![10 top gluten-free finds at Expo East 2014 10 top gluten-free finds at Expo East 2014](https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt09e5e63517a16184/bltafc06db067aebac6/64cbf83cdb0bcc7a8de33eaa/NewHopeNetwork_Horizontal_RGB.png?width=700&auto=webp&quality=80&disable=upscale)
We gave Zema’s multigrain pancake and waffle mix a 2014 Best Bite Award for best allergen-free breakfast, and I was glad to see them strutting their stuff at Expo East. These mixes are truly fantastic, boosted with a “superseed trio” of hemp, chi, flaxseed. I got a bite of the cocoa teff version at the show… mmm. Learn more about Zema's Foods mixes
Last year at Expo East I was blown away by the gluten-free puff pastry surrounding GeeFree snacks (spanakopita, pigs in a blanket), and I urged them to market the puff pastry by itself. Ask and you shall receive! This item is so new that the company didn’t even have samples yet; it’s due out in about 12 weeks. Because puff pastry is the missing link in GF food options, everyone I tell about this says the same thing: Simply. Can’t. Wait. Learn more about GeeFree products
It’s inexplicable that shirataki noodles, made from konjac yam, haven’t taken off yet. They’ve got so much going for them: zero calories, zero allergens, zero net carbs, vegan, USDA Organic, non-GMO, high fiber, made in the U.S., and pretty much ready to eat in a few seconds. They’re like cellophane noodles; ideal for stir-fries and Asian-style soups. Power to the noodle! Learn more about Miracle Noodle
Tigernuts are actually a tuber vegetable and apparently the best source of resistant starch (which feeds good gut bacteria) in the known universe. The smart people behind this brand have turned it into four certified organic products, including gluten-free flour, which tastes slightly sweet. This ingredient has potential written all over it. Love all the hashtags and handles on the packaging, too. Learn more about Our True Roots products
OK, not actually a food, but I’m enamored of these stickers, toothpick flags, and silicone tags designed to clearly identify gluten-free serving pieces and foods. Any food-service operation could use these to label takeout containers, dedicated GF utensils, pots, cutting boards, and/or gluten-free food items like cupcakes. I’m definitely going to use the flags at my next party to identify GF options. Learn more about Gluten-Free Labels
So simple! Just popped quinoa, ready to eat as a cereal; certified gluten free, vegan, kosher, and in process for non-GMO certification, they’re flavored with a little sugar (but still only 100 calories per serving). I liked the airy texture and crunch. Learn more about Pereg Quinoa Pops Cereals
These are a little too sweet for my palate, but the six flavors deliver decadent taste (Chocolate Raspberry was my fave), and you gotta love ‘em for being certified vegan, kosher, non-GMO, and of course gluten free, made with plant-based colors and extracts. These frozen-and-thaw treats drew quite a crowd at the show. Learn more about The Piping Gourmets Whoopie Pies
Hard to believe there would be something new in the crowded granola category, but this certified-gluten-free version was instantly addictive, thanks to a chewy, luscious texture and yummy flavors like Cashew Apricot. This would be a treat for breakfast or dessert (use it as a cobbler topping!). Love the great branding, too. Learn more about The Toasted Oat products
This Australian outfit launched another winner with a fun, tic-tac-toe cereal that’s completely allergen-free and non-GMO. Sure, it looks conventional, but it’s lower in sugar and sodium than anything like it, and it doesn’t contain weird artificial ingredients or colors. Learn more about Freedom Foods products
A totally new take on coconut: pliable wraps, made with coconut, coconut water, and salt—that’s it. These are the best tortilla alternative I’ve seen: paleo-friendly, nice light texture, eco-friendly packaging, and shelf-stable (unopened) for months. I like both the plain and the curry-flavored versions. Learn more about The Pure Wraps products
A totally new take on coconut: pliable wraps, made with coconut, coconut water, and salt—that’s it. These are the best tortilla alternative I’ve seen: paleo-friendly, nice light texture, eco-friendly packaging, and shelf-stable (unopened) for months. I like both the plain and the curry-flavored versions. Learn more about The Pure Wraps products
Top 10 #glutenfree finds at Natural Products Expo East 2014 @newhope360 #expoeast #gf
Gluten-free foods maintained their phenomenal growth curve at Natural Products Expo East 2014. These days, it almost feels de rigueur for a natural-foods item to tout a gluten-free certification.
And glory be: The days of “just good enough” or cardboard-texture gluten-free foods are truly a distant memory. Delicious, excellent-texture offerings are now standard, thanks to ongoing manufacturing innovation and increasing use of nutrient-rich, real-food ingredients.
These 10 foods spotted on the show floor are just a small sampling of the many worthy gluten-free finds featured at Natural Products Expo East. What were your favorites?
One looking-forward thought: Though gluten-free isn’t going anywhere, we’re hearing rumblings about “low-gluten” foods for people who may feel better on a GF diet but who don’t need to eliminate gluten 100 percent for medical reasons. We’re interested to see how “low-gluten” or “healthy gluten” foods—featuring heirloom wheat varieties like khorasan and freekah, which purportedly digest much better than highly processed gluten-containing foods—fare in the near future.
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