Ah strawberries, the fruit of summer! Pairing well with anything from salads to parfaits, this fruit is very high in antioxidants and vitamins, making it a worthy addition to your daily intake. They also contain a great deal of fiber, with the fiber content being comparable to a piece of whole wheat bread. But for those following a gluten-free lifestyle, are these summer treats gluten-free?
Strawberries are gluten-free. They are pseudocarp plants, similar botanically to fruit. Fruits and vegetables are naturally gluten-free, making them a perfect addition to a gluten-free lifestyle. The best gluten-free alternatives to strawberries include Driscoll’s Blueberries, Driscoll’s Raspberries, and Driscoll’s Blackberries. Additional alternatives include Good & Gather Unsweetened Dried Mango and Good & Gather Dried Pineapple Rings.
In this article, we will look at the nutritional benefits of strawberries, as well as other gluten-free alternatives. Let’s dig in!
Contents
Strawberries Nutrition Facts
Strawberries contain a myriad of benefits that have been touted by food scientists for years. A high amount of vitamin C and dietary fiber makes them a powerhouse of a plant, and their tart and rich flavor have been used as a sweetener and base for desserts and candies for decades.
Dole Frozen Whole Strawberries
Strawberries are a universally loved fruit, but these delicious heart-shaped fruits are loaded with vitamin C, manganese, and dietary fiber. These whole frozen strawberries last a lot longer than fresh and are perfect for healthy smoothies, strawberry-rhubarb pie, and strawberry shortcake. While these are frozen, there are 0 additives of any kind, only using strawberries. This makes them vegan, gluten-free, and free of additives.
Nutrition Facts (Per 140g):
- 50 Calories
- 0g Total Fat
- 0g Saturated Fat
- 0g Trans Fat
- 0mg Cholesterol
- 0mg Sodium
- 13g Total Carbohydrates
- 3g Dietary Fiber
- 6g Sugar
- 1g Protein
Ingredients:
- Strawberries
Driscoll’s Fresh Strawberries
Driscoll is one of the major berry providers on the market, including these delicious strawberries. This heart-healthy and fresh snack can be made into an abundance of sweet recipes. Strawberries have a high intake of fiber, are low-calorie, and can be added as a topping to just about anything.
Nutrition Facts (Per 144g):
- 45 Calories
- 0g Total Fat
- 0g Saturated Fat
- 0g Trans Fat
- 0mg Cholesterol
- 0mg Sodium
- 11g Total Carbohydrates
- 3g Dietary Fiber
- 7g Sugars
- 0g Added Sugars
- 1g Protein
Ingredients:
- Fresh Strawberries
Good & Gather Dried Sweetened Strawberries
Good and Gather makes fruit even sweeter with their dried and sweetened strawberries. Starting with quality ingredients, their dried fruit have a superior taste. They have the perfect taste and texture for snacking, baking, and as a topping. These dried strawberries are free of sulfates, synthetic colors, and artificial flavors. As the bag is resealable, they last much longer than fresh strawberries. They are also certified kosher.
Nutrition Facts (Per 1/3 Cups):
- 130 Calories
- 0g Total Fat
- 0g Saturated Fat
- 0g Trans Fat
- 0mg Cholesterol
- 15mg Sodium
- 32g Total Carbohydrates
- 1g Dietary Fiber
- 28g Total Sugars
- 17g Added Sugars
- 1g Proteins
Ingredients:
- Strawberries
- Sugar
- Citric Acid
- Vegetable Juice
- Natural Flavor
- Sunflower Oil
Alternatives to Fresh Strawberries
To find the best alternative to some fresh strawberries, we need to look to fresh fruit. Nutritionally and taste-wise, you should pick fresh fruit over frozen fruit as an alternative because it will have a similar texture as fresh strawberries.
Driscoll’s Blueberries
Blueberries are a nutritious alternative to strawberries, as both contain a high amount of antioxidants and other essential vitamins. Blueberries don’t contain the same amount of vitamin C, causing it to be overlooked at times. However, blueberries can improve vision, improve motor skills, and reverse short-term memory loss. It can also help to treat age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
Nutrition Facts (Per 148g):
- 80 Calories
- 0g Total Fat
- 0g Saturated Fat
- 0g Trans Fat
- 0mg Cholesterol
- 0mg Sodium
- 21g Total Carbohydrates
- 4g Dietary Fiber
- 15g Total Sugars
- 0g Added Sugars
- 1g Protein
Ingredients:
- Organic Blueberries
Driscoll’s Raspberries
Raspberries are a perfect addition to breakfast treats such as parfaits and pancakes. With so many varieties of tart fruit, there are a lot of different ways you can use them. Original red raspberries are a perfect alternative to strawberries due to their similar texture, and don’t even require any slicing! Make sure to rinse these well and enjoy the fiber and vitamins C benefits that these little berries bring.
Nutrition Facts (Per 123g):
- 60 Calories
- 1g Total Fat
- 0g Saturated Fat
- 0g Trans Fat
- 0mg Cholesterol
- 1mg Sodium
- 15g Total Carbohydrates
- 8g Dietary Fiber
- 5g Sugars
- 0g Added Sugars
- 1g Protein
Ingredients:
- Organic Raspberries
Driscoll’s Blackberries
Blackberries are an iconic ingredient in mojitos and cobblers, and the tart treat has been used as a dessert for decades. Driscoll’s Blackberries are never genetically modified as well, with sun-ripened blackberries retaining their taste better. These berries are heart-healthy, a top cancer fighter, and have some of the highest amounts of antioxidants available in foods. It’s a very powerful phytonutrient that is a worthy addition to your diet.
Nutrition Facts (Per 144g):
- 60 Calories
- 0.5g Total Fat
- 0g Saturated Fat
- 0g Trans Fat
- 0mg Cholesterol
- 0mg Sodium
- 14g Total Carbohydrates
- 7g Dietary Fiber
- 7g Sugar
- 0g Added Sugars
- 2g Protein
Ingredients:
- Organic Blackberries
Frozen Strawberry Alternatives
When looking for alternatives to frozen strawberries, it is best to branch out into frozen fruits due to the similar shelf life and similar uses of the frozen fruits. This goes for whether you use them for smoothies or baking.
Dole’s Frozen Blueberries
Frozen blueberries make a great alternative to frozen strawberries for smoothies and baking. Frozen blueberries have a similar texture to frozen strawberries and can be stored in a similar manner. Whether you use it to make a sweet glaze for a cake or eat them raw with a spoon, frozen blueberries have a lot of the same benefits as their fresh counterpart.
Nutrition Facts (Per 140 g):
- 80 Calories
- 2g Total Fat
- 0g Saturated Fat
- 0g Trans Fat
- 0mg Cholesterol
- 0mg Sodium
- 41g Total Carbohydrates
- 4g Dietary Fiber
- 0g Sugars
- 0g Added Sugars
- 1g Protein
Ingredients:
- Blueberries
Dole’s Frozen Raspberries
Frozen raspberries have a lot of the same vitamin C and fiber benefits that frozen strawberries have, making them a specific nutritional replacement for frozen strawberries. A lot of the nutritional benefits of fresh fruit are found in this frozen alternative. It’s perfect for smoothies and baking, and is still an all-natural source of fruit. It’s naturally gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO, and has a delicious recipe for a chocolate raspberry smoothie on the back of the package.
Nutrition Facts (Per 140g):
- 80 Calories
- 1g Total Fat
- 0g Saturated Fat
- 0g Trans Fat
- 0mg Cholesterol
- 0mg Sodium
- 17g Total Carbohydrates
- 9g Total Sugars
- 6g Total Sugars
- 0g Added Sugars
- 2g Protein
Ingredients:
- Raspberries
Dole’s Frozen Dark Cherries
Dole’s frozen dark cherries are a great alternative for frozen strawberries, especially in smoothies. These cherries are all-natural, non-GMO, and ultimately just as nutritious as fresh fruit. They can be used as a complement to pineapples to make wonderful pineapple cherry minis. Cherries are full of antioxidants similar to blueberries, as well as having a rich flavor that is sure to make your smoothie bolder.
Nutrition Facts (Per 140g):
- 100 Calories
- 0g Total Fat
- 0g Saturated Fat
- 0g Trans Fat
- 0mg Cholesterol
- 0mg Sodium
- 22g Total Carbohydrates
- 3g Dietary Fiber
- 18g Total Sugars
- 0g Added Sugars
- 1g Protein
Ingredients:
- Organic Red Cherries
Dried Strawberry Alternatives
When looking for an alternative to dried strawberries, there are a lot of dried fruits that we can pick from. While fresh fruit can be a good replacement, it doesn’t have a lot of the same tastes that we see as a result of the additives placed in dried fruits, giving them a more leathery texture.
Good and Gather Unsweetened Dried Mango Snacks
Good and Gather’s unsweetened dried mango snacks are a great example of a healthy way to add some sweetness to your pantry without the need for added sulfites or GMOs. These are USDA organic, and they’re extremely easy to take on the road for a nutritious snack. It doesn’t contain many allergens, although it does contain tree nuts.
Nutrition Facts (Per 140):
- 140 Calories
- 0g Total Fat
- 0g Saturated Fat
- 0g Trans Fat
- 0mg Cholesterol
- 0mg Sodium
- 34g Total Carbohydrates
- 2g Dietary Fiber
- 24g Total Sugars
- 0g Added Sugars
- 1g Protein
Ingredients:
- Organic Dried Mango
Good and Gather Dried Pineapple Rings
Good and Gather’s organic dried pineapple rings are a great example of a dried fruit that packs a lot of nutritional value and flavor to boot. There aren’t any artificial sweeteners or added sugars, but it still cuts through those sweet cravings. Packed with tart and sweet flavors, these USDA organic dried pineapple snacks steer away from GMOs and sulfites.
Nutritional Facts (Per 40g):
- 140 Calories
- 0g Total Fat
- 0g Saturated Fat
- 0g Trans Fat
- 0mg Cholesterol
- 5mg Sodium
- 33g Total Carbohydrates
- 3g Dietary Fiber
- 30g Total Sugars
- 0g Added Sugars
- 1g Proteins
Ingredients:
- Organic Dried Pineapple
Related Questions
What Are The Benefits of Eating Strawberries?
Strawberries protect your heart, increase good cholesterol, lower your blood pressure, and guard against cancer. This is because strawberries contain a very high amount of vitamins, fiber, and polyphenols, which are powerful kinds of anti-oxidants.
Should You Wash Strawberries Before You Eat Them?
Yes! The reason that you should wash your strawberries before you eat them is due to potential pesticide residue, which can have adverse effects on your health after long-term consumption.