Grocery Shopping for a GFCF kid

[Sophie♥Hatter]

It costs about twice as much now when I go grocery shopping. It also takes longer because all labels must be read EVEN in the gluten free section because GF doesn't ALWAYS equal CF. I am getting better though and exploring new products to find ones we like is exciting.

I miss being able to order a pizza with extra cheese on it. We have not tried pizza yet because a cheeseless pizza just doesn't have the appeal.

I also miss not having to think about what I am going to cook. All menus need to be thought out and school lunches need to be packed. Which gets old after about the first week of doing it.

The change in Jacob though is worth the extra time, the extra cost, and the extra brain cells drained thinking about GFCF. He runs, laughs, smiles, makes jokes. Says WHOLE sentences!!!!! He stands up for himself and actually interacts with other children, he plays games involving imagination skills! He still has coordination and sensory integration issues BUT they are so much more mild then they have been. Seeing him blossom into this happy child is just beyond words. even a month ago I never would of thought this would be possible.

His allergy shiners are not very bad at all anymore either. Now if I can just get his pedi to refer him to an allergy Dr to get him tested MAYBE I could find out everything he is allergic to. I am hoping she will come around and listen to the dev. pedi.

[Bex]

That's great, Jamie

Have you tried rice cheese or any of the vegan cheeses for your pizza?

[harrisonsdream]

check out specialty stores online for gfcf it might make it a bit easier esp since many stores carry a limited selection irl

[LaneyBug]

You know I totally feel your pain. It is very hard and time consuming. Not to mention expensive.

[*tina*]

I feel your pain. We thankfully didn't have to go gluten free, we make separate pizza for Nick, then we can have cheese and he doesn't care anymore. I hope it gets easier for you. Do you have a whole foods? You can print off lists of their GFCF foods for shopping, that's what we've done.

[Christy]

Can you please help me with how you shop??
We really want to try this diet but it is so overwhelming
I dont even know where to start or what to buy.
My son has ASD and I have always wonder if this diet
would help him. He is a picky eater and this can cause
use lots of problems. Can you suggest what to buy for
what kind of meal to make him. Any help I would appreciate.
TIA!!

[Sophie♥Hatter]

Originally Posted by Bex That's great, Jamie Have you tried rice cheese or any of the vegan cheeses for your pizza?

No we would have to use the vegan cheeses though most of the other brands have dairy in them which was mind boggeling. We WILL make pizza I just don't know when yet LOL.

Originally Posted by harrisonsdream check out specialty stores online for gfcf it might make it a bit easier esp since many stores carry a limited selection irl

All of our grocery shopping is now done at Whole Foods and New Life Health Center (I am lucky and the NLHC which is a minute from my home is run by a celiac sp? (largest selection of GF in TOWN!!!) We were told to do GFCF, avoid all additives/dyes AND to try and eliminate HFCS, along with feeding him only organic products as much as possible. He has to have 100% grass feed meat and eggs as well because gluten is actually in meat and eggs from the grains they eat.

Originally Posted by LaneyBug You know I totally feel your pain. It is very hard and time consuming. Not to mention expensive.

It is hard and somedays I really want to just give up because I am tired of packing lunches and making dinner every night. I know that sounds so lazy but fast food would be nice to give me a break and now it is just not an option at all.

Originally Posted by Christy Can you please help me with how you shop?? We really want to try this diet but it is so overwhelming I dont even know where to start or what to buy. My son has ASD and I have always wonder if this diet would help him. He is a picky eater and this can cause use lots of problems. Can you suggest what to buy for what kind of meal to make him. Any help I would appreciate. TIA!!

Get this book it is like my BIBLE http://www.amazon.com/Kid-Friendly-A.../dp/1592332234

How I shop is to read labels very carefully and ask the butchers, and store clerks questions if I am confused or unsure. The first few trips are stressful because you figure out that SO much of what we eat has gluten or casein or both in it. Thats why I mostly JUST shop at those two stores because they cater to more healthy living so it makes it easier to find what I need. The commissary does sell a very small selection which is nice as well.

[harrisonsdream]

i wasn't sure how great your selection up there was.

[Sophie♥Hatter]

Originally Posted by *tina* I feel your pain. We thankfully didn't have to go gluten free, we make separate pizza for Nick, then we can have cheese and he doesn't care anymore. I hope it gets easier for you. Do you have a whole foods? You can print off lists of their GFCF foods for shopping, that's what we've done.

Thank you I do shop at whole food but it is a very small one (used to be a wild oats but whole foods bought wild oats out) they have a special gluten free selection but they also have a ton of stuff just on the other shelves as well.

[Sophie♥Hatter]

Originally Posted by harrisonsdream i wasn't sure how great your selection up there was.

I consider us VERY lucky that we have a good choice, we have two independent stores 17th st market, & aqua vita, then we have new life health center, whole foods, and trader joes.