One of the most dreaded things for me after being diagnosed with Celiac Disease was to go to the grocery store. I didn't really enjoy it before, but now I really do not enjoy it. It takes 10x longer to get through the store because you have to check every little thing on every little label. Thankfully, there is a GF scanner that will tell you if it is gluten free or not. It even tells you if there is cross contamination. It has been a life savor for me at the grocery store. It has helped me hold back many tears and kept me from sitting on the floor crying in the middle of the grocery store.
Who would have known that Oatmeal is cross contaminated. Or fruit and veggie trays. These are supposed to be safe to eat!
The seasoning isle is where I spend most of my time. There is cross contamination everywhere! (this is how restaurants get you sick, just saying). Some of the spices I have found safe are McCormick and Market Street. If you are wanting taco seasoning or gravy make sure it says gluten free on the package otherwise it is not.
Frozen fruit and vegetables are another place that stump me. They should be GF, right? In fact, they do grow from the ground or plants. Wrong! Double check before you buy. Sometimes they put things in there to keep them fresh.
Most of the time meats are GF, except when you are simple like me and would rather just buy the frozen kind. It makes life so much easier, yet so much more difficult. They could be pre-seasoned or just have a coating on them to keep them fresh. Life isn't easy, so don't try to making cooking easy. Play it safe and buy the real stuff!
Baking is hard. Especially for someone who used to bake on a daily basis. I have started to bake more and try out new recipes and ingredients. I have recently found that King Arthur flour is the best to use for baking. It is a one-to-one flour so you don't have to add anything to it to make it taste normal. Chocolate chips are also hard to find! There are so many options out there but only a few are completely gluten free. I use Nestle Toll House or Aldis Brand. They are both safe to use. Sugar and Powdered Sugar is gluten free, right? Wrong. There are brands that are cross contaminated so check before you buy. Usually Walmart brand, Domino, and C&H are okay to use.
Nuts are my favorite, but very hard to find. Peanut butter is naturally GF, however, do not use it with people who are not GF. Even dipping the spoon in after touching bread with gluten can make you sick. In my house, I have my own jar and my dad has his own. Label everything so you don't get cross contaminated! As far as trail mix and nuts, I have found the most luck at Costco. Watch the labels though, I recently was eating a mix that was GF but was changed. With no warning! Blue Diamond almonds are good and GF. I am still on the hunt for more brands and will keep you posted.
Some other foods to check before you buy:
-Pickles
-Canned Soup
-Canned Vegetables and Fruit
-Frozen Vegetables and Fruit
-Pre-chopped Vegetables and Fruit
-Lunch Meat (Sam's, check label)
-Veggie Burgers
-Processed Cheese
-Yogurt
-Ice cream
-Canned Beans (Bush's Baked Bean Original, check the others)
-Bouillon cubes
-BBQ Sauce (Sweet Baby Rays)
-Mayo (Hellman's Light or Olive Oil)
-Pasta Sauce
-Salad Dressing
-Salsa
-Ketchup and Mustard
-Jelly
-Gravy
-Bleu Cheese
-Hot Dogs
-Soy Sauce
-Hot Chocolate
-Tea
-Instant Coffee
-Cereal (Lucky Charms, Cheerios, Chex)
-French Fries (if they use the same fryer)
-Items labeled "Wheat Free" doesn't mean "Gluten Free"
Unfortunately, there is gluten hiding in other products. Not just food! Be sure to check the following products for hidden gluten.
-Hand Sanitizer (don't use Bath and Body)
-Shampoo and Conditioner (I uses Kirklands Brand)
-Lotion (Bath and Body Cream, not lotion)
-Body Wash
-Hair spray (Suave)
-Cleansers
-Shaving gels
-TOOTHPASTE (Crest White is GF)
-Makeup
-Lip Gloss
-CHAPSTICK (I use EOS)
-Playdo
-Glue
-Envelopes (don't lick them shut)
-Vitamins
-Medicine (Kirklands is GF)
When looking at Beauty Products look for the following words:
Triticum Vulgare (wheat)
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Wheat Germ
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Hordeum Vulgare (barley)
Avena Sativa (oatmeal)
Vitamin E (not scientific but Vitamin E is sometimes derived from a wheat germ)
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