Trader Joe's Or Whole Foods?

[Bamms]

Hi, my 7 year old daughter has just been diagnosed with Celiac disease and is lactose intolerant. I am new to all this, and would like suggestions on foods that kids might like and the best places to buy them at. Also, is Trader Joe's cheaper than Whole Foods? Could you tell me the pros and cons? Can I find some of the same gluten free and dairy free foods and Walmart? Thanks so much!

[kareng]

Lots of foods are gluten-free and df. So you should be able to do most of your shopping at Walmart. Walmart seems to have a few gluten-free pasta choices. Not sure about bread. I have seen Udis at Target.

[bartfull]

And make sure you read the Newbie 101 thread in the coping section.

[greenbeanie]

I'm not sure if this is still the case, since I haven't shopped at Trader Joe's since before the new labeling guidelines were passed. But we had some bad experiences with their "gluten free" store brand stuff previously - as in, stomach pains within minutes of eating their chicken stock and (on a separate day) within minutes of eating one brownie. Both were labeled gluten free. Upon further investigation, I found out that many of their gluten-free products were made on shared equipment with wheat. This was shortly after my daughter's diagnosis, and we have not been back since (or tried any other products made on shared equipment from other sources). Perhaps they've changed their labeling since August, so maybe it's fine now. But definitely read the labels for the "shared equipment" statement even if the package itself is labeled gluten-free. My daughter seems to be super-sensitive, as she also had a very clear reaction to Rice Dream (which is supposedly tested to less than 5ppm). So take this with a grain of salt - maybe other celiacs are ok with the Trader Joe's store brand stuff. But I'd be wary of it, and try it very carefully.

Unfortunately, Whole Foods is much more expensive. But we haven't had any problems with their store brand. I was lucky that my daughter was already used to eating mostly not-typical-kid-foods when she was diagnosed, so we just avoid most cracker-type and bready things altogether. Brown rice crisps and rice cakes have become staples, though. They're widely available at mainstream stores, and relatively cheap.

Good luck! It's hard to navigate at first if you're trying to provide gluten-free substitutes that taste like the wheat version, since many gluten-free grain products taste quite different, and kids are bound to notice. It was much easier for us to just switch to different types of naturally gluten-free snacks that my daughter wasn't used to having before - so it was more like a new experience altogether, rather than a substitute for a previously-loved food.

[Deekle]

Also, Wal-Mart has many more options than you see on the shelf.  I have several celiac friends who shop online at Walmart.com.  You get free site-to-store shipping.

 

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[Bamms]

Thank you all so much! I will for sure take all your advice:)

[cyclinglady]

We switched to potato and corn chips. My daughter loves Pirate's Booty. For a crowd (Girl Scouts) I make popcorn on the stove. Serve with some fruit and the kids love it. It is cheap too!

I shop at Sprouts (cheaper than whole foods), Costco, Trader Joe's and my local grocery store. I hit Walmart for pre-packaged stuff when we are on the road.

[GottaSki]

Welcome!

 

We order pasta, cereal, flours, baking mixes and more from Amazon's Subscribe and Save for a lot less than anywhere I've found in the store. 

 

If you have a Sprout's near you...they have a wide variety of gluten-free items.

[Adalaide]

If you're near a Costco they have a lot of options. They're really great about allergen labeling also.

[powerofpositivethinking]

if you have ShopRite near you they have a great selection and are much cheaper than other stores 

 

I love the Trader Joe's vibe and prices but since there have been several accounts on this site about people getting sick from their store products, I won't chance it, so I save up and go to Whole Foods.

[Bamms]

Thank you! I will check out Costco and probably sign up for Amazon subscription. I just checked and we dont have a Sprouts or ShopRite:(

[cyclinglady]

I have to say, that I used to shop a lot at TJ's, but now that Walmart and other stores have many certified gluten free items, I do not go there much even though I have been shopping there for 30 years. I can not drink wine anymore and now I can not eat my beloved cherry chocolate chip soy milk ice cream either. Man, I used to buy six at a time! Drat that recent diabetes diagnosis!

[kareng]

You might check your local grocery stores.  Here, some of the  HyVees have lots of gluten-free breads, flours, etc.  Whole Foods is often cheaper.  Safeway has there own line of gluten-free products.  You might want to check several different Targets, Walmarts, Groceries.   Some carry different things than others.

 

Look for "regular" foods like Chex or Lays products that are gluten-free.  Obviously, eating an apple is better than a bag of Fritos but kids want to have a little fun and have normal food to share with friends.  (OK,  Mom's do too)  

[Bamms]

Everyone has been so helpful here, thank you again! I have one more question, is there a handbook that you recommend I buy with lists of things to stay away from? I find it easier to look for gluten free labels as opposed to knowing was she cant have. Thanks

[kareng]

Everyone has been so helpful here, thank you again! I have one more question, is there a handbook that you recommend I buy with lists of things to stay away from? I find it easier to look for gluten free labels as opposed to knowing was she cant have. Thanks

Just read the ingredients. Wheat must be clearly labelled. Rye isn't in much but bread or crackers you wouldn't buy because of the wheat in them. Barley or barley malt will be labelled because it's an ingredient. Oats must say gluten-free or they may contain wheat. There are some weird kinds of wheat but they aren't very common. Gluten really can't " hide" despite the Internet rumors.

Here is a list from this site that I adapted for another thread:

Well. that's easy - nothing that says wheat, rye, barley, barley malt, the word "malt" with no other clarification, oats that are not certified gluten-free. I took a few things off this list like beer and cookie dough - because preschools shouldn't have beer and if they read the ingredients on the cookie dough, they will see it says wheat. I added a few things to make it more clear. Most stuff on this list they probably will never use but they might not realizes couscous is wheat or soy sauce has wheat unless its gluten-free Tamari

Abyssinian Hard (Wheat triticum durum)

Atta Flour

Barley Grass (can contain seeds)

Barley Hordeum vulgare

Barley Malt

Bleached Flour

Bran

Bread Flour

Brewer's Yeast

Brown Flour

Bulgur (Bulgar Wheat/Nuts)

Bulgur Wheat

Cereal Binding

Chilton

Club Wheat (Triticum aestivum subspecies compactum)

Common Wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Couscous

Dinkle (Spelt)

Disodium Wheatgermamido Peg-2 Sulfosuccinate

Durum wheat (Triticum durum)

Einkorn (Triticum monococcum)

Emmer (Triticum dicoccon)

Enriched Bleached Flour

Enriched Bleached Wheat Flour

Enriched Flour

Farina

Farina Graham

Farro

Flour (normally this is wheat)

Fu (dried wheat gluten)

Germ

Graham Flour

Granary Flour

Groats (barley, wheat)

Hard Wheat

Heeng

Hing

Hordeum Vulgare Extract

Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein

Kamut (Pasta wheat)

Kecap Manis (Soy Sauce)

Ketjap Manis (Soy Sauce)

Kluski Pasta

Maida (Indian wheat flour)

Malt

Malted Barley Flour

Malted Milk

Malt Extract

Malt Syrup

Malt Flavoring

Malt Vinegar

Macha Wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Matza

Matzah

Matzo

Matzo Semolina

Meripro 711

Mir

Nishasta

Oats - not certified gluten-free

Oriental Wheat (Triticum turanicum)

Orzo Pasta

Pearl Barley

Persian Wheat (Triticum carthlicum)

Perungayam

Poulard Wheat (Triticum turgidum)

Polish Wheat (Triticum polonicum)

Rice Malt (if barley or Koji are used) -- just rice malt is OK

Rusk

Rye

Seitan

Semolina

Semolina Triticum

Shot Wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Small Spelt

Spelt (Triticum spelta)

Sprouted Wheat or Barley

Stearyldimoniumhydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein

Strong Flour

Tabbouleh

Tabouli

Teriyaki Sauce & soy sauce not labelled gluten-free

Timopheevi Wheat (Triticum timopheevii)

Triticale X triticosecale

Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Flour Lipids

Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Extract

Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil

Udon (wheat noodles)

Unbleached Flour

Vavilovi Wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Vital Wheat Gluten

Wheat, Abyssinian Hard triticum durum

Wheat amino acids

Wheat Bran Extract

Wheat, Bulgur

Wheat Durum Triticum

Wheat Germ Extract

Wheat Germ Glycerides

Wheat Germ Oil

Wheat Germamidopropyldimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein

Wheat Grass (can contain seeds)

Wheat Nuts

Wheat Protein

Wheat Triticum aestivum

Wheat Triticum Monococcum

Wheat (Triticum Vulgare) Bran Extract

Whole-Meal Flour

Wild Einkorn (Triticum boeotictim)

Wild Emmer (Triticum dicoccoides)

[luvs2eat]

Wow... I had no idea Walmart had all those "ship to store" gluten-free options!! I'd say 99% of those items aren't available in the actual store, which is a shame.

 

I'd KILL for a Whole Foods nearby... I'd be happy to travel an hour away... but not FOUR hours which is the closest. If you haven't read the article and scientific study (in the celiac publications forum)... about the rise in celiac diagnoses in direct correlation to the use or Round Up pesticides in GMO stuff... it's a fascinating read! The Whole Foods 365 brand (TONS of products) are all GMO free.

[blmoreschi]

I recommend getting one of the product guide books, such as Cecilia's Marketplace, to help you navigate the grocery store at the beginning. It helps you figure out which barbeque sauce is okay, etc. I referred to it constantly at first but haven't opened it in months now. I can't seem to put in the link, but you can just google it and order online.

[motheroftwins2010]

Ive found whole foods reputation as expensive is simply not true. Ive been comparing the prices with our two most popular grocery stores Dominick's (out of business now) and jewel osco and whole foods is the same or cheaper if buying regular groceries. Not to mention everything is in one store so i save time and gas too. I find trader joe's selections too limited but their prices are great i just dont like going to two stores to grocery shop. Ive never grocery shopped at walmart we dont have them near our home and i dislike their business practices anyway. Meijer was a let down and the local store doesn't handle food properly. If you are buying prepared food whole foods will be more expensive and more risky with regards to cross contamination but thats true for most grocery stores anyway.

[Nick-incollege]

Trader joes is a little bulls$#&.

 

The ass%$@#s put "no gluten ingredients used!" as a label in most of their products. Which doesn't mean they are gluten free, at all

[kareng]

Trader joes is a little bulls$#&.

 

The ass%$@#s put "no gluten ingredients used!" as a label in most of their products. Which doesn't mean they are gluten free, at all

Doesn't mean they aren't either.