BREAD, PITA, WRAPS, ETC
Bread can be a mine-field when it comes to avoiding MSG, sugar and additives. Ideally we would all make our own bread at home from sourdough starter made from only organic flour and water. Compared to commercial yeast, the wild yeast and lactobacillus in sourdough bread make it more nutritious and digestible (including for those who are sensitive to gluten), while at the same time lowering its glycemic index. The sourdough also eliminates the need for dough processing aids or added sugar. For those of us who don't have time to bake bread every day though, there are a few good, readily-available store-bought alternatives. Unfortunately there are very few options for organic bread (which is an especially important consideration given the widespread use of pre-harvest Round-Up application to wheat). On the other hand, we have found some great pre-made organic bread crumbs that are very convenient and delicious (in addition to being organic).
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It used to be relatively easy to find pita bread without processed ingredients but it's unfortunately getting harder. And it's never been easy to find great wraps without additives, but there are a few. As for bagels (which I love), unfortunately I have not found a Before Natural brand yet - please let me know if you know of any, I would love to try them!
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Note: in bread-making, sugar is often used as a food source for the yeast (in which case some of it is broken down before we eat it). Given the difficulties in finding bread that doesn't contain processed free glutamate, I will include breads here that do contain some sugar or other additives that have never caused a problem for me.
Golden Hearth Bakery
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I'm including this bread here even though it's not widely available, because it is amazing. Their ingredients are grown according to organic standards, and the mill they use works with farmers to help them to transition to organic farming. We especially love their baguette, sourdough breads, and rosemary foccacia.
Elora Bread Trading Co.
This is my other favorite bread at the moment and I love that it's also a local company. Each loaf takes 3 days to prepare, and what a difference it makes. We really like the County and Seeded varieties.
Rudolph's Bread
Ingredients (multi-grain variety): WATER, UNBLEACHED WHEAT FLOUR, WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, CRACKED WHOLE WHEAT, ORGANIC SOUR (ORGANIC RYE, WATER AND CULTURE), WHOLE RYE SEED, WHOLE ROLLED OATS, COARSE WHOLE RYE GRAIN, SUNFLOWER SEED, FLAX SEED, SESAME SEED, ORGANIC SALT, YEAST, CALCIUM PROPIONATE, ROLLED IN SESAME, FLAX AND SUNFLOWER SEED
Rudolph's makes several varieties of bread that we love - Bavarian Multigrain, Bavarian Rye, Premium Sandwich Bread and their newest Bavarian White. They are all made with sourdough rather than yeast, the way bread was meant to be made! The best thing about Rudolph's bread though? It tastes awesome!
Dimpflmeier 100% Rye Bread with Sunflower Seeds (Organic)
Ingredients: ORGANIC RYE FLOUR, NATURAL SPRING WATER, SOUR DOUGH (ORGANIC RYE FLOUR, NATURAL SPRING WATER, BACTERIAL CULTURE), ORGANIC SUNFLOWER SEEDS, SALT.
This is a bread that tastes as healthy as it is but not at all like typical bread. I really like it though, especially with Arla cream cheese. Wheat-free and yeast-free for those who are sensitive. And it's one of the very few organic options, which is especially important if you are trying to avoid RoundUp exposure.
Silva's Portuguese Bread
Silva's Bakery makes amazing Portuguese bread and buns, which we get from Food Basics. This is the type of bread I could eat day in and day out! It can also be used to make THE BEST French toast.
Dempsters White Bread
Ingredients: ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR, WATER, SUGAR/GLUCOSE-FRUCTOSE, YEAST, VEGETABLE OIL (CANOLA AND/OR SOYBEAN), SALT, VINEGAR, SOYBEAN FLOUR, CALCIUM PROPIONATE, SODIUM STEAROYL-2-LACTYLATE, MONOGLYCERIDES, SORBIC ACID, SOYBEAN LECITHIN.
Classic white sandwich bread. This bread does contain added sugar (at least some of which would be broken down by the yeast) and other additives, but I'm including it because it's one of the breads we have been fine with, through a lot of trial and error (aside from being hungrier after eating it, probably due to sugar that was not broken down by the yeast though). As white bread options go though, this is one of the best.
Dempsters 100% Whole Wheat
Ingredients: WHOLE GRAIN WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR INCLUDING THE GERM, WATER, GLUCOSE-FRUCTOSE/SUGAR, YEAST, VEGETABLE OIL (CANOLA OR SOYBEAN), WHEAT GLUTEN, SALT, VINEGAR, ACETYLATED TARTARIC ESTERS OF MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, CALCIUM PROPIONATE, SODIUM STEAROYL-2-LACTYLATE, SORBIC ACID, MONOGLYCERIDES
Classic whole wheat sandwich bread. This bread does contain added sugar (some of which would be broken down by the yeast) and other additives, but is one that I haven't had a problem with so I'm including it here for those of you who want to avoid free glutamate but can't live without standard whole wheat sandwich bread!
Wonder Bread English Muffins
Ingredients: WATER, WHOLE GRAIN WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR INCLUDING THE GERM, WHEAT GLUTEN, YEAST, SOYBEAN AND/OR CANOLA OIL, SALT, SUGAR, CALCIUM PROPIONATE, FUMARIC ACID, VEGETABLE MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES. MAY CONTAIN SORBIC ACID. TOPPING: CORN MEAL, CORN AND/OR RICE FLOUR.
Surprisingly enough Wonder Bread makes English muffins that contain no processed free glutamate (both the white and whole wheat versions). They do contain sugar, so if you're avoiding sugar entirely then skip these and try Rudolph's bread instead.
Sanabel Pita Bread
Ingredients: WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, WATER, YEAST, SALT
Perfect pita bread with no additives. You will never want to eat any other pita bread again, it's that good. Made in Ottawa.
Haddad White (or Whole Wheat) Pita Bread
Ingredients: UNBLEACHED ENRICHED WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, FILTERED WATER, SALT, YEAST, CALCIUM PROPIONATE.
It used to be easy to find pitas without processed ingredients, but lately these are the only widely available pitas I've found that don't contain processed free glutamate. They do contain calcium propionate so are not completely additive-free, but this is one additive that we haven't had a noticeable problem with. We prefer the Sanabel pitas for this reason, but these Haddad pitas also taste great. They freeze well and they're nice warmed up. NOTE: This is the Haddad standard pita bread (NOT the Lebanese-style, high protein or high fiber versions, which all have other additives).
J & D Peters Kamut Tortillas
Ingredients: ORGANIC WHOLE GRAIN KAMUT FLOUR, NON-HYDROGENATED SUNFLOWER OIL, SEA SALT, VINEGAR, BAKING SODA
With just 5 ingredients, these wraps are simple and delicious. They are the only tortillas I've found that don't have a whole bunch of additives, sugar and/or processed free glutamate. They are amazing for fajitas, quesadillas or wraps!
Deep Tandoori Rotis/Parathas
Ingredients (Rotis): WHEAT FLOUR, WATER, MILK, CORN OIL, SALT, SODIUM BICARBONATE.
These rotis and parathas are fantastic, and so easy - straight from the freezer to the toaster oven and voila, perfect Indian rotis every time! Be sure to check the ingredients because some of their similar products are not Before Natural
Shasha Organic Spelt Breadcrumbs
Ingredients: ORGANIC WHOLE SPELT FLOUR, FILTERED WATER, ORGANIC SPROUTED SPELT, ORGANIC SOURDOUGH (ORGANIC SPELT FLOUR, FILTERED WATER, BACTERIAL CULTURE), SEA SALT.
These are some of our favorite breadcrumbs. They are crispy, crunchy and delicious, and they keep indefinitely in the freezer. They contain no sugar, processed free glutamate or additives and they are made with spelt flour and sourdough instead of wheat and yeast, so they are as Before Natural as it gets. I especially love using them to make home-made chicken tenders.
Edward & Sons Organic Breadcrumbs
Ingredients: ORGANIC WHEAT FLOUR, YEAST, SALT, ORGANIC EXPELLER-PRESSED PALM OIL
Edward & Sons makes 3 varieties of breadcrumbs, all of which have only simple, Before Natural ingredients and are delicious. They are great for any recipe that calls for breadcrumbs! I haven't been using them for as long as the Shasha breadcrumbs, but so far I've been equally impressed with them!
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* The Italian Herbs is also Before Natural (additional ingredients are ORGANIC ONION POWDER, ORGANIC GARLIC POWDER, ORGANIC PARSLEY, ORGANIC OREGANO, ORGANIC BASIL)