Puppy chow, also known as muddy buddies, is a popular snack made of cereal coated in a mixture of peanut butter, chocolate or peanut butter chips, and powdered sugar. It’s a classic treat for parties, school functions, and sporting events. But is it safe for people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance? Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients to find out.
What is puppy chow?
Puppy chow is a crispy, sweet treat made by coating bite-sized pieces of rice or crispy cereal in a combination of peanut butter and chocolate or peanut butter chips. The coated pieces are then tossed in powdered sugar, resulting in tiny clusters that resemble dry puppy chow.
Some common base cereals used include Rice Chex, Crispix, Cheerios, and Rice Krispies. The peanut butter and chocolate provide a salty-sweet flavor, while the powdered sugar adds a melt-in-your-mouth texture. Puppy chow goes by other names too, like muddy buddies, monkey munch, reindeer chow, and cowboy caviar.
This snack originated in the Midwestern United States during the 1950s. The exact origins are unclear, but one theory suggests that a group of schoolteachers in Nebraska created the first puppy chow for a band fundraiser. The light, crispy texture resembled dry dog food, leading to the puppy chow moniker.
This tasty snack started out as a homemade party mix. But over the years, many companies have started selling pre-packaged puppy chow as a ready-to-eat snack. You can find it in grocery stores or make it yourself at home fairly easily.
Standard puppy chow ingredients
There are many recipe variations out there, but most traditional puppy chow contains just a few standard ingredients:
Cereal – Rice Chex or Crispix are common choices, but any crisp rice or wheat cereal will work. The cereal provides the crunchy base.
Peanut butter – Smooth or chunky peanut butter provides flavor and helps the coatings adhere.
Chocolate chips or peanut butter chips – Semi-sweet chocolate chips add classic chocolate flavor. Peanut butter chips provide a milder, peanut butter-forward taste.
Powdered sugar – Also called confectioners’ sugar, powdered sugar adds sweetness and gives puppy chow its signature powdery coating.
Some recipes also include vanilla extract, butter or shortening, and/or cinnamon. But the core four ingredients above are the basis for most puppy chow.
Does traditional puppy chow contain gluten?
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. People with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity cannot eat gluten, as it causes damage and inflammation in their digestive system. Oats are naturally gluten-free but are often contaminated with gluten due to growing and processing methods.
Looking at the common puppy chow ingredients list, there are two potential sources of gluten:
1. The cereal base
Most traditional puppy chow recipes call for Crispix or Rice Chex cereal. Both of these are gluten-free cereals, meaning they do not contain any wheat, barley, or rye ingredients.
Rice Chex contains rice, corn, and wheat starch. The wheat starch is processed to remove all gluten protein, resulting in a gluten-free cereal.
Crispix is made from rice and corn. Neither ingredient contains gluten.
So if the recipe uses a gluten-free cereal base like Rice Chex or Crispix, there is no gluten coming from the cereal ingredient.
2. Flavoring ingredients
The other puppy chow ingredients – peanut butter, chocolate chips, and powdered sugar – are naturally gluten-free.
So, plain puppy chow made with a gluten-free cereal base does not contain any gluten. It is generally considered a safe food for people following a gluten-free diet due to celiac disease or intolerance.
However, there are some exceptions…
Potential sources of gluten in puppy chow
While traditional puppy chow recipes using gluten-free cereal are gluten-free, there are some cases where gluten can make its way into puppy chow:
1. Using a cereal base containing gluten
Some recipes call for wheat-based cereals as the base, such as Wheat Chex, Wheaties, or Cheerios. These contain gluten, meaning the resulting puppy chow would contain gluten.
Always check the cereal ingredients carefully and choose a certified gluten-free option. Do not assume cereals are gluten-free based on the name alone.
2. Cross-contamination
Cross-contamination is when gluten-free foods come into contact with gluten-containing foods during processing or preparation. This transfers traces of gluten into the gluten-free food.
Some potential sources of cross-contamination include:
– Sharing equipment or facilities to produce both gluten-free and gluten-containing cereals
– Using the same utensils to make wheat-based and gluten-free puppy chow
– Blending gluten-free and gluten-containing ingredients from bulk bins
– Using contaminated powdered sugar that contains anti-caking agents with gluten
3. Added ingredients
Beyond the core puppy chow ingredients, some recipes include add-ins that contain gluten:
– Wheat germ or malt barley extract for flavor
– High-gluten flours like wheat flour to help with binding
– Croutons, pretzels, or wheat crackers for crunch
– Malt vinegar containing gluten as a flavoring
Always read the full recipe carefully and check all ingredient labels to identify any potential gluten sources. Substitutions can help remove gluten-containing add-ins.
How to make gluten-free puppy chow
Here are some tips for creating puppy chow that is guaranteed gluten-free:
– Use a certified gluten-free cereal like Rice Chex or Crispix. Verify gluten-free status on the packaging.
– Read all ingredient labels carefully to ensure other ingredients like chocolate chips and peanut butter are gluten-free.
– Look for chocolate chips and peanut butter produced in dedicated gluten-free facilities.
– Use brands of powdered sugar confirmed as gluten-free, or make your own.
– Avoid malt extracts, wheat germ, croutons, flour, and other unnecessary add-ins.
– Be diligent about kitchen hygiene to prevent cross-contamination from gluten-containing foods.
– Use thoroughly cleaned bowls, utensils, and baking sheets dedicated to gluten-free cooking.
Following these tips will allow you to whip up allergy-friendly puppy chow to share with friends and family. And don’t forget to enjoy – the crispy, chocolatey, peanut buttery goodness is hard to resist!
Are there gluten-free puppy chow brands?
While puppy chow is easy to make at home using gluten-free ingredients, some companies do produce packaged gluten-free puppy chow mixes. Here are a few brands offering gluten-free options:
Muddy Buddies by Chex
Both the Original and Chocolate Peanut Butter flavors are labeled gluten-free. They use gluten-free Rice Chex cereal as the base.
Manhattan New York Puppy Chow
This brand offers a gluten-free puppy chow that comes in Chocolate, Cinnamon, and Banana flavors. It uses Crispix cereal and the facility is peanut- and gluten-free.
Blueberry Hill Puppy Chow
Blueberry Hill has a gluten-free puppy chow variety made with Rice Chex cereal and no barley malt. Chocolate and Yogurt flavors are gluten-free.
Sweet Loren’s Puppy Chow
This brand uses gluten-free Rice Chex and is made in a dedicated gluten-free facility. Both Classic and Peanut Butter Cup flavors are gluten-free.
If opting for pre-packaged puppy chow, always double check for a “gluten-free” label and read the ingredients for any potential gluten sources. Contact the manufacturer if you have any uncertainty about gluten cross-contamination risk.
Puppy chow nutrition facts and calories
Like many snacks, puppy chow is high in calories, sugar, and fat compared to other whole foods. Here is a nutritional breakdown for a standard 1/3 cup serving of homemade puppy chow:
Calories: 160
Total fat: 7g
Saturated fat: 3.5g
Carbohydrates: 24g
Sugar: 13g
Protein: 3g
The exact nutrition will vary slightly based on which cereal you use and any additional ingredients. But most versions provide around 150-200 calories per serving with about 13-15 grams of sugar.
The cereal base and powdered sugar mean this snack is high in refined carbs. And the peanut butter and chocolate coatings contribute a good amount of saturated fat.
So while the occasional puppy chow indulgence won’t hurt, it falls into the sometimes food category rather than a daily health food. Enjoy it in moderation alongside a balanced diet.
Healthier puppy chow alternatives
Puppy chow is a treat that’s meant to be indulgent – not the healthiest snack around. But you can create lighter versions or similar snacks with a healthier nutrition profile. Here are some ideas:
– Use powdered peanut butter instead of regular peanut butter to remove saturated fat.
– Coat in yogurt or sprinkles instead of chocolate to reduce sugar.
– Incorporate some nuts, seeds, coconut, or dried fruit for extra nutrition.
– Experiment with cereals like puffed rice or quinoa for less refined carbs.
– Reduce the amount of powdered sugar coating to cut back on sugar.
– Substitute stevia or monk fruit for some of the powdered sugar.
– Choose dark chocolate chips over milk chocolate when adding chocolate.
– Use unsweetened cocoa powder instead of chocolate to remove sugar.
– Make a trail mix with similar ingredients – cereal, nuts, coconut, chocolate chips, etc.
With a little creativity, you can give this classic snack a healthier overhaul while keeping the delicious flavor. Just adjust the amounts of each ingredient to create the perfect lighter puppy chow recipe.
Gluten-free dessert alternatives to puppy chow
In addition to gluten-free puppy chow, there are many other sweet gluten-free desserts you can turn to instead. Here are some allergy-friendly alternatives to satisfy a sugar craving:
Protein bars – Many protein and energy bars are gluten-free. Quest bars, RX Bars, KIND bars, Lara Bars, and NuGo bars all have gluten-free varieties.
Chocolate truffles – Truffles made with high-quality dark chocolate are naturally gluten-free. Brands like Endangered Species, Godiva, and Dove make gluten-free truffle options.
Cookies – Gluten-free all-purpose flour blends allow you to bake chocolate chip, peanut butter, oatmeal raisin and other classic gluten-free cookies.
Donuts – Mini donuts made with gluten-free flour are an easy alternative you can find at many grocery stores. Or make cake donuts at home.
Fruit snacks – Dried fruit, fruit leathers, apple chips and similar snacks offer a healthier gluten-free choice.
Yogurt parfaits – Layer gluten-free granola, nuts, coconut, fruit, and yogurt for a customizable sweet parfait.
Puddings – Gluten-free instant pudding cups and homemade pudding provide creamy dessert options.
Ice cream – Many brands like Talenti, Ben and Jerry’s, Haagen Dazs, and So Delicious offer gluten-free flavors.
The dessert world is your oyster when you go gluten-free. Recreate old favorites or try something new – there are endless sweet possibilities beyond puppy chow.
Should celiacs and gluten intolerant individuals eat puppy chow?
Those with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten intolerance must avoid all foods containing gluten. Eating gluten triggers an immune reaction and intestinal damage.
So is puppy chow that’s confirmed gluten-free safe for the gluten intolerant?
The answer is yes – puppy chow made properly with gluten-free ingredients, avoiding cross-contamination, can be safely eaten in a gluten-free diet. The recipe ingredients are naturally gluten-free.
That said, those with celiac disease or intolerance should still take precautions:
– Carefully read all labels and only use brands marked certified gluten-free
– Inquire with manufacturers about gluten safety if uncertain
– Use dedicated gluten-free utensils and workspaces
– Ask about preparation procedures if eating homemade puppy chow to ensure no cross-contamination
– Start with a small serving to check for any reaction when trying a new brand or recipe
While it is gluten-free, puppy chow offers little nutritional value. Those following a gluten-free diet should focus on getting sufficient fiber, protein, vitamins, and nutrients from fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, dairy, legumes, nuts, and seeds.
But as an occasional fun treat, puppy chow can provide a sweet, gluten-free indulgence you don’t have to give up. Proper precautions help you remain symptom-free.
Bottom line
Traditional puppy chow recipes made with gluten-free rice cereal contain no gluten sources. But wheat-based cereals, flavor add-ins, and cross-contamination can introduce gluten.
Reading labels carefully, verifying gluten-free status, and taking precautions around prep and serving help keep puppy chow gluten-free. Those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance can safely enjoy puppy chow in moderation as part of a healthy, balanced gluten-free diet.
While super tasty, puppy chow is best enjoyed occasionally as a dessert or snack due to its high calorie, sugar, and saturated fat content. You can lighten it up by swapping in healthier ingredients. And there are plenty of other gluten-free sweet treats to satisfy your cravings.
So nibble on that gluten-free puppy chow and enjoy every sweet, chocolatey bite – just in moderation and alongside a balanced diet. By taking the right gluten precautions, everyone can join in the muddy buddy fun!
