On more than one occasion since Blair’s diagnosis, I have found myself so grateful for the changes our family had already made. Reducing packaged and processed foods. Utilizing the honest, farm-fresh food we are so grateful to have available to us in our town. And that it was already something we had put into practice. So when we came home with not only a Type 1 diagnosis but celiac disease as well it was an overnight change that didn’t cause too much of a shock. And because I know we are not the only family to be facing specific dietary needs, I wanted to share a handful of low-carb and gluten-free food finds that we have fallen in love with! Because us moms always have to share what is working for us – wink!

Our approach:

As we dove into this change, we knew we were going to keep our standards high as to what we would invite into our home. Fueling Blair with “sugar-free” options that have other additives simply so she can feel like a “normal” kid was not going to be our mode of operation. We don’t subscribe to that type of thinking. I have a strong desire to continue introducing Blair to nourishing and rich foods (just like I do with all of my kiddos). Foods that are delicious and allow her to experience the benefits of eating intentionally for herself. I also knew that I needed some quicker go-to options since it is not feasible for me to cook every single thing from scratch. So from the start, we knew “sugar-free” options were out and we would also be staying away from sugar alcohols like Erythritol and Xylitol. Why trade one problem for another, right? 

In order to help Blair not feel like she has zero options when it comes to bread, I set out to find an option as one of my first hurdles. This was a really tough one! There are a lot of gluten-free options out there, but a crazy high carb count. Luckily, we have discovered a select few. Here are the ones that are now must-haves in our home:

Unbun Bread

This is not only delicious bread for being gluten and grain-free, but it’s also one I can find locally. My mother was so sweet to order BFree bread for Blair for when we came home from the hospital, but it is so hard to track down! And ordering is a nightmare. I am so glad we tried Unbun bread and that Blair loves it. If you are looking for classic sandwich bread, this is it. They also have some other options such as baguettes and bagels. Haven’t tried them, but worth looking into!

FoxHill Kitchens Bagels & Buns

Gluten-free, dairy-free, and grain-free bagels and buns. Can I get an amen?! With 9 grams of carb per, but also 8 grams of protein Blair enjoys these a lot! Whether it is a bagel in the morning topped with fresh alfalfa sprouts or a burger on Friday night. I am so glad we found out about FoxHill Kitchens when we did. They also have things like bread mix and even croutons. We haven’t tried those yet, but the bagels and buns are a definite green light! And a big two thumbs up from us!

Other bread finds

For tortillas, we have had really good luck with EggLife tortillas (get the southwestern style for tacos – so good!). And there are also Crepini egg wraps that I find at our local Costco. If sugar alcohols aren’t something you are concerned about, check out the SmartBuns from the Smart Baking Co. I ordered a box in the middle of the night and missed the ingredient check. Note to self: don’t shop at 3:30 AM when stressed about treating a high blood sugar spike and stalking your daughter’s CGM!

A stellar option for sauce

Sauces are tough. Again, a lot of sugar-free options, but no matter what a lot on the carb count. I was so thrilled to discover Bitchin’ Sauce. Excuse my language 😉 Blair and I love the Chipotle flavor to add on top of our tacos or to dip a fry in. They even have a spinach artichoke dip. What is really nice about this brand is that the serving size is large for a low carb count. We are talking 2 tablespoons and only 2 or 3g of carb. Which is a big deal for a sauce! 

I am able to find this larger size of our favorite flavor at our local Costco, but you can also shop them online.

Something sweet

This was an area that I knew I had to get right quickly for her. Again, I never want her to think that her being a “normal” kid has anything to do with what she puts in her mouth. HOWEVER. I also understand cravings and scratching an itch when it’s needed. The goal is not deprivation. The goal is quality. And, of course, low blood sugars!

Keto Pint Ice Cream

Ice cream was a big one and the Keto Pint brand slays in the dessert department. Blair enjoys these often and I love seeing the minimal effect it has on her blood sugars. They don’t have a chalky taste and have so many flavor options available.

Koia Keto Protein Drink

Sometimes Blair dips really low at night and one thing I have had amazing luck with is this Koia Keto protein drink. On a whim, I ordered several of these after discovering them. And while we have to come to find that not all of the flavors are created equal, Blair raves about the chocolate brownie one. It tastes just like chocolate milk. What is nice is that the 12g of protein helps her rise slower and stay steadier. It is still hard to wait for those 15 to 20 minutes while it goes to work when she does dip down, but then she has a smooth night after.

Make sure to read the labels on each flavor. They aren’t all the same carb count. I simply find this at our local Whole Foods, but you can also purchase through Amazon Fresh.

Munk Pack Granola Bars

It was a big deal to try and find a quality granola bar that wasn’t packed with sugars and carbs. Because granola bars are such a great on-the-go option to treat a low. We tried KIND bars, but they were not as gentle on her blood sugars as I wanted them to be. 

We then discovered Munk Pack and have really liked having them on hand and for on the go. Our favorite is the coconut cocoa chip – I just grab these through Amazon when we need to stock up again. She loves that they are soft and chewy. Munk Pack also has cookies and nut & seed bars you can shop online.

We are only two months into this journey so I am sure I will have loads of finds to share the longer we go. However, I hope this handful of our favorite low-carb and gluten-free food finds gives you some great options for your home!

Is there something out there that we just have to know about? I would love to hear about it and hopefully keep growing our list of type 1 and celiac-friendly food finds!

Let me know below 😉