Freshly baked French baguette slathered with butter… crispy on the outside and soft on the inside croissants… ooey gooey pizza…

Gosh I miss wheat and the gluten that makes those yummy breads so soft and chewy!  Why do I miss them? Well, I have been gluten free for about three years now.

I’ve had issues with my stomach – irritation, inflammation, bloating – all due to certain foods in my diet, including soy, wheat and gluten. Because of the pain and discomfort, I was forced to cut these ingredients out of my diet to help my stomach heal.

Did you know that wheat can stay in your system for several months? It took a good year to heal my gut, and feel back to normal again. A hairstylist even noticed by touching my hair – he asked me if I had done something differently in the last six months, because I had new hair growth which was thicker and fuller than the bottom half of my hair. I realized that the new hair growth occurred after I had cut out wheat and gluten from my diet!

May is Celiac Awareness Month, a good time to learn about what gluten and gluten sensitivities really are, and how they impact many Canadians. I’m lucky I’m not Celiac; celiac disease is a medical condition in which the absorptive surface of the small intestine is damaged by gluten. People with celiac disease can’t eat gluten, otherwise their body wouldn’t be able to absorb nutrients which are necessary for good health. If I happen to have a trace of gluten, I won’t suffer. But those with celiac have to avoid cross-contamination.

Going gluten free has become a complete lifestyle change – and I’ll never go back. My stomach has since healed, and I feel so much better. While I’m often tempted to have “just a bite”, giving in to the craving is not worth the havoc it wreaks on my body.

Bread? Pasta? Desserts? They don’t even faze me. I bake my own bread, I’ve found a great-tasting pasta, and I bake my own gluten-free desserts.

But snacking is another issue. I love crunchy, crispy, salty snacks.

Quaker® Crispy Minis® rice chips are deliciously crispy with a light texture. They are made from grains like rice and corn then sprinkled with a tasty, bold seasoning.

With flavours like Tortilla Style Smoky Chipotle and Creamy Ranch, I can get that crunch satisfaction packed with a flavour punch. Sweet Chili, Ketchup and Sour Cream and Onion are also favourites in our home. All of these snacks are certified gluten and wheat free!

A serving size of 20 grams has 90 calories and 14 grams of carbohydrates.  Of course I probably couldn’t limit myself to just one serving! But even having two servings is still within a good calorie count.

If you’re also sensitive to soy ingredients, Quaker® Crispy Minis® Tortilla Style Smoky Chipotle Rice Chips and Tortilla Style Creamy Ranch Rice Chips both don’t contain soy, and neither does the Caramel Kettle Corn Flavour Rice Chip.

Certified gluten-free by the Canadian Celiac Association, Crispy Minis rice chips are a tasty gluten-free snack that comes in a variety of delicious flavours.

What’s your favourite Quaker® Crispy Minis® flavour?

This post is generously sponsored by Quaker® Crispy Minis®.