How I Shop for Gluten-Free Groceries

Yesterday, dietitian Leah McGrath shared her advice on gluten-free grocery shopping.  If you missed it, go read it here.  Her tips are perfect for anyone who is newly diagnosed or struggling with what to buy.  She talks about starting first with the naturally gluten-free items and then filling in the gaps with quality gluten-free products.  That is exactly what I do.

Yes at first, I was just like everyone else and wanted to taste all of the gluten-free items the store had to offer.  Then I realized that A) Gluten-free oreos are nasty, and B) Why in the world was I buying processed junk anyways?

I get a lot of questions from people about how I shop, where I buy my food, and what I eat.  Whether you are gluten-free or not, I hope that you enjoy my recipes and find the foods I eat are flavorful no matter what diet you follow.  I have been asked quite a few times to post every meal and snack that I eat, but I am not ready to lock myself into that kind of commitment.   If you really want to see what I eat on a regular basis, follow me on Instagram where I post way too many food photos (user name InspiredRD).

So, where do I shop?  This pretty much sums it up:

I do most of my shopping at Sprouts. They have a decent organic produce section, have easy-to-spot gluten-free labeling throughout the store, carry my favorite yogurt and favorite bread. I can buy Applegate Farms products there, and limited organic meats/poultry.

I buy eggs at our local market called Langley’s Country Market. If you are in the area, definitely go check it out. Their eggs are 35 cents each and amazingly fresh. You can even say hi to the chickens as they dig for bugs and roll around in the dirt.  You can find your own local markets and egg providers by going to LocalHarvest.org.

I buy my nuts at Trader Joe’s because they are dedicated gluten-free. They also have a very affordable cheese section with a wide variety (I buy goat cheese for me) and organic popping corn.

For meat, poultry and fish, we order in bulk from a company that works with organic farms in the region.  In fact, it’s time to order again this week.  We have a deep freezer in the garage which helps, but if you are looking to do something like this and don’t have one, you could always go in with friends to place a bigger order.  We order organic free-range ground turkey, grass-fed beef (ground and steaks), organic free-range chicken, and wild caught salmon.  Ordering in bulk saves us a ton of money, making the price comparable to the non-organic meat and poultry at the grocery store. Plus, the quality is absolutely amazing.  (Christy Wilson just wrote a great post comparing conventional and organic chicken side-by-side.  Definitely worth a read!)

We participate in Bountiful Baskets co-op off and on, depending on the season and how much produce we have already hanging around our kitchen.  Most of the time it’s an amazing value, with a huge basket of fruits and vegetables for only $15.  The past couple of months, we have been pilfering enjoying the overflow from my parents’ basket when they receive extras for volunteering.  You can check to see if there is a Bountiful Baskets in your area by clicking here.

We buy a few things at Costco.  Fair-trade coffee, bulk snacks like Mrs. Mays bars and fruit leathers, toilet paper, paper towels.

I think that’s about it.  How about you?  Do you do all of your shopping in one place, or do you bounce around like I do?