This isn't a picture of me, but I resemble this woman, reading every label at the store. Four years into this gluten-free journey, I now know more about which brands are safe and delicious, but I still end up shopping at 5 different grocery stores plus multiple online retailers to get our household stocked up! After my son’s Celiac diagnosis, I finally gave in and bought a second freezer to hold the stash and save me some weekly trips to the store. Here are some of the things my family thinks are worth a trip to a specialty store and/or stockpiling at your house:
Breads
Gluten-free breads are one of the hardest things to love. We typically just avoid them, eating more salads, bowls, and the like, but sometimes you just want some bread, so here goes…
Bagels - If you love your bagels and want to splurge, Modern Bagels will ship to your home from their NYC bakery and they are great! Shipping is $$ so get a bunch and stock your freezer, or split an order with a friend. For a cheaper, local alternative, Trader Joe’s everything bagels are a close second.
Dinner rolls - We discovered the small Chicago-based Gifted Breads and their small dinner rolls quickly became our favorite side for soup night! Order online.
Sandwich bread - Just when we thought we’d never see a full-size piece of bread again, we found the Schar deli-style bread, sold on the shelf in most grocers’ GF section. It’s the size of a real piece of bread and quite tasty. Pricy but if it means my son can pack one sandwiches for lunch instead of two, it starts to justify itself. If you can’t find it at the grocer, Schars takes online orders - while you’re there, try their Baguettes and Ciabatta rolls too.
Tortillas - Mission makes a GF tortilla that is the closest thing to a classic flour tortilla I’ve seen. They are good for sandwich wraps and great for quesadillas!!
Burger Buns - I mentioned Trader Joes above and will do so again. Their fresh hamburger buns are dotted with sesame seeds and a great imposter for a classic soft bun. They work great for sandwiches too and are our family picnic go-to.
Toaster Waffles - Yet another nod for Trader Joes - their frozen GF toaster waffles will fool any breakfast loving kid into thinking they’re the real deal.
Prepared Meals
This is NOT a list of healthy choices but, for my celiac teen, a list of quick foods he loves to make for himself and even his friends when they are over.
Purdue GF Chicken Tenders - after trying many, these are the crowd favorite and are beloved by all the teen boys who hang at my house. Find them in most grocery stores.
Foster Farms Corn Dogs - yup, we found corn dogs! And they warm nicely in the microwave. Near us, they’re found in the freezer at Mariano’s, good luck with your hunt!
Mama Cozzi’s Take & Bake Pizza - This is my second favorite GF thing from Aldi (read on for the first). Found in the refrigerator and comes in cheese, veggie, or pepperoni.
Chicken Tikka Masala - These “TV dinner” style meals are in the freezer at Trader Joes and make a great meal to go. Sadly, this is the only flavor that’s labeled GF by TJs so check your box before you buy.
Feel Good Egg Rolls - We typically find these at Whole Foods and think they’re delicious in the air fryer, if you have one! Made in veggie or chicken flavor.
Snacks & Treats
Ms. Katz -This website is a haven for GF treats! We especially love their Soft Pretzel Bites, Donut Holes, and frozen Pie Crusts.
Snyder's GF Pretzel Minis - These pretzels are slightly crunchier than the regular ones which is a plus in my book. Non-GF friends say they prefer them!
Nuts.com - It’s surprisingly hard to find nuts at the grocery store that don’t have a cross-contact warning with wheat. Enter nuts.com with an extensive list of nuts, snack mixes, and even granola that is labeled gluten-free! Shipping is quick too.
Nine Times Bakery - Another Chicago-based small business, we adore their cake balls and cannot figure out how they make them so delicious!
Live GFree Cheesecake Sampler - This is my hands-down favorite find from Aldi, found in the freezer section and ONLY in the month of May when they celebrate National Celiac Month. Stock your freezer and pull them out whenever you need to entertain, or bring a dessert to a party.
Please note that brands change their ingredients so always confirm your own safety by double checking labels! Oh, and comment below to share your favorite GF grocery items.
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