Financial Assistance

[frogrun]

Does anyone know of any financial assistance programs to assist with the purchase of gluten free foods? I am exteremly sensative to gluten and I know it runs in families...I have an aunt who I think really needs to be gluten free, but she won't even go see a doctor becuase she says she can't afford the food (she is on disability and receives food stamps). I'm lucky enough to have the ability to spend the extra money to feel better; however, she dosn't have that ability on a fixed SSI income. It seems like she should be able to get help, but I'm not sure where to start looking.

[kareng]

There have been some threads on here about inexpensive gluten-free foods. Bread, pasta and cookies are probably the most expensive. I don't know what you can get with food stamps but Chex, Some Progresso soups, Thai Kitchen noodles, rice, beans, frozen veggies, etc.

[ravenwoodglass]

I rarely buy specialty gluten free foods. I usually get one or two loaves of bread and one package of pizza shells in a month and that is about it. Many foods are naturally gluten free. Rice, beans, veggies and fruit, meats and chicken etc are all naturally gluten free. Being gluten free doesn't have to be expensive. I have a very limited budget, actually less for food than she likely gets in food stamps, and I eat quite well. Fresh meats are not expensive and I get frozen single ingredient veggies and buy some fruits that way. Most canned veggies are safe also. If she has a Wegmans close by they label all their store brand items that are gluten free.

[lovegrov]

There's no program I know of in the U.S. and I'm sure that won't change any time soon. I can afford to buy expensive specialty gluten-free foods but simply choose not to because I don't think it's worth it. I do buy pasta regularly and I get the Nut Thin crackers, but they aren't all that expensive. Every now and then I buy bagels or make something from scratch, but otherwise I just regular old food that others consume and is naturally gluten-free. I've grown to really like corn tortillas for sandwiches (or I just roll ingredients in the meat or lettuce) or mini pizzas. And they're cheap as heck and have a lot fewer calories.

richard

[T.H.]

Oh! I've seen something that might help!

I came across it last month. It's on a website for families with autistic family members who want to go on a gluten free/casein free/soy free diet. And it's aimed at trying this diet for the least amount of money.

So it is a month's menu, including recipes and a grocery list, that can be bought with food stamps/food stamp budget, for a family of 4 (so I imagine your aunt should be able to buy it as well, yes?). Mostly plain, basic ingredient foods. They list brand names that are supposed to be gluten-free, too.

There were a few things that you'd have to be careful of, however, because I don't believe they are as careful about gluten CC as celiacs need to be (they recommend quaker oats, for example, which wouldn't be good for us, obviously). However, having an entire month all set out like that would, I think, be of great value, and I imagine she would be able to find a few substitutes without too much trouble. Like, just grind up rice in a blender until it's powder and cook it, or cook it extra long with milk or juice or broth added, and make rice porridge instead of oatmeal. Things like that, yes?

Anyway, here's the link! It's an article that contains the links to the menu, the grocery list, etc...

Open Original Shared Link Casein-free-diet.talkaboutcuringautism.org/gfcfsf-diet-on-food-stamps.htm

Hope it helps!

[T.H.]

oops, sorry about the bad link!

Open Original Shared Link

[kareng]

Try

Open Original Shared Link Casein-free-diet.talkaboutcuringautism.org/gfcfsf-diet-on-food-stamps.htm

It keeps changing the G F C f to the full word. Enter the above link but change the Words Gluten Free and Casein Free to the initials.

[Jestgar]

oops, sorry about the bad link!

Open Original Shared Link

the auto fill feature changes the g f c f to Gluten-free Casein-free. You'll have to change them back to work the link.