GF Product Review

Tuesday’s are usually a slam packed day for us.  Knowing that I try to plan something that is quick and easy.  We jokingly refer to it as our “junk food” night.  Yesterday was no exception.   However, we did try two new to us products — Live Gfree brand rice shells and cheese (from Aldi) and GF White meat chicken nuggets from Lidl.  The cucumber was, well half a cucumber I had leftover from making salad early in the week....

I decided to rank these based on 4 things.

Ease of preparation — These both recieve a “doesn’t get any easier” rating.

• The mac and cheese was a simple boil your pasta, drain, and stir in the cheese pack.  
• The nuggets simply went on a tray in the oven.

Taste — very good

• My daughter declared that the mac and cheese tastes like any boxed mac and cheese.  I pretty much agreed, which as far as I am concerned is a big plus for any gluten free product.
• The nuggets were a winner.   We have tried every brand of nuggets from Aldi in the past, and my daughter has always hated them.  I wasn’t able to eat most of them so I don’t have a comparison.  However, I really liked these enough to justify buying them again. 

Serving Size — generous. (I was unable to finish all that was on my plate and wrapped it up for a late night snack.  My daughter, on the other hand, ate all of hers.)

• Mac and cheese serving size was 1 cup prepared.  I deliberately measured the portion on my plate so that you would see an actual serving.  
• The serving size for the nuggets was 5.  I actually made myself 5 and my daughter 8. 

Cooking Time — very quick

• Once the water came to a boil, the noodles cooked in about 6 minutes.  I know the box says 10 to 12, but it did not take that long.
• Once the oven was preheated, the nuggets cooked for 14 minutes.  
• The timings were close enough to have it all pretty much finished at once.  I had time to get the plates, utensils, etc. ready.

Cost — I was actually going to give you the cost comparison until I realized when I cleaned my purse I had tossed my receipts.  Most gluten free items are automatically higher in price than their “gluten containing” counterparts.  However, both of these items were store brand and from the lowest priced stores in my area.  

Conclusion — While I don’t kid myself into thinking this is a perfectly healthful meal, I think a meal like this once in a while is kind of fun.  The taste was good.  Cost wise, per person the cost was less than one fast food meal each.  (I still have enough nuggets for one or possible two more meals without having a ton of macaroni and cheese leftover.). The speed was the biggest bonus.  And for me there was the additional bonus of each of these products not having my food allergens.