My Plant-Based Family

Feeding My Family a Whole Food, Plant-Based Diet, On a Budget

Gluten and Allergen Free Expo

My Top 3 Pasta Picks from the Phoenix Gluten and Allergen Free Expo

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People always ask me what kind of pasta we eat. It’s a tough question to answer because I don’t always stick to one brand. Typically, I rotate between several different brands of pasta. We buy gluten-free pasta and I look for brands that have a small ingredients list.

At the Expo several companies were selling gluten-free pasta. Some were even handing out samples of cooked pasta to try.

My Top 3 Pasta Picks

Rizopia

Rizopia

I didn’t get to try a sample of Rizopia at the Expo but they gave me a package to take home. After visiting with them more and learning about the pasta I bought several bags at a super low expo price. Everyone else had the same idea because this rice based pasta sold out before the Expo was over.

I’ve only tried the penne so far but the whole family enjoyed it. It cooked up nice and al dente. It did not get mushy! I’ve had to toss out whole pans of other brands but I’m impressed with Rizopia. It is also certified gluten-free, organic, and produced in a facility that is wheat, gluten, egg, dairy, nut and corn free.

One last thing I appreciate about Rizopia is that they have large (16 oz) bags of pasta for an affordable price. If you live in the US you can purchase Rizopia via Amazon.

local oven

Local Oven

The Local Oven booth was cooking up fresh pasta (and bread) at the Expo. The pasta I sampled tasted great. The pasta is made from corn, which I usually enjoy. I would not have suspected it was gluten-free because it tasted so great.

Local Oven is probably better known for it bread. Many restaurants use their bread to offer gluten-free options for their customers, I even found one local restaurant that offers it. Many, but not all, of their products are also dairy and soy free. Products can be ordered from their website.

Viviana

Viviana

The Viviana booth was also handing out samples of their pasta that was not only gluten-free but also vegan. One of the things that impressed me the most is that they cooked their pasta the day before and it was still great. They have a dedicated facility that is free from gluten, wheat, potato, soy, corn, dairy, casein, eggs, tree nuts and peanuts.

Viviana’s products don’t just taste great, they look like a work of art. Perhaps that is because they are handmade. They have different pasta flavors like Sweet Potato, Italian Blend, and Spinach Basil to a name a few. You can purchase Viviana products on their website, at select stores and on Amazon.

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Do you have a favorite gluten-free pasta? Have you tried Rizopia, Local Oven or Viviana?

 

Gluten and Allergen Free Expo Recap: Sweet Treats Edition

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I hope I’m painting a clear picture for you of my experience at the Gluten and Allergen Free Expo I attended in Phoenix. The Chicago Expo is coming up soon and I heard it’s even better. Today I’ll share a few of my favorite Sweet Treats from the Expo. I can’t possible mention all of the great vendors, and while all of them were gluten-free many contained other allergens that I can’t give to my son with multiple food allergies. As always carefully read labels to make sure any food recommended is appropriate for you and your family.

Gluten and Allergen Free Expo Sweet Treats

Pascha

Pascha Organic Dark Chocolate

One of the first booths I visited was for Pascha Organic Dark Chocolate. Let me tell you why I love Pascha!

  • In addition to be organic Pascha’s ingredients are non-GMO and fair trade
  • Made in a dedicated allergen-free facility (free from peanuts, nuts, dairy, soy, wheat, gluten, and egg)
  • They taste great!

I sampled two products, the 55% cacao and 70% cacao; the 55% didn’t taste like dark chocolate, it tasted like milk chocolate. The 70% taste like perfect dark chocolate, not too sweet or bitter. I’m a dark chocolate light-weight but I could eat this regularly. I didn’t taste the other varieties but I’m sure they are fantastic.

Pascha is available at select stores, on their website and even on Amazon.

HomeFree

HomeFree

I brought a sample of HomeFree Chocolate Chip cookies home for my kids to try, they loved them. Many HomeFree products are vegan and organic. They use a dedicated facility so their products are free from peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, dairy, wheat and gluten; additionally they use non-GMO ingredients.

I think these cookies are perfect for lunch boxes and road trips. We enjoyed our sample at the park. You can find them at select stores, on their website or Amazon.

Enjoy Life

Enjoy Life

I mentioned Enjoy Life in yesterday’s Savory Snacks recap but they are probably better known (and loved) for their Sweet Treats. They have a lot to offer in the Sweets category. We enjoyed their Crisp Sugar Cookies and Vanilla Honey Graham Cookies on our last road trip. I haven’t tried their Soft Baked Cookies yet.

I’ve been a HUGE fan of their Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Chips and Mega Chunks for years. I have a feeling their new Dark Chocolate Morsels will be life changing.

All Enjoy Life Foods products are certified gluten-free and are non-GMO. I easily find their products in most stores but they can also be found on Amazon.

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There were many other wonderful companies at the Gluten and Allergen Free Expo. Coming up, I’ll share some of my new favorite pastas, my favorite lipstick and more.

I used Amazon affiliate links in this post. 

Gluten and Allergen Free Expo Recap: Savory Snacks Edition

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This week I’ll finish up my recaps of the Gluten and Allergen Free Expo. I know this was just a 2 day event but there was a lot to see and taste.

way better snacks

Way Better Snacks

I regularly get emails from readers who see nachos in my Meal Plan or Chips and Salsa and are surprised that we still eat chips. I tell them that not all chips are created equal, Way Better Snacks easily proves this point. Their tortilla chips are made from sprouted grains and seeds. Additionally they are non-GMO and certified Gluten-Free (plus they are nut-free).

Way Better Snacks tortilla chips have a wide variety of flavors including Simply Unbeatable Blues, Simply Beyond Black Bean, Simply So Sweet Chili (my favorite) and No Salt Naked Blues. They have a clean and pure taste that avoid the greasy feel of the junk food chips you gave up.

Nacho

Beanfields

I’ve been a fan of Beanfields chips for quite a while. When I first learned about my youngest son’s allergies we started eating their Sea Salt Chips. I loved them, I’ll even admit to hiding them so I didn’t have to share. At the Expo I was able to sample several flavors but the one that stood out the most were the Nacho flavor. Beanfields gave me a sample to take home and everyone in my family LOVED them including my teenager! All of the chips are crisp and full of flavor!

Today they announced two new flavors Barbecue and Ranch. I have yet to taste these but I’m looking forward to it.

Plentils

Enjoy Life

If you have been around this blog or my kitchen you know I love Enjoy Life products. When I see the Enjoy Life label I’m confident that my son can eat safely. They have a life of chips called Plentils. Like the other two companies mentioned there were constantly people lined up at the Expo asking for these chips. I’m pretty sure they ran out. I didn’t get a chance to sample all of these so I don’t have a favorite flavor but if you are looking for an allergy-friendly chip give Plentils a try.

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If you missed my recap of local (Arizona) businesses and organizations that attended the expo click here. This week I’ll continue to share more about my experience at the Gluten and Allergen Free Expo. I can hardly wait to share my favorite pasta companies and some of the sweet treats you don’t want to miss.

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