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Choosing to live a healthier lifestyle is not easy. Especially if someone is trying to eat gluten free due to gut health, eating Paleo or disease/autoimmune disorders.
Just because someone is trying to eat gluten free doesn’t mean they have to give up the desserts and treats this world has to offer.
Thankfully, more companies are creating products that are cleaner, contain less harmful ingredients and are gluten free.
Dining out still provides it’s challenges but at least cooking/baking gluten free at home is easier now than ever.
At The Fitness Wrangler we believe in eating real food and food with the least, preferably none, amount of harmful ingredients to be able to control our health and fitness.
In this article we’ll take a quick look and provide a buying guide for finding gluten free pancake mixes that are as clean as possible, contain minimal harmful ingredients and still taste great.
Then we’ll check out 3 of the best gluten free pancake mixes on the market now!
Buying Guide
Choosing a Quality Gluten Free Pancake Mix
Finding a gluten free product is easier than ever with so many companies realizing how many people are taking gluten out of their diets. The pancake companies have jumped on that bandwagon. They are finding clever ways to eliminate gluten from pancake and waffle mixes without losing the texture and taste we love in our breakfast foods.
Whether you are avoiding gluten for health reasons, digestion reasons like bloating or just trying to reduce the amount of gluten you eat, the first thing you need to know in choosing a pancake mix is which grains contain gluten and which are good to eat. Let’s look at which grains contain gluten.
- Wheat – this includes spelt
- Einkorn
- Farro
- Emmer
- Barley
- Kamut or Khorsaran wheat
- Triticale – a wheat hybrid
Also, if oats are listed in the ingredients, make sure it specifies that the oats are produced in a gluten-free environment.
Advantages and Benefits of Gluten-Free Pancake Mixes
The best way to begin baking gluten free is to find simple mixes like pancake mixes where you just need to add a few ingredients. With gluten free baking, you can still have the carbs and breakfast foods that you enjoy.
It may take some time to gather the special ingredients needed to bake gluten-free, so finding a mix that has the diverse ingredients already included is easiest. Find a product that has benefits such as pre-biotics, good protein, and fiber. This is a healthy way to start your day.
For those of us who have taken gluten out of our diet, we have felt the difference it makes in our digestive health and energy levels. Baking gluten free may help you feel good while improving gut health and digestive issues.
What to look for in Gluten-Free Pancake Mix
Since not all gluten free pancake mixes are created equal, you need to read the ingredients list to see exactly what had been put into the mix. Looking at the grains is a good beginning. There are grains that are gluten-free such as millet, buckwheat, rice, teff, and sorghum.
Just because a mix is gluten-free doesn’t mean it isn’t loaded with sugar. There are tons of ways to sweeten a product naturally without using GMO based sugar that is grown with pesticides and can harm good gut bacteria. Avoid artificial sweeteners and look for a product that uses a better choice such as:
- Agave
- Honey
- Maple Syrup
- Monk fruit
- Stevia,
- Xylitol
When choosing a pancake and waffle mix, look at the company’s reputation and read the reviews. You will find strong opinions on taste, flavor, and ease of preparation. Some mixes are healthier than others, so look for natural ingredients, high protein, low carb, and high fiber.
Pancake Mixes and Precautions
The unfortunate part of this process is that some of the gluten-free products use ingredients that are not good for you like starchy replacements such as tapioca starch, potato starch, and rice flour. These starches increase blood sugar and may trigger weight gain.
Try to avoid rice products that are not organic and don’t say they are non-GMO. Rice products have been found to have significant levels of arsenic in them, such as rice cereals and cakes, crackers, pasta, flours, and brown rice syrup. Limit your rice-based foods or see if the rice is tested for arsenic. Rice grown in California has lower levels of arsenic.
Make sure anything with corn or soy is non-GMO. Roundup is used on GMO crops and this herbicide contains glyphosate which is a carcinogen and destroys healthy gut bacteria. Also stay away from products with corn syrup and refined sugars and inflammation-causing oils like canola, soy, and cottonseed.
Best 3 Pancake Mixes For Gluten Free Baking
1. Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Paleo Pancake and Waffle Mix
We discussed the importance of good ingredients. Bob’s uses healthy flours such as almond and coconut. They blend them with arrowroot starch and organic sugar to give them a touch of sweetness for those who may opt-out of using syrup.
Taking a look at the company’s history, Bob’s Red Mill has been around for quite a while. They use quality ingredients and their pancakes are kosher, vegan, and non-GMO.
These pancakes are reasonably priced and come in 13-ounce packs that make about 12 pancakes. You can get Bob’s Pancake and Waffle Mix in 4-packs which make them even more affordable.
The reviews of this product are generally very good. Some people modify the recipe directions to improve the flavor and one lady said that with her additions, the pancakes were better than regular gluten-filled pancakes. A few people reported they were a little dry or nothing to write home about, but they didn’t try to doctor the recipe up at all. Adding more water, an extra egg, and some vanilla seems to greatly improve the flavor.
Pros
- Gluten-free and Paleo
- A good source of daily fiber
- Uses quality ingredients
- Kosher, vegan, and non-GMO
- Has great flavor and texture
- Easy to modify to improve the taste
Cons
- Price is not as competitive as some other brands
- Some people found the texture to be gritty
- There have been negative reviews about the lack of flavor
- There are simpler brands available that don’t require adding so many ingredients
2. Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Baking & Pancake Mix
Since Pamela’s is aware of the importance of natural foods, they put only quality ingredients in their pancake mix. In addition to being gluten free, there are also no artificial flavors and of course none of the big “no no” high fructose corn syrup.
This mix includes 8 grams of whole grains per serving and can be used for multiple recipes that are gluten free. The pancakes, however, have been reported to be fluffy and have a great flavor. They come crispy on the outside and soft and moist on the inside.
Some people have modified this gluten free pancake recipe as well. One modification that worked well was to exchange the oil for melted butter and reduce the water from ¾ to ½ cup.
For those with dairy or nut allergies, this product is not recommended. It does contain buttermilk powder and natural almond meal. It also requires and egg so it is not vegan.
Since the bag is large, the price is more than a typical gluten-free pancake mix. Remember though, it can be used for making recipes other than pancakes. If you compare the price per pound it is actually less than other popular gluten-free mixes.
Pros
- Great tastes
- Grain-free
- Can be used in other recipes
- Price per pound is good
- Available in large, 4-pound bags
- Recipe can be modified to improve the flavor
- Very good reviews on taste and texture
- Company with a good reputation in natural foods
Cons
- Product expires in 7 months
- Product ingredient label does not match up with some advertised ingredient lists
- Not lactose and nut-free
- Should be stored in the refrigerator
3. Birch Benders Paleo Pancake and Waffle Mix
These pancakes are keto and Paleo-friendly. They have only 11 carbs in 2 pancakes and include 6 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber. Preparing them is easy as they don’t require eggs or milk. The bag is resealable and doesn’t need to be refrigerated.
The price of Birch Benders is comparable to other gluten-free pancake mixes. Some users have added an egg and milk or coconut milk to the mix which has made the batter smoother. The pancakes are a bit more difficult to flip than regular pancakes so it may be good to use a fair amount of butter or oil when cooking them.
The reviews on flavor and texture are great for Birch Benders. Many people slightly modify the recipe and it might take some experimentation with pan temperatures to get them the perfect consistency. These pancakes freeze and reheat well, so they are great for making in batches for future easy breakfast preparation.
Pros
- Only need water to make
- Contains gut-healthy Cassava root
- Natural monk fruit used for sweetness
- High protein and fiber
- Great taste and consistency
- Paleo and keto-friendly
- Grain-free
Cons
- Some negative reviews on flavor
- May be difficult to flip
- Takes some practice to get them perfect
- Best if mixed with other ingredients
- Some negative reviews on not being able to cook them all the way through
- Reports of stomach pain after eating
Conclusion
The more we grow as a society the more we’re realizing how important it is to find quality ingredients to have in our food.
Being health conscious today is not easy but it’s getting better because more companies are coming out with, good tasting, gluten free options for people with stomach issues, gut/intestinal problems or autoimmune diseases.
We can still have delicious foods that are gluten free such as pancakes, chocolate chip cookies and more while still having good ingredients.
This article covered a buying guide for choosing the right gluten free pancake mix and recommended 3 of the best on the market now:
- Birch Benders Paleo Pancake and Waffle Mix
- Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Baking & Pancake Mix
- Birch Benders Paleo Pancake and Waffle Mix
Choosing one that jumps out to you could be your next move!
The information in this article is for educational and entertainment reasons, it should not be interpreted as medical advice or as a recommendation for a specific treatment. Always talk to your doctor and in the event of a medical emergency one should seek the help of a qualified and licensed health care provider.
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