How to Eat Bread on Almost Any Diet, from Gluten-Free to Keto
If you’re following a special diet—whether gluten-free, paleo or keto—you may have to say goodbye to eating and baking bread as you know it.
But don’t worry—there are many bread (and bread-like) recipes and products that fit within the guidelines of different dietary restrictions. Here’s how to make or buy bread that fits your dietary needs.
Gluten-Free Bread
Gluten is a key component in traditional bread flours, but gluten-free bread recipes use ingredients like gluten-free all-purpose flour, chickpea flour, rice flour or tapioca flour.
How to make it: For a yeast bread, try this Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread. If you’re in the mood for a sweet quick bread, go for this Gluten-Free Banana Bread.
How to buy it: Several companies, such as Bob’s Red Mill, make varieties of gluten-free flour. When you’re buying gluten-free bread, read the labels to look for possible gluten content. Ingredient formulas can change, and production facilities vary among brands.
Low-Carb Bread
If you’re limiting your carbohydrate intake, it’s important to monitor the type and amount of bread you eat. However, there are still ways to enjoy the comforting taste of bread without breaking your low-carb diet.
How to make it: Low-carb recipes like these Cheesy Cauliflower Breadsticks use vegetables instead of grains. You can also get creative and make sandwiches or burgers using bun substitutes such as lettuce or portobello mushrooms.
How to buy it: There are several low-carb bread products available, including Sola Deliciously Seeded Bread.
Keto Diet Bread
The keto diet is about eating lots of healthy fats and proteins, and very few carbs. That means traditional bread products are off the menu. But if you get creative, you can make keto-friendly versions of your favorite bread recipes.
How to make it: Many keto recipes use vegetables like cauliflower and zucchini to make things like breadsticks and pizza crust. Keto cloud bread—which is made from eggs, cream of tartar, and yogurt or cottage cheese—is another high-protein, carb-free bread substitute.
How to buy it: Look for bread products that are labeled “keto,” such as Lewis Bake Shop keto bread, which is available at Walmart.
Vegan Bread
Following a vegan or plant-based diet means avoiding animal products including meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy and honey. Grains are still on the table, though, so there are plenty of vegan bread options.
How to make it: Whether you want a basic vegan yeast bread or a sweet loaf like this Vegan Pumpkin Bread, there are plenty of vegan bread recipes to try.
How to buy it: You can find many vegan breads at the grocery store—look for loaves that don’t have eggs, honey, butter, milk, royal jelly, gelatin, whey or casein. You may also want to avoid monoglycerides, diglycerides, and lecithin.
Mediterranean Diet Bread
The Mediterranean diet emphasizes eating lots of vegetables, fish, healthy fats, whole grains and fruit, as well as moderate amounts of dairy, meat and wine. (Here’s the difference between whole grain vs. whole wheat.)
How to make it: Try this Seeded Whole Grain Loaf recipe, which calls for whole wheat flour, oats, millet, sunflower seeds and flaxseed.
How to buy it: Look for store-bought bread that contains whole grains, including whole wheat breads. Avoid added sugar, as well as trans and saturated fats.
Paleo Bread
The paleo diet, sometimes known as the caveman diet, is all about eating unprocessed foods like fruit, vegetables, nuts, eggs, grass-fed meat and wild-caught fish. Grains (including bread), as well as dairy, soy and starchy vegetables are out.
How to make it: There are some paleo bread recipes, like this paleo sandwich bread from Lexi’s Clean Living by food blogger Lexi Davidson. Her recipe uses almond flour, tapioca flour, applesauce, baking powder and salt. Other paleo bread recipes call for many more ingredients that you may not have on hand, such as arrowroot starch and flaxseed meal.
How to buy it: Browse the bread or health food section for breads labeled “paleo,” such as Base Culture paleo bread.
Healthy Bread Recipes to Try
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Cheesy Cauliflower Breadsticks
These grain-free, cheesy cauliflower breadsticks are made with vegetables instead of flour. Serve with your favorite marinara sauce.—Nick Iverson, Denver, Colorado
Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread
In my quest to find an edible gluten free bread, this recipe emerged. It’s moist and has no cardboard texture! —Doris Kinney, Merrimack, New Hampshire
Swirled Pumpkin Yeast Bread
I call this my "hostess gift" pumpkin bread, but it's fantastic for any occasion at all. Swirls of cinnamon sugar make every slice irresistible. —Shirley Runkle, St. Paris, Ohio
Honey-Squash Dinner Rolls
These puffy dinner rolls take on rich color when you add squash to the dough. Any squash variety works. I've even used cooked carrots. —Marcia Whitney, Gainesville, Florida
Socca
Socca is a traditional flatbread from Nice, France. It's a common street food, cooked on a grill and served in a paper cone, usually chopped and sprinkled with salt, pepper or other delicious toppings. Bonus: It's gluten free. — Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Garden Vegetable Cornbread
When I was a kid, my parents would make cornbread for my siblings and me. We would slather butter and maple syrup over the warm bread—it was delicious. Today I experiment a lot with recipes, just as my grandma and mom did, and that's how my version of their easy cornbread recipe was born! —Kim Moyes, Kenosha, Wisconsin
Apple Quinoa Spoon Bread
My cousin is a strict vegetarian, so creating satisfying veggie dishes is my yearly challenge. This spoon bread can act as an amazing Thanksgiving side, but the addition of hearty, healthy quinoa and vegetables make it a well-rounded casserole. Pair it with a seasonal salad to make a filling vegetarian meal. —Christine Wendland, Browns Mills, New Jersey
Wild Rice Bread with Sunflower Seeds
I loved skipping the boring school cafeteria meals and going to my grandma’s house for lunch. She spent most of her life in northeastern Minnesota, which is reflected in this bread's ingredients. Now my family uses this for our holiday stuffing. —Crystal Schlueter, Northglenn, Colorado
Triple Tomato Flatbread
Tomatoes are the reason I have a vegetable garden, and I developed this recipe as a way to show off my plum, sun-dried and cherry tomatoes. It's so easy, and will absolutely impress. —Rachel Kimbrow, Portland, Oregon
Homemade Tortillas
I usually have to double this flour tortilla recipe because we go through them so quickly. The homemade tortillas are so tender and chewy, you’ll never use store-bought again after learning how to make tortillas. —Kristin Van Dyken, Kennewick, Washington
Tender Whole Wheat Rolls
Even though these are whole wheat rolls they have a light texture and are soft and tender. This recipe reminds me of lots of happy meals with my family.—Wilma Orlano, Carroll, Iowa
Yogurt Cornbread
My husband doesn't like traditional Texas corn bread, so I came up with this recipe. This is the only kind he'll eat. Yogurt makes this variation different from most. —Amanda Andrews of Mansfield, Texas
Sunflower Seed & Honey Wheat Bread
I've tried other bread recipes, but this one is a staple in our home. I won $50 in a bake-off with a loaf that I had stored in the freezer. —Mickey Turner, Grants Pass, Oregon
Whole Wheat Potato Rolls
My cousin’s classic-with-a-twist recipe is truly delish. Extra rolls freeze well. — Devon Vickers, Goddard, Kansas
Grilled Tomato Pizzas
My husband and I make grilled pizza with a tangy balsamic glaze, and it tastes as if we used a wood-burning oven. —Michele Tungett, Rochester, Illinois
Soft Oatmeal Bread
My husband loves to make this bread. With its mild oat taste and soft texture, it's sure to be a hit with the whole family. Slices also are delicious toasted for breakfast. —Nancy Montgomery, Plainwell, Michigan
Honey-Oat Pan Rolls
These tender rolls are relatively quick to make. Whole wheat flour and oats make them nutritious, too.—Arlene Butler, Ogden, Utah
Moist Red Pepper Cornbread
The name of this recipe says it all—except how perfect they are for scooping up that last drop of soups and stews! —Katherine Thompson, Tybee Island, Georgia
Perfect Pizza Crust
I have spent years trying different recipes and techniques, looking for the perfect pizza crust recipe—and this is it! I'm amazed that I finally found a crust recipe my family prefers over the pizza parlor's! —Lesli Dustin, Nibley, Utah
Blue-Ribbon Herb Rolls
These rolls have been a favorite of ours for nearly 25 years. I even baked them in an old wood stove when we lived on a farm. I developed the recipe using several techniques I learned while studying the art of bread making. The recipe won a blue ribbon at our county fair. —Mary Ann Evans, Tarpon Springs, Florida
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