It’s that time of year for resolutions and looking forward, but it’s also worth reflecting on the standout gluten-free products that made 2012 memorable. Below are some of my favorite discoveries from the year—items I recommend trying if you haven’t yet. If your local store doesn’t carry them, ask them to consider stocking these products.
A Few of My Favorite Things from 2012
Foods, Drinks, Snacks & Supplements
Adora® Calcium Supplements
Supplements aren’t always exciting, but these dark chocolate disks taste like a decadent, dairy-free treat while delivering 500 mg of calcium per piece, plus vitamin D and magnesium. They make taking a bone-supporting supplement feel like enjoying an after-dinner indulgence.
Bold Organics™ Pizzas
While I often make homemade gluten-free pizza, frozen convenience has its place. Bold Organics offers organic, gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan frozen pizzas in varieties like Vegan Cheese, Veggie Lovers, Meat Lovers and Deluxe. They fill a gap for those avoiding both gluten and dairy.
Coco-Roons
These raw cookie balls come in flavors such as Brownie, Apple Pie, Lemon Pie, Almond, Strawberry PB&J, Vanilla Maple and Cacao Nib. Made with raw coconut as the primary ingredient, they provide a different kind of fat that is readily used for energy. Made in a dedicated gluten-free facility, they’re a satisfying and healthier sweet option.
Glutino® Pasta
Glutino launched a brown rice pasta line in familiar shapes—macaroni, penne, rotini and spaghetti—making it easier to find gluten-free pasta in many stores, including larger retailers.
Glutino® Snacks
Glutino refreshed several of its classic snacks, including a reformulated pretzel with about half the fat and fewer calories while maintaining the taste. They also expanded their snack lineup with potato crisps, tortilla dippers, snack crackers, table crackers and bagel chips.
GT’s Enlighted Organic Raw Kombucha™
My current favorite flavor is Gingerade. The blend of fresh ginger juice and cultured kombucha tea creates an effervescent, refreshing beverage rich in probiotics and antioxidants. Each bottle offers billions of probiotic organisms and organic acids that support digestive health.
Thai Kitchen Red Rice Noodles
These red rice noodles look beautiful and taste like traditional rice noodles while being gluten-free and vegan. They add color and variety to dishes like Pad Thai.
Lisanatti’s The Original Almond® Cheese & Vegan Cheeze™
For a lactose-free and soy-free cheese alternative, The Original Almond Cheese has been a favorite pizza topper. It is lactose-free but contains casein, so it is not dairy-free. Their Vegan Cheeze, made with tapioca and soy, is a reasonable vegan option.
NOW (No Opportunity Wasted)™ Bars
These bars include Manuka honey, prized for its flavor and natural antibacterial properties. The bars are moist and flavorful with an unusual texture—think Rice Krispy Treat without excessive sweetness. Flavors include Peanut and Caramel, Honeycomb with Chia & Raisins (nut-free), White Chocolate with Fruit & Nut, and Manuka Newton in Honey or Strawberry. Many varieties are allergy-friendly and provide a good source of protein.
Qrunch Burgers
These quinoa-based burgers offer a crunchy exterior from quinoa and millet with a tender, flavorful interior from organic vegetables. They don’t try to mimic a traditional beef burger and provide a welcome, tasty alternative to typical veggie burgers.
Quest™ Cravings Protein Peanut Butter Cups
These chocolate-peanut butter cups pack around 20 grams of protein, have low active carbs, and no added sugar. They contain whey, so they’re not dairy-free, but they’re a satisfying high-protein treat for post-workout or a filling snack.
Saffron Road™ Crunchy Chickpea Snacks
Chickpeas transformed into crunchy snacks come in flavors like Falafel, Bombay Spice and Wasabi. They’re a flavorful, lower-guilt alternative to traditional chips.
Starfish™ Gluten-Free Fish
Starfish introduced battered, frozen fish that’s gluten-free, milk-free, egg-free and soy-free. Options include cod, haddock and halibut—wild harvested and convenient for quick meals.
Way Better® Snacks
These chips stand out because they are made with sprouted seeds and unique flavors. Varieties include Sweet Potato Tortilla Chips, Multi-Grain Tortilla Chips, Blues Tortilla Chips, Black Bean Tortilla Chips and Sweet Chili. They bring bold flavor and better ingredients to the chip aisle.
Zing® Bars – New Flavors
Zing bars remain a reliable certified gluten-free and soy-free option with a balanced nutrition profile. New flavors like Cashew Cranberry Orange and Dark Chocolate Hazelnut complement classics such as Oatmeal Chocolate Chip. Some flavors use whey while others use vegan brown rice protein.
Gluten-Free Brews
Angry Orchard Hard Cider
Angry Orchard produces dry, crisp hard cider options like Crisp Apple, Traditional Dry and Apple-Ginger. Their offerings are flavorful and pair well with drinking or baking.
Harvester Brewing
Harvester Brewing operates as a dedicated gluten-free brewery and uses ingredients such as chestnuts, gluten-free oats and sorghum to create Red, Pale and Dark Ales. Their approach avoids using barley, wheat or rye and then removing gluten, and their beers are vegan-friendly. They also offer home delivery services in some areas.
Omission Beer
Omission is a de-glutenized beer made from barley but processed to remove gluten, producing a taste more similar to traditional beer. Available in lager and pale ale, their bottles include batch dates tied to competitive gluten testing so consumers can check results for individual batches.
* As always, these reviews and opinions are my own. Some products were sent by manufacturers while others were purchased. I recommend only products I personally enjoy, regardless of how they were obtained.