Since I have started trying to lose weight, I am suddenly so much more aware of foods and what is good and not so good for me and my family. I have heard about gluten-free foods, and I know there are plenty of my readers that are gluten-free as are some of my friends. I just had never put much though into it. Until I was contacted by Udi's Gluten Free Foods at least. I am willing to try new things, especially if it will be something I can add to my diet!
My husband and I had a conversation once on how his restaurant has a gluten-free menu. I really had no idea what that meant, so I did a bit of research. On the most basic level, I learned that gluten is protein found in wheat, barley, rye, spelt, kamut, and oats. It is hidden in pizza, pasta, bread, wraps, rolls, and most processed foods. I also learned that it mainly affects those with celiac disease, but it can also cause so many problems for the rest of us....including increased illness, and may be a factor in lupus, irritable bowel disease, osteoporosis, canker sores and so much more. Not only that, but a site or two that I found did indicate that there may be a link to weight loss/gain.
I am willing to try new things. Especially if it means that I get to enjoy something I already like but is healthier for me and tastes the same. So, when Udi's sent me a little goodie package that included their pizza dough, I was all set to try it. I am familiar enough with Udi's to know that they are the #1 gluten free baked goods brand, and they revolutionized the world of gluten-free foods when they introduced the first gluten-free bread that tastes and looks like “real” bread.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect. It looked pretty much the same as the other pizza crusts we have previously used, so that was a good start. The kids added their favorite toppings, popped it in the oven, and we were set.
I was surprised how much I liked it. I am not a huge fan of thick crusts, so I liked how this was thin without being too thin. My kids had an easy time eating it and really enjoyed it, they had no idea there was anything different about this crust than their usual pizza crust. My husband obviously liked it, he had three pizza's to himself. Which is I guess is what would be the only negative, the pizza was a bit small. Perfect for me and my kids to share, but my husband would definitely need at least two (though I will say the full three was a bit much :) ).
In addition to the delicious pizza crust we received, we also got some of the bread, some bagels, and even some muffins. All I can say is that four of those muffins were not enough. We all loved them. We wanted more. The only slight difference I noticed is that they may have seemed a slight bit drier than typical muffins, but really that didn't even matter because the taste was so wonderful! The bagels are light enough for me to eat for breakfast (I am not usually a breakfast person). I actually made my husband a sandwich with the bread and told him that I had just bought different bread that was on sale rather than our usual brand because it was on sale. He actually requested that I get it again! He loved it, and had no idea that it was gluten-free!
Udi's is quickly becoming more available, and Walmart will be carrying of Udi's best selling products: soft white bread, soft whole grain bread, plain bagels, chocolate chip cookies, and the pizza crust, in the bakery department. You can find if your local Walmart is already selling Udi's by visiting: www.udisglutenfree.com/stores.
Disclosure: I was given a sample of Udi's Gluten Free foods for the purposes of this review. All opinions are 100% mine.
0 of you are the "cool kids":
Post a Comment