So you’ve been gluten- free for awhile and you’re finding it a bit expensive. I know, I’ve been there, $7.00 for a loaf of bread that goes stale within a day seems a little over the top doesn’t it?

If you read labels you will soon learn that many pre-packaged, gluten-free items are loaded with sugar and starches and lack any real nutrients.

Maybe you don’t have time to bake everything from scratch or you have found some recipes online that just don’t turn out and you end up throwing out your hard, hockey puck like cookies!

Here are some helpful tips for going gluten- free and staying on a budget!

1)      Visit your local bulk store, many gluten free grains, flours and pastas are much cheaper when purchased in bulk

2)      Eat more whole foods- cut down on pre-packaged store bought gluten-free foods and make vegetarian meals with beans, lentils and vegetables

3)      If you follow a Paleo diet, find a local farmer and share a meat order with a neighbour or friend, or watch for sales on organic chickens and beef- you can always freeze them

4)      Make your own cakes and cookies – try mixing your own gluten- free flours as opposed to buying them pre- mixed. I like to mix brown rice flour, chickpea flour and tapioca starch as a gluten-free base

5)      Make your own bean dips and hummus they take 5 minutes to make- try my roasted red pepper hummus

6)      Make your own soup in large quantities and freeze it in glass jars for those crazy weekends or week nights when you have no time to cook

7)      Make your own broth from the chicken carcass and freeze in glass jars for soups. If you are a vegetarian add celery, carrots, onion, garlic and fresh herbs to a pot of water and simmer to make your own broth

8)      Check out the reduced item shelves at your local grocery- sometimes they have bananas that are going brown (put them in the freezer for banana bread) older vegetables can be purchased, steamed and frozen for later

9)      Use a slow cooker as it cheaper than heating up your oven

10)  Join a food coop as it saves when buying in bulk

11)  Shop at Costco or online at Amazon.com for gluten-free items and purchase with a friend

12)  Make your own lunch from leftover dinner

13)  Check for online coupons at sites like www.BeFreeForMe.com