Food Shopping List - Help!

[ironic]

I am going shopping tomorrow for the first time looking for gluten-free products. I have no idea what brands are good, what I do and do not need, or even any ideas for meals. Do I need new silverware? If people could just post their shopping lists, I would be eternally grateful! I do know the brands depend on what my local stores carry.. but any kind of help is great. I'm looking for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks!

(I am well aware this is A LOT of work for anyone willing to help.. but as soon as I get used to reading labels I can do this on my own)

And would you all recommened me buying a bread machine?

Oh (last one I promise) are deli-meats ok?

[CarlaB]

I eat eggs and gluten-free toast for breakfast -- Kinnikinnick has the best bread

For lunch and dinner I eat meat, veggies, potatoes, and rice. I get variety by the way I prepare them and by herbs.

Tinkyada makes the best pasta.

I don't know about lunchmeat, I don't eat it.

For snacks, I eat apples with almond butter, almonds ... Lara Bars and Bumblebars are good, so are Clif Nectar Bars (only the Nectar are gluten-free, the other Clif Bars are not).

Ruffles potato chips are safe, so are Lays Stax if you're not sensitive to dairy. Fritos are safe.

Most ice cream is fine, just read the ingredients carefully -- don't get anything with wheat or malt.

You should check out Nini's website. She's a member and has a link to a newbie survival kit. It will help you a lot.

[ironic]

Thank you so much! I'm feeling kind of desperate here! I tried the survivial kit, but it wouldn't download for me.

[CarlaB]

Thank you so much! I'm feeling kind of desperate here! I tried the survivial kit, but it wouldn't download for me.

Don't feel desperate! Lots of whole foods are naturally gluten-free, it's the processed stuff that's difficult! And that processed stuff isn't very good for you anyway!!

[ironic]

I really hope I can keep eating deli meat, then I wouldn't have to worry about lunches!

[LKelly8]

What grocery store are you going to? What grocery stores are in your area? I ask because some stores are more celiac friendly than others. In general you'll have better luck in a newer, larger store. Try going to the website of the store, click on "contact us", ask if they have a gluten-free list for their brand products. They'll snail mail or email the list. (if they have one, many do)

Boar's Head brand deli meats, cheeses and condiments are gluten-free.

For breakfast: Arrowhead Mills Maple Buckwheat Flakes (bought online) or Perky's Nutty Flax (bought in Whole Foods, which is 90min away - so that's a once a month trek.) with Silk Light soy milk and fruit. Eggs with Ore Ida hash browns, Jones sausage (NOT maple flavored). I use Pamela's Baking and Pancake mix (bought at our local health food store or online) for pancakes, muffins, scones and the like. I only use real maple syrup.

I like Mrs. Leeper's Rotini pasta (don't salt the water, remove and rinse with cold water)

Lays Low Salt potato chips, Synder's EatSmart Veggie chips (good with cheese and salsa if you can't have corn) Pace Salsa. Alexia makes great french fry/cut potatoes and will label it gluten-free.

Luigi's Italian Ices are gluten-free. Philly Swirl labels it's gluten-free products.

You don't need new silverware.

. . .and Northland Cranberry juice labels gluten-free.

[Guest nini]

Thank you so much! I'm feeling kind of desperate here! I tried the survivial kit, but it wouldn't download for me.

e-mail me at nisla@comcast.net ok?

[kbtoyssni]

Do I need new silverware?

Nope, you can just wash the stuff you have!

If people could just post their shopping lists, I would be eternally grateful! I do know the brands depend on what my local stores carry.. but any kind of help is great. I'm looking for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks!

Some "safe" brands:

-Heinz ketchup

-Kraft will label if it contains gluten so I always buy Kraft brand when I can (NOTE: when they say vinegar is it distilled unless otherwise specified).

-Vlasic pickles/pepperchinos are ok. (Milwaukee brand pickles are also ok - they're owned by Vlasic)

-Eggs, rice, quinoa, milk, cheese, meats (but make sure chicken/turkey don't contain broth), fruits and veggies are fine.

-Corn tortillas - all Mission brand are ok

-Dove chocolate!

-Tostitos corn chips and salsa (Most tostitos brand stuff is ok). Pace brand salsa is fine, too.

-Lays Stax (NOTE: Pringles are NOT gluten-free)

-Zatarain's brand Rice mixes

-Skippy PB (and I think most PBs are ok)

-Smuckers jam (although I think most jams are ok, too)

-Grey Poupon, French's yellow mustard

-OreIda plain french fries (not the seasoned ones) and tater tots.

I know there are many other safe brands of the foods I've listed, but these are ones that I know are safe off the top of my head. I also tried to pick brands that are common across the United States so it doesn't matter where you live.

And would you all recommened me buying a bread machine?

-I don't have a bread machine. I don't bake a lot of bread, but when I do, I just use the oven.

Oh (last one I promise) are deli-meats ok?

-I know Oscar Meyer products are ok (unless the label says it has gluten, OM is owned by Kraft. Some of their meats have caramel color, but it doesn't have gluten). I buy lunch meat that they slice for you in a natural-food store that carries only gluten-free meats. Then I don't have to worry about contamination on the slicer.

[kevsmom]

If you go to www.hormel.com and choose allergens under topics and type in gluten free, you will get a whole list of their items that are gluten free (including lunch meat). Each time you purchase anything, you still need to check the ingredients because companies tend to "improve" things from time to time, so you need to make sure that it is still gluten free.

I would not buy any lunch meat from the deli counter, because anything that was sliced on the slicer before your order could have contained gluten. Even if you ask them to clean the machine, the most that they would do is wipe it off with a wet rag. They won't take the machine apart and really wash it.

A lot of mornings when I'm in a hurry, I will make lunch meat roll ups - a couple of slices of lunch meat wrapped around some cheese. Some gluten free crackers and a fruit, and you have a quick lunch.

Good luck!

Cindy

[ironic]

Thank you all SO much. This has really helped. I now have a whole sheet of paper filled with foods that are gluten-free. Thanks again!