Wow, do I get this question a lot! Many who find out a member of their family has to go wheat free due to allergies or behavior modification get a little glossy eyed over the idea of having to shop at a whole foods store, which can double, if not triple, your current grocery bill. I have been asked to hold some classes. Maybe. But here are a few shopping tips to avoid those high prices.
Gluten Free does not have to mean organic.
1. Aldis. They have TONS of food that have no preservatives, artificial food coloring, and artificial flavoring. I buy 32 pouches of fruit snacks for just over 3 bucks that are flavored and colored from fruit juice and does not contain high fructose corn syrup. Their milk is hormone free. Their eggs are from grain fed chickens with no steroids. Their chocolate has no artificial flavoring/coloring. Chips are all natural and most have about five ingredients. It’s amazing. You’ll love it! Just try it. I have several friends who are now addicted, including my friend Amy Riecken, who claims their face wash is amazing and has helped curb her “lush” addiction. Note: They are not good for meat or produce in price.
2. ASIAN MARKETS!!!!! Think about it. What do they primarily eat? Rice. My mother-in-law clued me in on this one. It was a random comment that has saved me hundreds of dollars and has allowed me to experiment with flours and ingredients guilt free!!! Rice flour is 80 some cents per pound and is so much better. I get a HUGE bottle of rice vinegar for 6 bucks. Soy sauce (READ THE LABELS) is 3 bucks for a giant bottle. I get ginger oil, sesame oil, tapioca starch, potato starch, tapioca flour, spring roll wrappers, etc, etc. It may feel weird walking in. It may smell weird. They may not speak english, but it is great for expanding your comfort zone and good on the ol’ wallet!
3. Farmers Markets: Buy local. Buy whole. Buy as much fruits and veggies as you can! Prices are good. Quality great.
4. Meijer produce: Seriously, when a farmers market isn’t available, this is your best bet.
5. Whole foods: I try to purchase things that are similarly priced no matter where you go (Quinoa, bread, etc) at my local Co-op. I guess I’d rather support local business than a chain store when I can. And unlike Wal-Mart or Meijer, some of it goes on sale! They also have a better selection (you aren’t just stuck with one option.)
6. Sams club: I went to a butcher and was looking at buying a whole cow. I was shocked to see his meat was the same at Sams club and that his prices were outrageous. You can find tons of all natural, steroid/hormone free meat at Sams. We bring it home, divide it into freezer bags and wrap it in freezer paper, and put in our deep freezer. Then we shop from our freezer for the next couple of months. This has saved me many trips to the grocery store. Whew.
Ok. Another thing to think about:
Gluten Free Does Not Mean It’s Healthy
I got duped into thinking gluten-free automatically meant it was healthy. I also got duped into thinking organic meant healthy. Not really. There is still TONS of sugar and little fiber in most gluten-free products. I try to make as much as I can from scratch. Try replacing rice noodles with Quinoa when possible bc of the fiber content. Also, there is a product called Rice bran from Ener G. It has a ton of fiber in it and can be added (with little notice from the critics) to just about anything…even cakes and cookies.
Gluten Free Does Not Mean Everything Must Be Pre-Packaged
Don’t get into the rut of eating more processed foods than before gluten-free. I have seen parents leaning towards buying everything pre-made bc it’s easier. There are so many foods naturally gluten-free that are great. Just open your mind! Cottage cheese is a great breakfast or snack. Cheese sticks. Dried Fruit. Sunflower Seeds. Peanuts. The list goes on and on. We have to stop thinking we “can’t” and start thinking “this can be fun, healthy, and easy!”
So get out there and get creative. Buy things, READ THE LABELS, and don’t be overwhelmed. Just remember to be willing to try to shop at new places and be willing to go outside of the box. It becomes an adventure and you’ll find that there are others out there who can benefit from your experiences!
Picking Up Where They Left Off 