Question For Those Familiar With Whole Foods

[Byte Me]

Hi,

I've never been in Whole Foods, as there is not one close enough to where I live for convenience. However, I will be visiting relatives in Louisiana all of next week, and I noticed they have a BR location. I was wondering if anyone has ever been to this location and can tell me if there is a decent selection of gluten-free foods and what types?

Sure would be convenient to go shopping after I get there. I'm terrified of trusting my relatives to provide "safe" foods. I mean they are fantastic and understanding and take it seriously that I cannot eat this stuff, but we all know how difficult it can be before you know the ropes.

Thanks for any help!!

[tabasco32]

Hi

Most whole foods carry the same stuff. You will be lost in their looking for things. Lots of great things. Ask a clerck for a list when you get their. They have a paper that has all their gluten free products listed on their. THey have cookies, bread, crackers, ice cream, breads, all kinds of things. Their aisles have small tags that tell you what is gluten free or what isn't which makes it easier. It is so worth it to go. But beware for it's name, WHOLE PAYCHECK. You just want to buy everything. They also got some GREAT almond butter mmm.

[Byte Me]

Wow, I did not realize they were so big! Good to know they have a list, I like lists.

I figured it would be expensive...I've been squirreling away $$ for a while waiting for a chance to shop at a store that carries good gluten-free stuff. Guess I had better leave some room in the trunk of my car for the trip home.

Thanks a bunch for the info!

[tom]

I think u can get the list online. I'm sure of it.

I've been to multiple CA locations and one in Phx. Lotta stuff - better selection of gluten-free cereal than other natural food stores I've been to.

Some are as big as the big chain supermarket's medSm stores. Some a liitle smaller but not much.

They all have the pamphlets for gluten-free (and other diets) near the front door, often outside.

I love that housebrand (365) almond butter too.

There's even a big selection of gluten-free pasta!

More gluten-free frozen dinners than anywhere else I've seen, and I'm going on 4 yrs gluten-free.

Oh oh! One newish thing I've been lovin is the big rice tortillas! So u can use it more like a flour one. (They do need a little microwaving to soften em up. I get 'em a little wet and do 20sec)

So get the online list and let the salivating begin!

[happygirl]

here's the list to the BR location:

Open Original Shared Link

you can search other stores products by location:

Open Original Shared Link

[Karen B.]

My favorite things at Whole Foods that I can't find anywhere else...

All in the freezer section...

Amy's rice crust pizza

gluten-free chicken nuggets

gluten-free fish sticks

gluten-free corn dogs

and a variety of gluten-free mixes and every flavor of Lara bars and a killer deli counter with dishes that list EVERY ingredient so I can tell if I can eat it. If you eat at their deli counter, be careful about ordering anything near a gluten containing dish with something like breadcrumbs. But I have to admit their deli counter is my downfall -- healthy food that tastes great and costs heaven and earth. :-)

Their own GFbaked goods are good but way pricey and the breads, while good for store bought, are not nearly as good as fresh from the oven bread.

Don't forget to take a cooler along to keep the frozen goods frozen.

[The Lovebug]

Jenn,

I've been shopping at Whole Foods for several years and thanked my lucky stars that there was one nearby when I found out about Celiac. It saved my life!! We've now moved, and don't have a Whole Foods nearby, but I actually wrote the Company and asked them to consider coming to my new location.

One thing I didn't find in the other responses to your question was information about their wonderful gluten-free bakery. The head baker for the Whole Foods chain has Celiac and has developed some really tasty fresh baked goods. Sometimes you can find them in the fresh bakery area, but more often than not, they put them in the freezer to extend their shelf life. The breads are fairly heavy and grainy, but tasty compared to a lot of gluten-free breads. I almost always toast mine. The plain sandwich bread is good, but I love the Prairie Bread (with seeds and nuts) and the Sun roasted tomato/garlic bread (for sandwiches). Also, their cinnamon raisin bread is great toasted for breakfast. I also love their muffins -- my favorites are the cherry almond streusel and the morning glory. Even the small pecan and cherry pies aren't bad. The pizza crusts are decent, but I think I've had better. The cookies are good, but not great -- you might try the molasses cookies. In the cookie aisle, I buy Pamela's Lemon Shortbread and think it's about as good as a prepared gluten-free cookie gets. I hope this is helpful for your planned shopping trip.

Karen B. said in her post that she gets the Amy's brown rice pizza crusts. I bought those a time or two thinking I was onto something, but when I looked at the ingredients listing, I saw that wheat flour (or some other toxin!) was in them. It could be that they've gone gluten-free since I last checked. I did find a gluten-free brown rice pizza crust in the freezer section at Wild Oats (which was wonderful), but I'm now without a Wild Oats as well as Whole Foods!

Sue

[Karen B.]

----snip----

Karen B. said in her post that she gets the Amy's brown rice pizza crusts. I bought those a time or two thinking I was onto something, but when I looked at the ingredients listing, I saw that wheat flour (or some other toxin!) was in them. It could be that they've gone gluten-free since I last checked. I did find a gluten-free brown rice pizza crust in the freezer section at Wild Oats (which was wonderful), but I'm now without a Wild Oats as well as Whole Foods!

Sue

No, we tried the Amy's brown rice pizza crusts and didn't think much of them but the Amy's rice crust cheese pizza has a good crust and it is gluten-free. We buy those and build another pizza on top. Add more mozzarella, pepperoni, mushrooms, onions, etc. The only pizza crust I like as well is Chebe but the Amy's is ready faster so I keep a few around for quickie meals.

[Byte Me]

This is really great info, thank you all so very much!

I can see now that I'm probably going to go broke and gain fifteen pounds....the biggest health food store we have around here is about the size of my living room, haha. Whole foods sounds like gluten-free paradise compared to that! I'm already drooling at the thought of gluten-free chicken nuggets and fish sticks...mmmmmmm....

[Karen B.]

This is really great info, thank you all so very much!

I can see now that I'm probably going to go broke and gain fifteen pounds....the biggest health food store we have around here is about the size of my living room, haha. Whole foods sounds like gluten-free paradise compared to that! I'm already drooling at the thought of gluten-free chicken nuggets and fish sticks...mmmmmmm....

Just got back from a run to Whole Foods. I bought:

Amy's Rice Crust Spinach Cheese Pizza (the spinach flavor is new and I had to try it)

Amy's Rice Macaroni & Cheese

Van's gluten-free Waffles

Assorted Tasty-Bite meals (shelf-stable, don't require refrigeration)

Assorted Lara Bars (Lemon is my new favorite)

And from their wonderful deli counter -- Kung Po Tofu (made with wheat free tamari), Broccoli Crunch Salad, Roasted Chili-Lime Corn on the Cob, Sugar Beet salad and steamed brown rice. If you pick up stuff from the deli counter, just be careful of the surrounding dishes. They are good about keeping the same spoon in the same dish but crust and bread crumbs can scatter. In a pinch, I've had them offer to get me some straight from the container in back.

If you don't have it available in your town, make sure you pick up at least one Namaste Spice Cake, one Pamela's Wheat Free Bread, Tinkyada Pasta and a couple of Gluten Free Pantry mixes. The GFP corn muffins are good too. I can make gluten-free cornbread but the muffins have a cakier texture. And have you tried San Gennarro Polenta? (also shelf stable, no refrigeration required) It's great fried in EV olive oil w/garlic and topped with some pasta sauce.

[little d]

Jenn,

I've been shopping at Whole Foods for several years and thanked my lucky stars that there was one nearby when I found out about Celiac. It saved my life!! We've now moved, and don't have a Whole Foods nearby, but I actually wrote the Company and asked them to consider coming to my new location.

One thing I didn't find in the other responses to your question was information about their wonderful gluten-free bakery. The head baker for the Whole Foods chain has Celiac and has developed some really tasty fresh baked goods. Sometimes you can find them in the fresh bakery area, but more often than not, they put them in the freezer to extend their shelf life. The breads are fairly heavy and grainy, but tasty compared to a lot of gluten-free breads. I almost always toast mine. The plain sandwich bread is good, but I love the Prairie Bread (with seeds and nuts) and the Sun roasted tomato/garlic bread (for sandwiches). Also, their cinnamon raisin bread is great toasted for breakfast. I also love their muffins -- my favorites are the cherry almond streusel and the morning glory. Even the small pecan and cherry pies aren't bad. The pizza crusts are decent, but I think I've had better. The cookies are good, but not great -- you might try the molasses cookies. In the cookie aisle, I buy Pamela's Lemon Shortbread and think it's about as good as a prepared gluten-free cookie gets. I hope this is helpful for your planned shopping trip.

Karen B. said in her post that she gets the Amy's brown rice pizza crusts. I bought those a time or two thinking I was onto something, but when I looked at the ingredients listing, I saw that wheat flour (or some other toxin!) was in them. It could be that they've gone gluten-free since I last checked. I did find a gluten-free brown rice pizza crust in the freezer section at Wild Oats (which was wonderful), but I'm now without a Wild Oats as well as Whole Foods!

Sue

byte me

you can always ask a clerk on the floor if they have ever had an item and they will mark it and give it to you free, freeked me out the first time. I did just have their rice pizza crust threw some onion, green bell pepper and candian bacon from hormel that was gluten-free and it was very good.

donna

[Kayaking Mom]

Hi,

I've never been in Whole Foods, as there is not one close enough to where I live for convenience. However, I will be visiting relatives in Louisiana all of next week, and I noticed they have a BR location. I was wondering if anyone has ever been to this location and can tell me if there is a decent selection of gluten-free foods and what types?

Sure would be convenient to go shopping after I get there. I'm terrified of trusting my relatives to provide "safe" foods. I mean they are fantastic and understanding and take it seriously that I cannot eat this stuff, but we all know how difficult it can be before you know the ropes.

Thanks for any help!!

The Whole Foods by me will print out a listing of every gluten free item they carry in the store. Ask for it when you enter at the customer service desk. It is wonderful!!! You will be amazed at all the wonderful and beautiful fresh produce items!!! Pick up the Cinnamon-Raisin Bread from the Gluten Free Bakery (usually frozen) to have for breakfast. The Sun-Dried Tomato bread makes good sandwiches and you can also cut it into cubes and dry in the oven and make great croutons (Lee Tobin, the head baker, did a class at the store one day and taught us this trick). I also love the Namaste Spice Cake mix. I add grated carrots, pecans, raisins, and coconut to make a carrot cake. I don't frost it because I like to eat it for breakfast, but I have made a cream cheese frosting and taken it to dinner parties and everyone raves about it whether they are celiac or not. If you can't buy San-J organic Tamari wheat free soy sauce where you live, make sure to get a couple of bottles. They also carry a lot of variety's of Bob's Red Mill gluten-free flours. Get all the Tinkyada pasta you can take back with you -- take an empty suitcase if you can!! Have fun!!!!

[dionnek]

wow, I didn't know they had people who would do that (show you around) - that's great, since it's so hard to find the gluten-free foods (since they are mixed in with regular stuff and not labeled the same way).

I also like quinoa - I haven't tried the flakes or flour, but I buy quinoa (the grain - looks like couscous I think) which is usually with the rice., in a box. It is very good cooked with veggies, made with chicken salad, stuffed bell peppers or anything else you would use rice, barely or couscous type grain with. Make sure you rinse the grain before cooking - I skipped this part the first couple of times I used it and got really bad mouth blisters!