Some people go gluten-free for health reasons. Hello, celiac disease. Others, do it because their favourite celebrities, who probably have no understanding of how their bodies work, are doing it. Hello, bandwagon. But whatever your reason, here are some apps to help you on your gluten-free journey.
Find Me Gluten Free
iOs/Android/Website
What doesn’t this app have? You have the latest articles. You have a picky but well-meaning location finder where you can actually choose to eliminate locations that don’t have a dedicated gluten-free menu. There’s a product and ingredients section where you can look up obscure ingredients on the list, like barley malt syrup, to see if it has gluten. Spoiler alert: it does. The recipes were cool, but my personal favourite was the dining card that explains what celiac disease is and what foods are safe around the world. I like the idea of being able to whip out the page while visiting one of the non-dedicated restaurants.
Usefulness: 9
Glutenfree Finder
iOs/Android/Website
Sigh. What a wannabe app. The app is simple and doesn’t stray from its name. Using GPS (make sure you have a good data plan), it will find all the gluten-free dining spots throughout your city. You can narrow down locations by specifying your preferred type of dining experience (although I’m not entirely sure what an indie restaurant is.) But the more scholarly-minded gluten-free eaters are out of luck with this app because the facts section is merely a Wikipedia page.
Usefulness: 6
Editor’s note: We can’t vouch for the Android version, but the iOs version also shows that in the entire GTA, there are exactly three restaurants that offer gluten-free. We’re thinking this might be more of an app for our American neighbours.
Gluten Free
Android
This recipe app opens with a lovely reminder that it’s free and therefore we must consider their ads. As a person who typically ignores the ads in free apps, this message inspired me to, well, keep ignoring the ads. The helpful kitchen timer in this app cuts off the words but it is functional. The winning feature is the recipes. Who doesn’t want gluten-free pumpkin cupcakes with maple cream cheese icing this fall? Don’t forget to mark your favourites. An occasional problem, though, is having to click links to get to an outside webpage. Also, a quirk is that the creator mentions her personal life in her posts. I have learned that she is a child of the sixties who wishes she knew her husband in high school. She also loves writing in metaphors. This may not be for everyone, but I was hooked. I don’t think it will become the next Julie&Julia, but who knows?
Usefulness: 7
Editor’s note: unfortunately, this app is only available on android devices, but for a similar recipe app, check out Gluten Free Recipes by Top Chefs.
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