We Tried The Best Gluten-Free Pre-Packaged Snacks

By Haley Lindenberg on May 4, 2017

If you have celiac disease, are gluten-sensitive or are just trying to avoid gluten in your diet, you probably know that most “gluten-free” foods come with the connotation of being, well, bland. Gluten-free bagels or bread typically taste like flavorless bricks, and crackers are a bit tough to chew. Some that actually do taste good are usually loaded with enough sugar to make a piece of tree bark tasty.

As a recently diagnosed celiac, I’ve been on the hunt to always have the perfect GF foods on hand so I never feel hungry or like I’m missing out. Here are some of the ones I (and non-gluten free co-workers) tried and would definitely recommend.

Chef’s Cut Real Snack Sticks 

We tried many of the Chef’s Cut jerky stick flavors, and they were so tasty. There are buffalo and BBQ chicken sticks for those poultry lovers, and original and jalapeno pork and beef sticks for those who like a meaty flavor. These snacks are wrapped just like a Slim Jim, but are healthier and provide a perfectly balanced sweet and salty crunch. These protein-packed, gluten free, no nitrates added snacks add the perfect punch for a before- or after-class boost of energy. Bonus: these treats are light and easy to throw in your gym bag! We recommend keeping them in the wrapper while you eat them so you don’t smell like jerky all day!

Udi’s

Always missing out on the office donuts and bagels? No worries. Udi’s had got you covered for your occasional morning treat! Their double-chocolate muffins are fluffy and light with the perfect touch of sweet. We don’t recommend making these a regular habit though – they’re not low in calorie. But hey, even gluten-free eaters deserve to treat themselves, right? Insider tip – pop them in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds. You’ll thank us later.

Quinn’s Pretzels  

While you can tell that these are gluten free, I still found them to be addicting. I liked the honey flavor the best! These make for a good cracker or pretzel substitute when you’re craving a crunch that only this childhood favorite can fulfill.

Urban Remedy Cacao Brittle

These unique treats look nothing like banana bread, but if you close your eyes, you might think you’re eating a slice. Blended brittle packed with banana, coconut, almonds, vanilla and cinnamon, these are a great GF sweet snack that won’t give you a sugar crash later in the day.

Glutino’s Pretzel Twists

We’ll pass on the greasy potato chips. These pretzel twists make the perfect salty snack. With their light and crunchy texture, they can be dangerously addicting. The best part? You can have 24 pretzels for 120 calories. (Psst: for those of you with a sweet tooth, they make yogurt-covered and chocolate covered versions too!)

Explore Cuisine Soybean Noodle Soup

While this technically isn’t a snack, it was so delicious that I thought it was worth a review. After all, on a cold day, who doesn’t want noodle soup? Packed with 11g of fiber and 21g of protein, this soybean noodle soup is the way to go. It comes with everything you need, including a microwaveable container, a fork and total control over the seasoning. Pre-packaged soups are usually filled with sodium, but all of the salt and seasoning comes in their own packets so you can control how much you put in. Microwave for three minutes and—bam—you have a light meal or a hearty snack.