Gluten Free Shopping

With much trepidation, I entered the store.  One step at a time and a cold gust of wind landed me just through the front door.  I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and glanced around.  This was it.  The last store.  The very last store that would seal my fate.  I began perusing the aisles, scrutinizing labels and drinking in the spicy aromas and colorful sights.  Two hours later, I danced my way out the door, screaming with joy inside.  I had found it!  This was it!

 

The Common Market, located in Frederick, MD is likely to save my life.  Quite literally.  Allow me to explain.

Monday, Brian and I visited each of the stores I had located in the area that could potentially aid my shopping for gluten free products.  This store is locally owned and sells only organic, seasonal, and locally grown meats, produce, cheeses, and other products.  It sells bulk foods.  Ethnic ingredients.  Raw foods.  And the best?  Almost every item in this store is gluten free.  That's right, folks.  You heard me.  THIS STORE IS SAFE FOR ME!!

Until you go gluten free (with raw and healthy foods, limited dairy/sugar/soy) you might never understand my elation to finally find a store that carried food--even baked goods and ready made pizza that I could eat.  I was even more excited because I have spent the past several days eliminating all products from my house, from cleaning supplies to toiletries to food that contain gluten.  Rather depressing.  You start to wonder what you CAN eat.  You want what you can no longer eat.  Sure, I love cooking and experimenting, but the whole process can be somewhat overwhelming.  Not anymore.

Gluten free food does not have to be expensive.  It generally is a bit more.  The flours you use are more expensive, and gluten free versions of food tend to not be the generic store brand, but a brand name.  Scrutinize the ingredients or call the manufacturer.  Some packaging was well thought through: big, bold label that says "GLUTEN FREE".  Others, well, it's like trying to find a needle in a hay stack.  And still others decide they don't want to abide by federal law and list allergens and such things that make our lives easier.  What are you looking for if the product does not list that it is gluten free?  Below is a list of all the ways gluten can hide. (it does NOT mean that because a product has that ingredient that it contains gluten, but that it is likely to do so, and you should check it out).

*Wheat Starch          *Corn Starch          *Dextrin                   *Modified Food Starch

*Malt                        *Maltodextrin        *Malt Flavoring       *Caramel coloring (if not made in US)

*Distilled White Vinegar (if not made in US)                         *HVP (hydrolyzed vegetable protein)

*HPP (hydrolyzed plant protein)             *Emulsifiers/Stabilizers

*Natural Flavoring     *Fillers                 *Durum                    *Durham

*Triticale                    *Cornflour            *Barley                    *Wheat

*Rye                           *Semolina            *Spelt                       *Oats (do NOT contain gluten, but are grown processed with gluten, so they must be certified GF)

*Couscous                  *Soy                     *MSG                       *Kamut

*Faro                          *Graham              *Bulgar                      *Seiton

*Miso                         *Beer                    *Brewers Yeast          *Yeast

*Gluta...                      *TVP (textured vegetable protein)         *Coffee (special drinks--all but two of Starbucks drinks are GF)                        *Food coloring/coating

*Imitation--                 *Dry roasted nuts                                     *Glue

*Gum, Candy, Mints                              *Reduced Fat/Skim products

*Processed Meats (hot dogs, sausage)                                         *Ice Cream

*Baking Powder/Soda                           *Blue Cheese                *American Cheese

*Velveeta Cheese                                   *String Cheese             *Shredded Cheese

*Brown Rice Syrup                               *Cereal Fillers              *Citric Acid

*Curry Powder                                      *Dispersing Agent        *Excipients/Medication

*Extracts                       *Gum Base          *Homeopathic Remedies

*Vitamin E oil               *Vital Wheat Gluten                              *Wheat Germ

*Vegetable gum, protein, starch             *Spices-anti-caking agents

*Preservatives                *Oils--wheat germ oil/additives           *Monodyglycerids

*Diglycerides                 *Triglycerides                                       *Toothpaste/Toiletries/Cosmetics

*Soap

Now, go into your cupboard or refrigerator and tell me if any of the items you have contain any of the above contaminants.  Go grocery shopping and before you place ANY item in your cart, check it carefully.  Tell me what you find out.  Do this and you will understand why I was discouraged.

Rice Cakes.  Popcorn.  Chex Mix.  Eggs.  Lots of veggies and fruits.  These are my favorite foods right now.  

Anything I want to eat, I can make GF.  Crescent Rolls. English Muffins.  Bagels.  Pizza.  It might not taste the same, but it has the potential to be VERY close or BETTER.  That's right.  I've made a few things that have a better taste and consistency.  Gravies made with tapioca flour have a smoother, more delightful taste and consistency than AP flour produces.  Chefs in restaurants use tapioca flour to coat food for frying.  Alot of ingredients used by chefs are GF.  So I now have an excuse to "cook like a chef".  (That's supposed to be a pep talk.)

This is the first post in a series of what I call GF 101.  I pray it helps those of you, like me, who need to avoid gluten.  I hope it helps my family and friends help me in this endeavor.  And finally, it solidifies this information in my brain.  I never thought I would study literature and teaching in college, only to have it used like a nutritional science major.   I hated all this growing up.  Funny how God works.

Smiles!