I feel like I need to include every sort of disclaimer here because these foods are not perfect and I am sure many will find reasons to criticize them. However, I will absolutely admit how hard it can be to switch your family to a whole food based diet when coming from the standard American diet. While theses foods are not ideal and can be very inflammatory due to poor quality oils, sugar, non-organic, high in x,y,z etc. they may help reduce free glutamate exposure or are slightly cleaner options when switching to a whole food diet. Strictly avoiding processed sources of free glutamate has been essential to our health, especially our son’s neurological health. Please keep in mind that many of these foods can also feed underlying pathogens which can additionally create a surge in glutamate. The following items have been linked via Amazon and/or Thrive Market affiliate accounts where I may earn a commission from. Products may need to be sourced based on availability and/or pricing.
Snacks: most of the time we snack on whole foods, but some of these may work when on the run.
FreeYumm Allergen Free Honey Apple Oat Bars (Nut Free)
These are sweet and taste more like a cookie than a bar to me. While I wish these were organic (especially with the oats), they saved the day on a recent trip.
FreeYumm Allergen Free Blueberry Oat Bars (Nut Free)
These have more sources of processed sugar and are also not organic but may be tolerated by some.
Yes Bars
Some of their other flavors are clean but check ingredients (contains nuts).
Grain Free ONA Cookies
This is the closest thing I’ve had to shortbread cookie that I’ve had in a long time. While the maple syrup ingredient is not ideal and carries some glutamate risk, I LOVE THESE!!! SO good.
EatingEvolved Coconut Butter Cups
We recently discovered these coconut chocolate cups but have not tried them yet. The ingredients look relatively clean but as with everything, I would watch for a reaction.
Living Kitchen Goji Berry Cookie Bites
These paleo cookies are made locally to us and are a relatively cleaner option (the coconut sugar and vanilla extract are not ideal). I will admit that I am not a huge fan, but my son loves them and they freeze well for a last minute birthday party or celebration.
Living Kitchen Chocolate Chip Cookie Bites
Again, my son loves these but I am not a huge fan. They’ve recently changed the ingredients to include vanilla “powder” but we’ve never noticed a negative reaction from this. This is a rare treat for us but we will store them in the freezer.
Raw Crunch Bars
Some of their other flavors are clean as well but check ingredients (contains nuts)
Kettle Brand Organic Sea Salt Potato Chips
There are several other “sea salt” options out there that are technically low glutamate but it would be best to source one with better quality oils and organic ingredients
Thrive Market link to Kettle Brand Organic Sea Salt Potato Chips
Organic Lunderberg Thin Rice Stackers
Their brown rice variety is also clean as are some of their traditional thick rice cakes. WE LOVE these for on-the-go snacking or for easy “sandwiches”. Absolutely, a staple in our house now that we can tolerate grains again.
Thrive Market link for Lunderberg Rice Cakes (More options available)
Raw Tigernuts
While these taste a little bit like maple syrup sawdust to me, my son loves to snack on them. They are very high in fiber!
Organic Veggie-Go’s Fruit Leather
While most of these are clean, don’t forget to check ingredients
That’s It- Fruit Bars
(high sugar and not organic)
Thrive link for That’s it Fruit Bars (more options available)
Lara Bars
Many Lara Bars are clean, but please read ingredients! (not organic, high sugar and oxalate)
Mission Heirloom Yucan Crunch Crackers
Mission Heirloom is a California based restaurant that has worked extensively with Dr. Reid on removing the hidden sources of MSG. I was so pleased to find that they now offer these one ingredient crackers on Amazon. Make sure to toast them prior to consuming!!!
LAIKI Black Rice Crackers
I found these quick treats while flying through the Chicago airport on my way to the CoMo Wellness conference with Dr. Reid. While these ingredients are relatively clean, they are not organic and can contribute to imbalances in the gut. They taste incredible but we are cautious not to go overboard with them.
Plantain Chips
I wish these were organic but they have saved us a time or two. Our local Whole Foods also sells these in individual packages, which are great for classroom snacks.
Cassava Chips
Individual servings of the Artisan Tropic Cassava Chips. You can also buy the larger package
Siete Foods Sea Salt Chips
Pretty processed and higher oxalate
Organic Coconut Oil Popcorn
We personally do not tolerate popcorn, but this is a clean version that we can typically find at our Local Whole Foods
Thrive Market link for Buddha Bowl Organic Himalayan Salt Popcorn
Hu Chocolate Bars
While this isn’t a snack, we (aka myself) are OBSESSSED with Hu Chocolate Bars! Again, there is some glutamate risk with chocolate in general but we like that they use cacao over cocoa (lower glutamate risk with cacao) and coconut sugar over regular sugar. We did not tolerate chocolate originally, but are fortunate enough that we can consume it now (In moderation) without any reaction. It can also be high in histamine, oxalate and salicylate. Linking it to Amazon here but far better prices can be found on Vitacost.com or ThriveMarket.com
Heavenly Organics Double Dark Chocolate Honey Patties
Again, there is some glutamate risk with chocolate in general but we like that they use cacao over cocoa (lower glutamate risk with cacao) and coconut sugar over regular sugar. We did not tolerate chocolate originally, but are fortunate enough that we can consume it now (In moderation) without any reaction. It can also be high in histamine, oxalate and salicylate.
Real Food From The Ground Up Cauliflower Tortilla Chips
These are relatively clean but may be problematic due to the processing, cassava flour (also high in oxalate), and the mushroom ingredient has to be processed. I would proceed with caution as I know they do upset my stomach.
BEAR – Real Fruit Yoyos
This is a cleaner option to fruit roll ups. Please keep in mind that there is a slight glutamate risk with dried fruit, extracts and that this product is not organic. It can also be problematic in regards to inflammation, yeast, etc.
Good Thins Simply Salt Gluten Free Rice Snack Crackers
Again, not organic, not the best oil and there is some processing of the grains that will result in some amount of free glutamate. However, these are great to keep on hand for any family members that judge you for not having “normal food”.
Base Culture Paleo Bread
While there is minimal risk here regarding glutamate. You may want to be cautious if you’re dealing with oxalate. MUST keep frozen.
Base Culture Sweet Banana Bread, Snack Size
While there is minimal risk here regarding glutamate. You may want to be cautious if you’re dealing with oxalate. MUST keep frozen.
Dang Sticky Rice Chips
These are certainly NOT ideal as they are not organic, processed, starchy, sugary, etc. and will absolutely feed bad gut bugs. I will however admit, that these have become a sweet treat for myself. I do not give them to my son but I know they will just tip his inflammation bucket.
Hu Hunks Chocolate Covered
Again, there is some glutamate risk with chocolate in general but we like that they use cacao over cocoa (lower glutamate risk with cacao) and coconut sugar over regular sugar. We did not tolerate chocolate originally, but are fortunate enough that we can consume it now (In moderation) without any reaction. It can also be high in histamine, oxalate and salicylate.
SuperSeed Life
This company also has some cleaner options for paleo/seed based flours, donuts, cookies and wraps.
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