How to Grocery Shop for a Gluten-Free Diet

There are many reasons why you may choose to adopt a gluten-free diet. You may be dealing with a recent diagnosis of celiac disease, a condition in which the body is unable to process gluten (a protein found in wheat and other grains). You may also be trying a gluten-free diet for a child with autism. Maybe you're simply experimenting to see whether you feel better with gluten out of your diet. Regardless of your reason, shopping for a gluten-free diet is easier than many people initially think.

Instructions

1

Choose the right store. More mass chain grocery retailers are starting to offer gluten-free products, but you may have the most success using a grocer that specializes in health food.

2

Think about how you can replace the products you eat with gluten-free alternatives. If you eat pasta, for example, try choosing a rice or corn pasta to replace the wheat pasta in your meals. You can also find gluten-free breads and breakfast cereals. Look for items that have a label stating the product is gluten free.

3

Look for gluten-free flour combinations. Gluten-free breads tend to be expensive. It is possible that you can save money by baking your own bread at home. Follow any traditional bread recipe with the substitution of your gluten-free combination.

4

Check all the labels of everything you buy. Sometimes the most surprising items can be dusted with wheat starch, such as raisins or dried fruit. Consider anything that lists "modified food starch" on the ingredients list to be suspect until you research the source. The source is normally corn, but it is sometimes flour.

5

Remember the unlikely suspects. For example, most types of soy sauce contain wheat. Look for gluten-free soy sauce if you want to include it in your diet. In addition, many types of beer are brewed with wheat or other gluten-containing grains so you may need to research a gluten-free beer if this is a component of your diet that you wish to keep.

6

Think about meal plans that are naturally gluten free, given that so many gluten-free products tend to be pricey. Consider trying Asian style cooking, rice cereal and omelets for which you will not have to buy specialty ingredients.