A recent change in my family’s lifestyle has been the introduction of a gluten and wheat free diet. While this change has benefited the health of both my wife and son greatly, it has become a management, shopping, and eating-out headache. Like any savvy gadget lover, I immediately went to my Android Device and the Android Market for my solution to the logistics of a wheat-free diet. What I found there was a wealth of Android Apps designed specifically to ease the burden of individuals and families with wheat sensitivities, gluten allergies, and celiac disease.
After trying several of the apps, I found a few gems, and some that simply were no help at all. I was looking for Android Apps that were cheap, worked well, and had comprehensive resources for people with celiac disease or wheat allergies. What I found was five great applications that could help my family eat out, shop, and make safe and healthy dietary choices.
Top Five Android Applications for Gluten-Free diets, Wheat Allergies, or Celiac Diease :
App Name: Gluten-Free Scanner:
Price: Free / 3.50
Why I recommend it: Gluten-free Scanner is a handy barcode scanner that can help you find what products on the store shelves are really gluten-free. Using your Android devices camera, you simply scan a product’s barcode and the app cross-references a database of gluten-free products and gives you the “thumbs-up” if you product is safe.
I like the app because it is fast and friendly. The UI is good, and the product database is pretty vast. There were times when the recommendations were a bit off from what I am looking for, but as the database improves, I am sure the product recommendations will improve as well. The ad-supported version is free, or you can buy a license for $3.50.
App Name: Find Me Gluten Free:
Why I recommend it: Find Me Gluten Free is like Yelp for Gluten sensitive people or people with celiac disease. Using your Android Devices GPS, you can locate gluten free friendly businesses near you. You can view the menus of restaurants, call the business, and review other customer’s reviews and comments.
When my family travels, it can be hard to find a good restaurant or store. This app has been a blessing, and has made eating out on the road much easier. Find Me Gluten Free is free at the Android App Store.
App Name: Gluten Free Fast Food
Price: .99
Why I recommend it: Gluten Free fast food is like Find Me Gluten Free, but it has a specific emphasis on popular fast-food restaurants. Using Gluten Free Fast Food, I am able to help my middle school daughter plan fast food outings in advance. When she is with friends, she feels the pressure to go to fast food places but doesn’t know what to order. Gluten Free Fast Food will allow herto view the menus of different fast food joints in advance and plan accordingly.
The app is a buck, but Gluten Free Fast Food does make things easier and is well worth the cost.
App Name: Gluten Free Recipes 1000
Price: Free
Why I recommend it: Cooking at home makes eating gluten-free easier, but making the transition and keeping a variety of menu items can be very challenging. Gluten Free Recipes 1000 has a fabulous selection of gluten free recipes and tips for converting traditional recipes to a gluten free alternative. Using the app, you can easily plan a month’s worth of recipes and never repeat the same meal twice.
Gluten Free Recipes 1000 is a great, free recipe resource.
App Name: Gluten Free Living:
Price: Free
Why I recommend it: Information is the key when making a transition to a gluten-free diet. For a person with Celiac Disease, a lack of information can be life-threatening. Gluten Free Living is a gift of great information, resources, and recent resources for people with gluten allergies. The application is a wealth of research at your fingertips.
Gluten Free Living is free and absolutely indispensable for a family with gluten allergies.