This particular one is made with brown rice flour.īoil your brown rice macaroni as you would regular pasta, and once at your desired consistency, drain and transfer serving portions to bowls. We're partial to one called Rizopia, also made in Canada. Presenting Daiya cheese as an option for an occasional indulgence that is relatively healthy is my way of encouraging manageable steps toward positive overall change in dietary choices.įor pasta, there are many gluten-free choices at health food stores and even regular grocery stores these days. The list of ingredients for Daiya cheese reads as follows:įiltered water, tapioca flour, expeller pressed non-GMO canola and/or safflower oil, coconut oil, pea protein, salt, vegan natural flavours, inactive yeast, vegetable glycerin, xanthan gum, citric acid (for flavour), titanium dioxide (a naturally occurring mineral).Īgain, I'll never argue that this type of processed "healthy" substitute is better for you than actual legumes, vegetables, and fruits. Is it as healthy for you as avocados and lettuce? Nowhere close, of course, but if having a little Daiya cheese once a week allows you to avoid regular cheese made with pasteurized and homogenized dairy, I think it's a fine choice. Daiya cheese is made on the west coast of Canada, and is readily available in natural health food stores throughout North America. And yet, it tastes more like real cheese than any other non-dairy cheeses that I've tested. In fact, it doesn't contain even a trace of casein.
The first option is the easiest, and relies on a vegan shredded cheese product called Daiya.ĭaiya is the only vegan cheese that I've found on the market that doesn't contain substantial amounts of casein, the milk protein found in many soy and rice cheese products. But I think they're definitely worth a try, as they're the best of many dairy and gluten-free versions that I've tested over the past while.
Mind, you, the following options aren't going to taste just like traditional mac and cheese made with conventional elbow macaroni, cheddar cheese, and milk.
Which is why I thought it would be a good idea to share dairy and gluten-free options for macaroni and cheese. I realize that for some, it can be quite daunting to imagine a diet that doesn't include cheese and pasta. To put it simply, pasteurized and homogenized dairy and gluten are common triggers for inflammation throughout the body. Place in the oven and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until the shredded cheese melts and starts to bubble.As mentioned in my post on The Best Way To Get And Stay Healthy, if you are looking to overcome any chronic health challenge, one of the best first steps that you can take is to avoid conventional dairy and grains that contain gluten. Sprinkle the shredded cheese and green onions over the top of the Macaroni & White Cheddar Cheese. Spread the cooked Macaroni & Cheese over the chili. Once the chili was done, I poured it into a casserole dish. While the macaroni noodles are cooking, I made an easy chili recipe. I used the remaining boxes of Horizon Gluten-Free Mac to make a Gluten-Free Chili, Macaroni and Cheese Casserole. Recognizing an opportunity, I decided to leverage my son’s love of Macaroni & Cheese to slip some beans and vegetables into his diet. My son offered to help me make it for lunch that same day. It was creamy, delicious, and oh, so easy! There really aren’t that many gluten-free convenience foods available and every once in a while this mom needs a break! Since my daughter and I also love mac and cheese, I brought home several boxes for us to try. He asked if we could try it and I was more than happy to let him. Like most 7 year olds, he loves Macaroni and Cheese! It’s no surprise that he was the first to spot the Horizon Gluten-Free Macaroni & White Cheddar Cheese when our grocery started carrying it. As soon as he could read, I had him start reading labels so he could play an active role in maintaining his gluten-free diet. I can’t always be with him, so he has to know what it is safe to eat when he is at a friends house. Many adults still don’t know that wheat, rye, and barley contain gluten or that rice, tapioca, and lentil flour do not. He had to learn early not only that he couldn’t eat gluten, but which ingredients contain gluten. When your child has Celiac Disease, it is especially important for you to talk not just about food groups, but discuss the ingredients in foods. I started talking to my son about food at a young age.