Hanging out with friends while you’re gluten free doesn’t have to be a drag

Hanging out with friends and chowing on snacks is a typical night for some college students. But, for those of us who are gluten free, this can be a bit of a challenge. Don’t be discouraged, though; gluten free snacks are available in abundance.

Never let your munchies go unsatisfied. While your friends chow down on brownies and cookies, remember that Chex cereals are today’s gluten free saviors. With several gluten- free flavors such as chocolate, cinnamon, cinnamon apple, honey nut, rice and corn Chex, there are hundreds of recipes on their website for gluten free mixes, desserts and more.

One favorite among my friends is puppy chow, which can be made with chocolate chips, peanut butter, rice Chex, powdered sugar and butter, all of which are gluten free and wonderfully flavorful. Puppy Chow can be made in a matter of minutes and is always a hit during those hangouts with friends.

Several people are munching on just regular old Chex mix which is gluten free also. As a gluten free dieter, you must be sure to keep multigrain and wheat Chex out of your mixes. It will taste just the same if you use rice Chex and corn Chex and will be perfect for a long night of munching and hanging out.

Another favorite is chips and dip along with the platter of crackers and cheese. Both don’t have to be completely avoided: bring your own rice crackers and don’t be afraid to chow down like everyone else.  Dips should also be evaluated, just in case they contain gluten spices.

Cookies don’t have to all be completely avoided, either. Thousands of gluten-free cookie recipes pop up online every day, and many of them are easy and can be made from scratch using bases such as white rice flour, tapioca and potato starch and Xanthan Gum— the same ingredients you should already have in your pantry for making easy homemade breads and rolls.

Many of these items can be found at health huts/food stores and Amish bakery stores around rural areas; you may be surprised to find one near you! If you want just a quick fix of cookies, it is easy to find gluten free cookie mix in the baking aisle at your local grocery stores.