Over 50

[over50]

I have been gluten-free for 7 months now and am still having days where I feel bloated and generally uncomfortable. I am very careful about what I eat but still need to boost my weight, b/c I don't eat dairy, I need to find nuts that are gluten-free and affordable as well as dried fruits that are affordable. I have looked on gluten-free mall and the nuts and fruits are in small packages and are EXPENSIVE as they are in the local healthfood stores here in my hometown, which is in Victoria, Vancouver Island, BC Canada. Does anyone know of a venue that sells nuts and dr/fruits in larger quantities at 'reasonable' prices? If I have to order from the states so-be-it, but 'twould be easier to order from Canada. Any info would be most helpful..Thankyou.

[Financialman]

Hello over50,

As I am sure you have noticed nothing in the gluten free world is inexpensive. I buy alot of my nuts, almonds, walnuts, pistachios at Aldi's which seems to have the best prices. Sorry but I am not familiar with what's available in Canada.

[eatmeat4good]

NutsOnline.com

I LOVE them. It is a goldmine of great stuff.

Plus they have a selection of Certified Gluten Free flours and foods.

They also have candies, spices, dried fruits, and bulk prices.

I highly recommend them.

[ElseB]

If you're buying plain unseasoned, unroasted nuts you don't need to worry about gluten. I just buy plain nuts or seeds (packaged, never bulk) and have never had a problem. Some packages do warn about traces of wheat so I stay away from those ones. For dried fruit, sunmaid is okay - never had a problem. We're okay in Canada - dried fruit is mixed with oil to avoid sticking together. Be careful however in other countries as they may use flour (I've only ever seen this in warmer countries like Australia (presumably oil would go rancid). If you're near a Costco, they've got good prices for big packages of nuts and dried fruit.

[T.H.]

If you're buying plain unseasoned, unroasted nuts you don't need to worry about gluten.

My own experience wouldn't agree with that, I'm sorry to say. I have no allergies to nuts, but I've gotten glutened from unseasoned, unroasted nuts multiple times (lovely vertigo reaction - loads of fun). Haven't really found any nuts at the regular grocery store that haven't given me at least a small reaction. Unfortunately, quite a few nuts are processed in facilities with wheat, whether the label says so or not (it's not legally required to say 'also processed with wheat).

Transportation and growing practices may contaminate plain nuts, too, I understand, if one is sensitive enough. :-(

We've just started trying anuts.com for nuts and I believe rawfromthefarm.com also has dried fruits that should be gluten free. Depends on your level of sensitivity, though.

[Michelle1234]

I second the suggestion for Costco. I've had great luck with their large packages (Kirkland brand) of raw nuts and have never been glutened. I checked on-line and it appears there is one near you.

Good luck!

Michelle