Gluten-Free on a Budget: 6 Weekly Foods That Nourish on a Budget

We get it. Sometimes changing your eating habits can be expensive. But it doesn’t have to be! While eating an organic, gluten-free diet can be a bit pricey at times, you can stick to a few main staple grocery items each week and still stay on track with your budget.

Here are our main picks:

Load up on fruits and vegetables. Let’s face it, one of the best perks about going gluten-free is that you cut out processed foods and eat more lean meats, fruits and vegetables. Be strategic about what you buy to save even more and take a look at what’s in season before you head to the store. Pineapple tends to be more expensive in the winter and summer months, kale is significantly less expensive than romaine and spinach. 

Make sure you’re getting your protein. We’re a huge fan of loading up on meat—especially when it’s on sale!—and freezing it for later if you can. Chicken, pork, beef, turkey, fish or any other types of lean meat are our best picks. 

Brown rice and beans are your friends! Just about any meat dish can be made better with a little bit of brown rice or beans. If you’re new to gluten-free and are missing that carbohydrate fix that comes with eating pasta, brown rice and beans are a great substitute to help keep you fuller and to get some extra fiber in your diet.

Don’t deny yourself the right to snack: Just because you’re gluten-free doesn’t mean you should have to cut out all of your favorite snacks. While we recommend filling up on fruits, vegetables, proteins and fiber first, go ahead and treat yourself with a little indulgence such as your favorite Riceworks flavor or the gluten-free option of your favorite sweet snack.

The bottom line is, you can eat gluten-free on a budget while still treating yourself! We love the fact that being gluten-free means being more conscious about what you are eating at all times, and sometimes an unintended side effect is that you tend to eat healthier overall. By feeding your body the nutrients it needs and occasionally treating yourself with gluten-free snacks, you’ll be on track to making budget-friendly choices for you and your family.