I can’t eat gluten, I try to avoid dairy and I don’t have tolerance for soy so that leaves very few ‘cream’ drinks I can use for my tea and coffee. I’ve longed used almond milk but have found that the taste, while great for baking, doesn’t work so well for more delicate teas as it overtakes the flavour.

Recently, I began to see coconut milks and creamers pop up in my local Whole Foods. Since I have longed believe in the benefits of coconut oil and water (great for baking & hydration) I picked up So Delicious Coconut Plain Creamer to try.

The first thing I noticed was, unlike coconut water, the creamer looked like regular almond/rice milk which was great because for coffee/tea you want something a little thicker and creamier. On its own, the creamer had a sweeter taste than say regular, almond or rice milk but definitely did not taste much like coconut to me. I tried it in a couple of tea’s and it was perfection. In fact, when I put it with a vanilla Roobios it was so good, I didn’t have add any sweetener.

What I love about this product is that it’s naturally gluten, dairy and soy free – it’s also vegan if that’s a concern. I’ve also tried the vanilla flavour which is definitely sweet and works best for plainer teas instead of flavoured ones like an Earl Grey.

Buy At: Whole Foods & So Delicious

I am a bit of a yogurt snob so I have, for the most part, avoided eating yogurt in America. That’s because most of it has been far too runny, sugary, fruity or light for my tastes. To me, yogurt should be thick, creamy and rich with a slight tang.

I’d come close only a few times with some Greek brands but still felt they lacked the creamy richness I was after. So imagine how happy I was when I discovered the Canadian brand, Liberte and their Mediterrranee line was exactly what I had been looking.

What I love is that even their plain or vanilla brands are so rich in flavour, so very creamy, and perfectly thick & tangy. They’re like mini desserts for after dinner or, mixed with some granola, make a hearty breakfast. The plain is my preferred flavour although they also make some with fruit on the bottom. And it’s real fruit – you can taste the actual strawberries instead of some fruit mock-up. And, they’re hormone free and have ingredients that are basic and you can understand which is important to me.

BUY AT: Whole Foods & Liberte

I always thought chia seeds were nothing more than what gave chia pets hair. But recently I had heard a couple of people I know talk about them and their uses in various recipes. Then I saw Chia Goodness at my local Whole Foods and a few things caught my eye on the packaging.

The first was that it was entirely gluten free. The second was the nutrition that a mere two tablespoons can hold. It’s rich in Omega’s, fiber, protein, iron, magnesium, magnese, vitamin a, vitamin c, riboflavin just to name a few.  And the third thing was the simple, wonderful ingredient list: Chia seeds, Almonds, buckwheat, apples, raisins, Celtic sea salt, cinnamon and cane sugar.

The trick with chia seeds (as with chia pets) is to soak the seeds for a few minutes in whatever you’re eating it with. I put a couple of tablespoons in a plain yogurt and it was just about the best thing I’ve ever tasted. I put it on top of oatmeal and it transformed my morning breakfast. Now I’m looking for more ways to incorporate it and the possibilities seem endless.

A more than great value for a more than great healthy but very tasty treat.

BUY AT: Ruths Hemp Foods

I have never really been a fan of marshmallows but when I had an unlikely craving for rice krispy treats, I began the hunt for gluten-free marshmallows. I couldn’t tell with the traditional ones if they were gluten free or not but then I happened across a tub of Ricemellow Creme which said right on the label, “Gluten Free!”  It also said no animal products, no GMO’s, no fat, no cholesterol, no refined sugars, corn sweeteners preservatives or additives. I was wondering where it said “no good” – but it didn’t and so I thought I’d give it a try.

Opening it up I saw a yellow, fluffy, whipped creme – what traditionally melted marshmallow mixed with butter looks like. I tested it out with a scoop. Then another, then another. I could. not. stop. eating. It was amazing!

And all I had to do was add some gluten-free rice cereal for easy rice krispy snacks but I never got that far. I ended up using this as icing on some cupcakes, I put some in my coffee, and really I just kept some around for a little taste here and there.

I’m sure it’ll make great cookies… someday.

BUY AT: Suzannes Specialties

There’s nothing I love more than a good cup of Earl Grey tea; it’s been a staple in my afternoon for far more many years than I’d like to say. But I recently decided to try to eliminate caffeine from my diet and brewing regular Earl Grey twice (to remove caffeine) seemed too much of a hassle and finding a good cup of decaf seemed even harder.

So imagine how happy I was when I discovered Rishi’s Earl Grey Rooibos Tea which combined my favourites – rooibos and bergamot!

Rooibos has long-proven health benefits and the taste is wonderful anytime of day but combine it with some citrus and bergamot and it becomes the most wonderful afternoon tea that you can have before bed, too. And not only good for your health and taste buds but it’s also good for the environment as Rishi sells only organic, fair trade artisinal teas, so it’s a win-win for everyone.

BUY AT: Rishi Tea

There was a time when I was addicted to those large, moist cinnamon rolls your find at that chain in malls. They were so bad in so many ways but oh so good. Had I not found out I couldn’t eat gluten, I would still be consuming those sugary, non-organic, heart attack inducing masses. I loved them so much.

It’s been a few years since I’ve had a warm, fresh cinnamon bun because I haven’t found gluten-free versions anywhere. But today I discovered Azna Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls in the freezer section at my local Whole Foods. I literally jumped for joy.

However, I’ve learned to not get my hopes up about gluten-free baked goods as most of them just aren’t good. In fact, most of them are terrible – dry, hard, tasteless. So with a mix of hope and fear, I popped my frozen roll into an oven (at 350F) for about 8min. And then, the taste test.

Let’s just say I have no need to ever miss that chain company’s roll’s. For not only are Azna’s gluten free, they’re dairy free, organic, and absolutely undeniably amazing! Moist, flavourful, with icing that is just heaven. In. Love. I am well aware it’s just a baked good but those of you with a (gluten-free) sweet tooth will understand what it’s like to find something that tastes as good – if not better – than things you’ve been without.

Even if you’re not gluten free, do yourself a favour and eat these because although they’re not packed full of vitamins, they are better for you because of the ingredient list. And also, you’re supporting a great little company (check out their site) and gluten free awareness instead of a mass commercial chain.

BUY AT: Azna Gluten Free Web Site or select California Whole Foods.

Admit it, you love it. I love it. Sometimes a person just wants to eat cookie dough. Baking shmaking! However, the problem is that sometimes getting to the cookie dough stage requires too much effort (especially if, like me, you don’t own a microwave and just can’t wait for butter to naturally soften). But for people who can’t eat gluten, finding a ready-made cookie dough has been impossible.

Until GlutenFreeda.

This pre-formed cookie dough bakes a dozen cookies if you can make it that far (I can’t). With several different flavours, these all natural treats are amazing and I confess to being slightly addicted to eating the little dough bits before I can bake them. But on the odd occasion they’ve made their way into the oven, they’ve come out extraordinarily tasty. So you can have instant satisfaction either way!

BUY AT: GlutenFreeda

Now, there’s a few gluten free bars out there on the market and let me just tell you, they make me long even more for gluten products! They’re just nasty, usually lacking in protein and are filled with nuts (or a whole bunch of things your body can’t digest). It’s enough to make a girl weep.

But that’s why I love the Comfort Bar – it really is a comfort to have around! As someone who is on the go far too much, it’s hard to just find something to eat on the fly. So I need to carry something with me at all times in case of an EE (eating emergency) ensues.

The Comfort Bar has 15g of protein, 5g of Fiber – no gluten, trans fats or corn syrup, has 6% of your daily iron and only 180 calories for those of you who count (I don’t, especially since I seem to eat 4 at a sitting).

With all organic ingredients & agave sweetened, it’s the perfect filler for when you need something to satisfy but don’t want to feel like you’re eating chalk. My favourite? The White Chocolate Cherry Chip. Oh. My Word. Eating this bar makes me feel like I’m not missing out on anything else – gluten or not!

BUY AT: Comfort Bar & Whole Foods

Since I travel a lot but can’t eat gluten, eating at airports can be a pain. So I bought this bag to bring with me as a stylish way to bring along lunch or dinner. And if you’re in an office or at school? The perfect lunch bag!

What I love (besides the look) is that it’s waterproof, washable, and big enough to hold a drink plus my food. It’s watersuit material so it keeps my food cold (or hot), doesn’t stand and it’s pliable to roll up or lie flat when not in use. It’s also ecofriendly in the sense I’m not throwing out a bag after every meal!

BUY AT: Built NY and REI and Container Store

I’m one of those people who doesn’t just say she loves chocolate and eats it every day but actually doesn’t. I really do love chocolate and eat it every day. Because of this, I’m a little bit snobby when it comes to chocolate because if I’m going to eat it so much, I need to eat smaller portions and those smaller portions better taste really good and satisfy. The other trick, for me, is to have chocolate that does not contain gluten, which can often be hard to find.

Dagoba became one of my favourite chocolate bars because they were relatively small, had the most amazing flavours (I loved the Blueberry one!) and were certified gluten-free! Then when I began to bake cookies, I needed chocolate chips and discovered Dagoba made the most amazing, huge, dark chocolate chips that were also gluten free! Then when the drinking chocolate started showing up everywhere, I wish I could take part but couldn’t until I discovered Dagoba makes the best dark drinking chocolate that is gluten-free!

Needless to say, Dagoba is my new BFF.

The dark chocolate has a wonderful taste and texture with no chalky aftertaste. And despite it being a dark chocolate, it isn’t so bitter that you wouldn’t enjoy it – you will. Start with a chocolate bar if you’re not sure (lemon, cherries, hot pepper?!) and then graduate up. But I would suggest that you buy the Gift Box for $40 which includes 4 bars, Hot Chocolate, Cacao Powder and Baking Drops. Your sweet tooth will thank you.

BUY AT: Dagoba