Gfree Meal Planning & Giveaway
These Breakfast Tortilla Cups—a recipe from Gfree—were easy to modify for each person at the table. Rice tortilla vs. corn, duck egg vs. chicken, cheese or no cheese. You get the picture :)
Modified Meal Planning Made Easier
Dealing with a modified diet or two in a household is a challenge in and of itself. Add to that the chore of meal planning and you've got some work cut out for you. I have always struggled with meal planning—so much so that a couple of posts back I hinted around for your tips on the subject.
I think I got two.
So does that make it safe to say that many of you are in my boat? More often than not you dread the four o'clock hour? You're in a dinner rut?
Well, I've found something that might help out. It's called Gfree.
Gfree is a menu planning service that provides all of the tools you need to prepare healthy gluten-free dinners. And, it is the only gluten-free recipe website to offer an automatic grocery list creator (woot! big time saver).
Gfree truly is the answer to “what’s for dinner?
Here's how it works.
1. Once a week you log on to www.gfreecuisine.com
2. From a menu of 10 meals you choose the five (each includes a side) you will make that week.
3. Hit "Print PDF" and a PDF document of the recipe cards and a shopping list are automatically generated.
4. Head to the store to pick up everything you'll need for the week.
5. DONE!
For those who like visuals ...
Here is the menu we chose last week.
Here is what the shopping list and a recipe excerpt looked like.
Note the recipe codes and how they correspond with the shopping list. If you are unable to make a particular dinner, simply cross off all the items on the grocery list with that code. Have additional items to pick up? There's lots of room at the bottom of the page to pen them in.
And here is what those meals looked like.
Three of the sides are not pictured as I used produce that was in my CSA box.
1. Maple Glazed Chicken Breasts 2. Skillet Tamale Pie 3. Breakfast Tortilla Cups (for dinner) 4. Baked Cod with Old Bay Butter
Why I like Gfree and why you might, too.
1. With Gfree, meal planning can be a family affair. On Thursday night we all sit down at the computer and each pick out a meal for the week. Friday I do the shopping.
2. Each menu item includes a main dish and a side—usually a vegetable. It keeps meal time simple. Two dishes ... done.
3. With a click, the shopping list and recipes are adjusted to suit the number of servings you need.
4. When I used to plan for the week, it took me 1-3 hours on a Sunday to find recipes and write-up a shopping list. With Gfree, the week's meal plan and shopping list is done in 5 minutes. A serious time saver!
5. I like that two nights are left open for eating out or leftovers. Depending on the week I may choose five meals—or just three. Though rare, the weeks I choose three are usually because we are on the go and five home-cooked sit-down dinners just aren't likely to happen or I just want a little wiggle room to be spontaneous.
6. Armed with my printed and stapled shopping list and recipes I feel organized.
7. There is a nice variety of chicken, beef, seafood and pork entrees, and usually at least one vegetarian option.
8. Most recipes are easy to modify to fit your dietary needs. Some are not. All recipes are gluten-free. Those that are dairy-free are marked "DF". I'd love it if Gfree highlighted the egg-free recipes. Maybe that will come. Bottom line, if you feel comfortable with modifying recipes or winging it a bit, you're good to go. If you have 129 food allergies, Gfree may not work for you. The best way to find out is try it for 3 months—you're only out $30.
9. Recipes are easy to follow and not overly complicated.
10. On average, five Gfree dinners and sides cost less than $100 per week.
11. And there are the extras; gluten-free bread recipes, freezer recipes and gluten-free dessert recipes are also on the site as well as helpful suggestions for dairy substitutions.
12. With Gfree I have branched out. I have tried techniques and dishes that I haven't or otherwise wouldn't have tried. I have impressed my husband with some fancy lookin' and tasty meals.
13. Ms. Carol Fenster is behind a lot of these recipes. She is one of the queens of gluten-free. Umpteen cookbooks published and just a real lovely person.
The only challenge I have encountered is that each week I get a box of produce from our local CSA farm. You never know what will be in it and the Gfree sides rarely coordinate with what's in the box. So again, I modify and improvise. If a side calls for caramelized onions and green beans but all I have is carrots and zucchini, then caramelized onions with carrots and zucchini it is!
If this sounds like something you'd like to try, visit Gfree. The cost is only $10 a month. Relish (Gfree's non-gfree sister) starts at $7 a month. Armed with a shopping list and a plan, I easily save $10 in impulse buys alone.
Enter to Win a 3-Month Subscription to Gfree!
***I have just been made aware that some of you have been unable to leave comments and to enter the giveaway. I have just opened a support ticket with my web host. Big apologies. Until this is fixed, if you are unable to leave a comment, please click here and send, via the contact page, the number of entries you qualify for and I will add them to the comments when back up and running ***
The team at Gfree is offering a 3-month subscription to Lexie's Kitchen readers.
To Enter: To enter you may do one or all of the following and tell me you did in comments below:
1. Leave a comment below
2. "Like" the Gfree Facebook page
3. "Like" the Lexie's Kitchen Facebook page
4. Tweet this review
5. Share Lexie's Facebook post of this review with your Facebook friends
6. Pin It, Stumble it, share it any other way
Deadline: Leave your comment(s) by 5:00 p.m. (CST) Monday, September 19, 2011
Have a great week and happy meal planning. I am off to the kitchen to start on a Lightning McQueen birthday cake for Miles. That should make a good post. Stay tuned! : )
xoLexie
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Reader Comments (70)
Hi! Love to win three months of GFE. My meals have become so boring. Need new ideas!
I have liked your page, Gfree and shared it on my facebook page (nikki wallace flory) Yay! I hope I win!!!
I shared the post on Facebook! :)
I liked the GFE page on Facebook!
This looks like a fantastic site. I meal plan two weeks out at a time and have done so for awhile, but it is time consuming given all our food "issues." :) This would save SO much time. Thanks for sharing what is working for you.
I like the gfree facebook page.
I like your fb page. Thanks!
Oops! Meant the GFree page on Facebook!
I already like your page on Facebook :)
This sounds like an awesome program :) I would love to win it and see if it helps me with some planning for dinners instead of always improvising!
I "Like" the Gfree Facebook page
I "Like" the Lexie's Kitchen Facebook page
I shared Lexie's Facebook post of this review with my Facebook friends!
I'd love to try out Gfree!
I liked your facebook page!
I shared it with my FB friends
Interesting idea! I often don't know what I'm cooking for dinner until I open the refrigerator to see what's inside.
I tweeted this post (@gfcheflaura)
I'd love to try Gfree out! Thanks for the chance to win!
Just liked Gfree on FB! :)
...and why didn't I like Lexie's Kitchen, sooner? That's okay, I do now! :)
This is so great Lexie. Especially for people new to the diet or trying to make a better habit of
Eating in.
What a cool giveaway! I definitely need all the help I can get in being prepared for mealtimes!
Liked you on facebook too.
Oh, this sounds so perfect for our family! I liked on FB both you and GFree and Twittered. I owe you a pic...i know :)
Oh, this sounds awesome. I know I waste a lot shopping off the top of my head with no real meals thought out. This would be great.
I liked Lexie's on FaceBook! I am always looking for ways to expand ways to eat healthy, gluten free and budget friendly!!
And liked Gfree on FaceBook, too!
1) I already 'like' you on FB. 2) I 'liked' Gfree on facebook. 3) I shared this post on my FB wall! Would love to try this out! What a great idea Gfree is!
Also can't wait to see pics of your Lightning McQueen cake!!!
I need meal planning help in a bad way! Someone helping with meal planning & taking one thing off my "to-do" list would be so awesome. Liked Gfree on Facebook, too!
I have loved you on facebook for a long time now!
I liked gfree on facebook,
and I shared because this program sounds way to great - how have I not come across gfree before??? With everything going on with my kids-school, activities and appointments this would be a lifesaver! Thank you
Hi there, Not only am I Gluten Free, my son is Gluten Free and Egg and Dairy free due to severe allergies. Our meals are a sure challenge. Would be greatful for new ideas...Thanks so much! =)
I would love to win the 3 months of Gfree! I "Liked" the Lexie's Kitchen Facebook page.
I liked your page!! Thanks!!
This is awesome! Between 3 of us, out of 4, we are avoiding SIX different things! I am kind of interested in the duck egg thing...I had asked our allergist about it and they said no. Is there some research I don't know of? I would love an alternative!
I "like" Lexie's Kitchen. No, make that LOVE!
I "like" Gfree on Facebook.
Retweet! Retweet!!!
(I tweeted this post!)
Shared it on my Facebook page. www.facebook.com/allergictoair
We are switching over to GF, would LOVE to win the 3 months of planning. Sounds so much easier than me spending so many hours online looking for ideas!
"liked" GF Facebook also!
This sounds great. No more hunting for GF recepies
I liked Gfree on facebook!
I liked Lexie's Kitchen on facebook!
I shared this with my facebook friends.
I "liked" both Facebook pages!
I follow you on facebook and would love to win this prize to get myself back into the cooking groove to help me plan better meals so when I come home from classes late it will all be already ready. Great prize and thanks for the chance. Good luck to all entering.
I "liked' both Facebook pages, tweeted this giveaway, and shared this review with my facebook friends!!
I Like Lexie's Kitchen on FB
I like GFree on FB
I shared this on FB (Two Sisters Gluten Free)
This is soooooo what I NEED! I am GF and my fiance is not. Some nights I end up making meals that I know he likes and often end up making something different for myself. I need Simple, quick, tasty menu ideas! GF, dairy free, simple :)
This looks great!
Thanks for the opportunity to not only win a subscription but to see what is out there!