Recently Diagnosed And Don't Know Where To Get Food.

[pinkscooby6]

I was recently diagnosed with Celiac disease this past month, and don't know where to buy food. I live in San Diego, CA, and am in the military, so I'm on a very tight budget, and everything just seems as if it is going to cost so much money, which I don't have. Does anyone know of other places where I can buy gluten-free food that isn't going to cost an arm and a leg, because I would like to keep all my limbs. lol Any help or input on being gluten free would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[Ursa Major]

You can buy gluten-free food everywhere, unless you have decided that you need to replace all of the gluten foods with equivalent gluten-free ones.

Meat, vegetables, fruits, fish are all naturally gluten-free! If you stick to the basics, you should not need to spend a lot more than before being diagnosed. Besides, in order to heal faster, you should do that anyway.

You would do well to also eliminate all dairy and soy for the time being, to facilitate healing. Those two can hinder healing (not to mention that they can cause villi blunting on their own as well).

If you really want baked goods, you may need to buy ingredients and bake yourself, or order those foods online.

Many regular grocery stores carry at least rice pasta, which is for the most part (not all brands are good) just as nice as wheat pasta. Some people (even ones who aren't on a gluten-free diet) actually prefer the taste and texture of rice pasta!

[itchygirl]

Contact the manager at your AAFES. I dunno about where you are but the PX/DX here has a ton of gluten-free food options if you want cookies, waffles etc. And their prices on natural (potatoes, eggs, steak) gluten free food can't be beat.

If shopping is confusing, you may wish to contact someone at your base Autism/Auspergers support group. Many parents of Austic kids shop gluten free all the time, and would probably be happy to help you get started

[pinkscooby6]

I'm stationed on NAS North Island. So, we have 3 really good Commissaries in the local area. I've looked around there, but I haven't seen any gluten free food yet. But I already do all the rest of my shopping there. Thank you for the help though.

[Cherry Tart]

Trader Joe's has a gluten-free product list and their prices are pretty good!

[ellen123]

Trader Joe's has a gluten-free product list and their prices are pretty good!

Yes, Trader Joe's has a lot of gluten-free stuff, but be careful! Some of the products on their gluten-free product list are made in facilities and/or on equipment that also process wheat (and other allergins), so there is a definite risk of cross-contamination with some of those products. I think their list (at least, the last one I got hold of) is comprised of foods whose ingredients are gluten-free, but not necessarily those that are made or processed in a Gluten-free place. One example I experienced first-hand was Trader Joe's hummus, which caused me half a week of neck pain, migraine headaches and itchy bumps -- even though it was on their gluten free list. When I went back and looked at the label I saw it's made on shared equipment (or in a facilitiy that processes wheat). When shopping at Trader Joe's, it's best to look at the label to see if there's a warning as to where/how it's processed.

Whole Foods has more gluten-free products, and many of them say on the label something to the effect that "safe manufacturing processes are followed" to make sure there's no cross-contamination. I'm not sure how reliable this is, but I've only been buying things with that label or things with a label that assures me that no wheat, rye, or barley is processed in the same place.

Same with meats -- although meat and fish are naturally gluten free, some places (including Trader Joe's) add "natural flavoring" to it. Trader Joe's gluten-free product list assures that all Trader Joe's label products containing "natural flavoring" are gluten-free, but I thought I had been glutened by their ground turkey (which has "natural flavoring." Anyway, just be a little careful with meats, since a lot of them have additives, unless you buy them in health food stores, but that is VERY expensive. I buy there, but I'm the only one in my family who eats meat, so it's not too costly.

Good luck.

Ellen

[home-based-mom]

As Ursa said, "Meat, vegetables, fruits, fish are all naturally gluten-free! If you stick to the basics, you should not need to spend a lot more than before being diagnosed. Besides, in order to heal faster, you should do that anyway."

I find things at Costco, WalMart, Ralph's, Von's, Trader Joe's, and Henry's. Search the forum for which brands of things like peanut butter etc. are gluten free. If you need to carry snacks for when others are raiding the vending machines, try the Glutino bars at Henry's. I like the cranberry ones. I don't get to Coronado enough to know what's there, but I suspect to hit those places you might have to go to Chula Vista or National City. But other than WalMart's specific brands, you can probably get stuff just fine at the commissary. You'll just have to eat food in its more basic form and kind of forget about the pre-packed stuff. (It's convenient but not that healthy for you, anyway . . )

There is a thread somewhere about military service and being gluten free. You might want to search the forum for that one, too.

[hapy4dolphins]

HI, One thing I didn't see on here was Lame Advertisement. They have some good gluten free groceries and you can often get free shipping with them when you read the part about elgiable for free shipping.

Nicole

[MaryJones2]

I agree with Miss Ursa on the fresh fruit, vegetables and meat. That's mostly what I eat and my grocery bill is considerably less than it was before I went gluten-free because I no longer fill the cart up with expensive convenience foods.

But if you need gluten-free foods my favorite grocery store in world happens to be in San Diego - Jimbo's! I lived in Carmel Valley for 2 years while working on a project and would go there every day. They have tons of gluten-free stuff.

[pinkscooby6]

I agree with Miss Ursa on the fresh fruit, vegetables and meat. That's mostly what I eat and my grocery bill is considerably less than it was before I went gluten-free because I no longer fill the cart up with expensive convenience foods.

But if you need gluten-free foods my favorite grocery store in world happens to be in San Diego - Jimbo's! I lived in Carmel Valley for 2 years while working on a project and would go there every day. They have tons of gluten-free stuff.

Thanks, I will definitely try Jimbo's.