Shopping for gluten free products no longer has to be the challenge it used to be. 

More and more food manufacturers are including gluten free labeling on their products as the FDA has said that people who are allergic to wheat is one of the top eight allergens out there—so manufacturer’s are jumping on board and being responsible about product labeling.

If you are allergic to wheat or have Celiac Disease, you too can find great gluten free products in your grocery store, in a natural health food store, or online. 

First, if you are shopping in your regular grocery store, notice how it’s set up—the perimeter of the store will have your fresh fruits, vegetables, and fish and poultry sections.  Look for the fruits and veggies that are fresh and for fish, try salmon, trout.  Look for ground turkey to make great grilled turkey burgers.  All of these are good gluten free choices that you can make delicious entrees from.

Stay away from foods that contain preservatives and look for rice flours and buckwheat mixes.  An awesome gluten free product is Polenta and it can be found in your pasta section.  This is great for grilling and topping with tomatoes and mozzarella cheese.  Some stores, especially natural food stores are even offering the stuff we all crave like pizza crust mixes, breads, and pastas that are gluten free.

Because the FDA requires all food products to be labeled, learn to read food product labels carefully—take the kids along and turn your shopping trip into a family fun event by seeing who can find the most gluten free labels.

Online gluten free stores are abundant on the Internet and include not only baking mixes, but offer ideas on menu planning, grocery lists, and free online newsletters that offer tips and suggestions on what to look for when you need gluten free products.

Spice up quinoa with nuts and fresh fruit for an awesome breakfast dish and mixing walnuts and dried fruit makes a great snack on the go.  Don’t forget about asparagus, spinach, and corn-on-the-cob—all of these are great for the person who wants to be gluten free.

When preparing salads, use fresh leafy lettuce and mix in toasted pumpkin seeds, onions, tomatoes and make it more special by adding Kalamata olives, feta cheese, and Greek salad dressing for a taste bud tempting salad.

Pears, blue cheese, pine nuts, and some angel food cakes are also gluten free.  The gluten free baking mixes can be used to make anything from brownies to cakes to pancakes or waffles.

Finding gluten free products is much easier these days than it used to be with the help of the FDA and food manufacturers who are listening to customer demand.  So, take a trip to your grocery store, find a good natural food store, or go online and search for gluten free products.

With your imagination, your gluten free meals can be delicious and you won’t miss things like red meats or processed cheeses or chips that aren’t good for you.  Actually, we think a good gluten free diet is a healthy diet, so even if you aren’t trying to be gluten free, we challenge you to try it—you’ll be surprised!

Tags: cliac disease, finding gluten free products in the grocery store, gluten free foods, gluten free products