Crunchie Bites and thought I’d give them a try.
I’d say they’re nicer than the proper ones and I actually ended up eating the entire bag in one go…oops? The chocolate’s good, tastes just like regular chocolate. What I liked most was that the honeycomb part wasn’t too hard. I’ve often found that regular Crunchies can be a little tough. Since that first try I’ve picked some up whenever I’ve seen them to have as a snack in my bag in case I ever got stuck for something to eat.
Decent enough price as they’re Tesco’s own brand and you actually get quite a lot in the bag! Not the healthiest option, but honestly we already can’t have gluten. Why deprive ourselves further?
So there you have my top 5 recommendations for the best on the go gluten free snacks! While they’re definitely not the healthiest or probably what you’d expect from a list post like this, they’re the ones I’ve found and liked the best.
They’re quick and easy to grab on your way out the door or on your way to work and they taste great. Having both ARFID and Coeliac Disease has meant that gluten free snacks have become something of a necessity so if you have any recommendations, be sure to leave them in the comments! I’d love to hear your favourites!
If you liked this post, why not check this one out? Which Gluten Free Biscuits Are Worth Dunking In Your Tea?
