Ah, food. It’s hard to resist the aromas of home-made meals and the lasting taste of exquisite entrees. Lovers of food often wear their hearts on their sleeves, but, sometimes, you must guard your heart a bit more closely.
For people with celiac disease, which causes inflammation in the small intestine, or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, giving their hearts away to just any food is not an option. Having this condition requires a gluten-free diet, which cuts out foods with grains such as wheat, barley and rye.
Attempting to eat healthy on a college budget is difficult, and with a condition that limits what you can eat, the attempt only becomes more difficult. Luckily, there are plenty of restaurants and food brands that won’t break your food rules or your wallet. For those who are gluten-free, the search is now over, and you can, once again, open up your heart and your taste buds to the delicious flavors around you.
Restaurants
Darbster
Darbster is more than a restaurant; it’s a foundation. This natural, organic, vegetarian-friendly and gluten-free business donates all of their profits to the Darbster Foundation, which assists in animal welfare and animal rights. Darbster is a waterside restaurant that serves brunch items, such as pancakes, French toast, BLT’s and tuna wraps, and dinner items, such as nachos, wellington, salads and appetizers. They also have “living foods” for the health-conscious, such as pesto lasagna, rawchos, wild berry pancakes and flax tomato sandwiches. Any sandwiches can be made with gluten-free bread, and many items, including tempeh bacon, sweet potato fries, maple walnut cheesecake, nachos, zucchini with walnut pesto and seasonal gazpacho, are completely gluten-free.
Joey’s Home Bakery Gluten-Free
Owner Joey Weiss bakes a variety of foods with no preservatives, artificial ingredients, high fructose corn syrup or hydrogenated oil. All of the treats are gluten-free, wheat-free whole grain and have no trans fat. Bakery items include chocolate chip cookies, biscotti, muffins, bagels, breads, cakes and more. Many of their products are sold online for no more than $25, and they even make custom cakes. Their bread is also served at Luna Rosa Italian Restaurant and Bagel Bistro at Tequesta.
Weezie’s Gluten-Free Kitchen
This restaurant, owned and operated by a wheat-intolerant chef with a background in French and vegetarian baking, offers breakfast, lunch, baked goods and catering. All food is gluten-free and includes meals such as omelets, French toast, oatmeal, breakfast burritos, pizza, sandwiches, burgers and quiche.
Original Pancake House
This franchise offers many delicious options for those who are, and are not, gluten-free. They’re famous for their apple pancakes, oven-baked pancakes with fresh granny smith apples and cinnamon glaze, and Dutch Bay, a baked dough served with lemon and powdered sugar. Although not all of their items can be made gluten-free, their pancakes, crepes, waffles and eggs benedict can be. Until March 31, there is even a coupon available on their website for a free short stack of pancakes.
Burger and Beer Joint
This place is known for its burgers being a blend of brisket and black angus beef. They also serve The Mother Burger, a 10-pound premium black angus beef burger that, if eaten within two hours, is free. Their signature burgers have toppings such as fried eggs, guacamole, chili, applewood smoked bacon, fresh mozzarella and more. All burgers can be served with gluten-free buns for an additional dollar.
Caffé Europa
Everyone loves fresh pizza or a nice bowl of pasta. At this Italian restaurant, traditional dishes, such as Penne alla Vodka, spaghetti, rigatoni and gnocchi, are served, along with appetizers, salads, meats and pizza. Gluten-free pastas and pizzas are available to customers for an extra charge.
Brands
Blue Diamond Growers
Blue Diamond is known for paying attention to consumers with specific nutritional needs. They’re products are non-genetically engineered, and many of their products are gluten- and lactose-free. The majority of their products fall under the gluten-free category, including snack almonds, Nut-Thins and almond milk. Blue Diamond products can be bought online and in-store at nearby locations, such as Walmart, Target and Publix.
Pamela’s Products
Pamela’s Products takes pride in making gluten-free and natural foods, including baking mixes, cookies and snack bars. The company doesn’t use artificial additives or high-fructose corn syrup and uses GMO-free ingredients. Some of the gluten-free products include cookies, graham crackers, snack bars, flour, baking and pancake mix, bread mix, brownie mix and more. Their products can be found online and in-store at nearby locations, such as Walmart and Target.
Annie’s
These products are as healthy as they are delicious. Aside from having gluten-free products, Annie’s was founded on sustainable practices, including being completely organic and GMO-free and using grass-fed animals. Some of their gluten-free products include macaroni and cheese, fruit snacks, snack bars and cookies. Their products can be found online, in-store at Walmart, Target and Publix and even on-campus at Outtakes.
Ronzoni
Pasta might as well be its own food group, and many people turn to Ronzoni pastas for their spaghetti and lasagna needs. Many people don’t realize that Ronzoni has dedicated a line of pasta products specifically to those who need to remain gluten-free. These pastas are made of white and brown rice, corn and quinoa, and they are sold as elbow macaroni, penne, rotini and spaghetti. Ronzoni products are found online and at Publix, Walmart and Target.
Ancient Harvest
Ancient Harvest originally debuted in the U.S. with their introduction of quinoa in a grocery store in the 1980s. Now, the company has transcended into a completely gluten-free, USDA-certified organic and GMO-free corporation. They make hot cereals, bean and lentil pastas, flour, polentas and many other products they created with quinoa, their prime ingredient. You can find Ancient Harvest products online and at Publix, Walmart and Target.
General Mills
As a kid, there was probably nothing better than waking up early on Saturday mornings, turning on Nick Toons and enjoying a nice bowl of Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Cocoa Puffs or Trix cereals. Cereal, after all, is basically a staple of life. While many people enjoy these sugary kids’ cereals, many overlook the many gluten-free options that General Mills supplies. They make a wide arrange of gluten-free products, including cereals, vegetables, baking products, doughs, meals, yogurts and snacks, that allow everyone, not just children with high sugar intolerances, to enjoy their foods. These products can be found at local grocery stores, including Publix, Walmart and Target, and on-campus at Outtakes.
Darbster
Price: $3-$18
Hours: Tuesday-Friday—5-10 p.m., Saturday—10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sunday—10:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
Address: 8020 South Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach
Phone: 561-586-2622
Joey’s Home Bakery Gluten-Free
Price: $2-$25
Hours: Tuesday-Friday—8 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday—8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday—8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Address: 1532 SW 8th St., Boynton Beach
Phone: 561-292-4004
Weezie’s Gluten-Free Kitchen
Price: $5-$45
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday—7 a.m.-4 p.m., Friday—7 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday—9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Address: 1321 East Commercial Blvd., Oakland Park
Phone: 754-551-6022
Original Pancake House
Price: $5-$12
Hours: Monday-Friday—7 a.m.-2 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday—7 a.m.-4 p.m.
Address: 2851 N. Federal Hwy., Ft. Lauderdale
Phone: 954-564-8881
Burger and Beer Joint
Price: $11-$30
Hours: Sunday-Thursday—11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. and Friday-Saturday—11:30 a.m.-1 a.m.
Address: 11025 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines
Phone: 954-367-8980
Caffé Europa
Price: $9-$26
Hours: Sunday-Thursday—9 a.m.-10 p.m. and Friday-Saturday—9 a.m.-11 p.m.
910 East Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
954-763-6600
