OLD RELIABLES
Gluten-Free Shopping at Costco
You'll be surprised what you find.
If you are like me, shopping for gluten-free groceries can be frustrating. Yes, I know I can pop over to the closest health food store and probably find a host of options, but the price tags are often hefty as well. To get around this, I scour ordinary grocery stores for products that just happen to be labeled gluten-free but aren't marketed specifically to the gluten-free consumer. Surprisingly, Costco has become one of my favorite places to do so.First, some tips if you decide to go:
- Plan to be there awhile and do a lot of walking. Costco's products change frequently, so I go up and down the aisles, eyes peeled for new items. You'll be amazed at what products you might have missed.
- Look for the right labels. Obviously, you should take a second look at anything that interests you with a gluten-free label. However, spotting phrases like "all natural," "non GMO," "Kosher," etc. can often lead you in the right direction. Companies that advertise these qualities are more likely to include a gluten-free label for appropriate products, and they may be less likely to add unnecessary gluten-containing fillers.
- Try new things. If you think you'll like a product, go ahead and buy it. Yes, you may waste a small amount of money on some mediocre food, but you may also find something you love!
- Stock up. As I said above, Costco's products change frequently, and this is especially true with some of the small-market items seen below. Check the expiration dates on products you enjoy and consider whether or not they can be frozen. If they have a long shelf life and or you've got room in your freezer, cram that cart, baby!
Second, a glimpse at the gluten-free products you might find:
I know that, ideally, these lists would include specific information about the price and quantity of each product. Sadly, I just didn't have the patience for that...plus I threw the receipts away months ago. However, I'll try to be more diligent in the future!
Shopping trip #1
From left to right:
- Welch's Fruit Snacks
- Kirkland Turkey Breast lunch meat
- Kirkland Kettle Brand Krinkle Cut Potato Chips: Sea Salt
- These are thickly cut, so they're a little hard & extra crunchy--not my favorite buy.
- Mrs. May's Naturals Trio Variety fruit, nut, & seed bars
- Clif Kid Organic Z Fruit Rope
- Mariani Premium Sliced Almonds
- Crunchmaster Multi-Seed Crackers: Five Seed
- Tru Roots Organic Quinoa
- Burgers by Amylu Sweet Caramelized Onion Chicken Burgers (10 ct. 1/4 lb patties)
- These come individually wrapped & fully cooked. You can even MICROWAVE them, and they are absolutely delicious, even if eaten alone. I found them in the specialty section in front of the butcher section, and they are one of my favorite products. Buy them if you can!
- Late July Organic Sea Salt by the Sea Shore Multigrain Snack Chips
- Ocean Spray Craisins
- Nature Path Envirokidz Corn Puffs Gorilla Munch Cereal
- Eat Pastry Gluten-Free Cookie Dough
- Do not judge this cookie dough by it's uncooked taste, because it makes a great cookie. I found it in the frozen section, and we buy it every trip. If you have a sweet tooth and no time to bake, keep this in your freezer to crush that fresh-from-the-oven craving!
- Nature's Path Gluten Free Trail Mixer Granola Bars
- Peggy's Premium Edamame
- Edamame is a healthy, protein-packed snack. While it is not labeled gluten-free, it literally has just one ingredient--Non GMO premium soybeans. Pop one of the packs in the microwave, nuke for 3 minutes, sprinkle with sea salt, and enjoy! Just remember the pod is inedible (too tough), so you'll need to pop the beans out to eat them--my husband learned this the hard way. Oops!
Shopping trip #2
From left to right (new items only):
- Kirkland Beef Hot Dogs
- GoPicnic boxed lunches (read more about them here)
- Amira Premium Basmati Rice (20 lbs.--about half the price of Wal-Mart!)
- Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue Sauce
- This is the only barbecue sauce my father-in-law buys, gluten-free or otherwise. Delicious!
- Lea & Perrins Original Worcestershire Sauce
- Plus a few of the same great finds from trip #1!
Shopping trip #3
From left to right (new items only):
I recently started following Amy of A Little Nosh's Pinterest board "The Best of Pinterest," and found this pin:
The post provides recipes, a grocery list, and how much everything costs--basically all of the stuff I didn't provide here! If you are feeding a large gluten-free family and or are on a budget, it could be a great resource.
- Aidells Chicken & Apple Sausage
- All Natural Coconut Macaroons
- Macaroons are like a chewy coconut cookie--heavy on the coconut and heavy on the egg. I have yet to find a brand that is not gluten-free, and they are Kosher, so you may find them stocked with traditional Hebrew foods at your regular supermarket, especially during Passover.
- Lara Bar Fruit & Nut Bar Three-Flavor Variety Pack
- Lara Bars are another great protein-filled snack option. Most health food stores sell them individually for a little more than a dollar a piece, and they come in dozens of flavors, all of which are gluten-free (to my knowledge). If you don't like the first one you try, there may be another one that you love!
- Sabra Hummus Individual Packs
- I found this product in the salsa, salads, etc. case located next to the cold produce section. Each individual pack holds roughly one serving, so I can easily enjoy hummus and crackers on the go. I usually pair this with the Crunchmaster crackers seen above.
- Food Should Taste Good Sea Salt Brown Rice Crackers
- Meatballs by Amylu Kickin' Cranberry Chicken Meatballs
- My husband and I loved these for a quick meal. They are precooked, so they just need to be reheated. We like to drizzle them with honey for a special twist. They are just a little spicy (hence "Kickin'"), so they may not be the best choice for kiddos--I stopped trying when my son said, "They hurt my mouth." Oops, again!
- And, of course, more of those gems from trips #1 & #2!
Finally, a resource for putting your Costco groceries to good use:
I recently started following Amy of A Little Nosh's Pinterest board "The Best of Pinterest," and found this pin:
Source: 5DollarDinners.com |
The post provides recipes, a grocery list, and how much everything costs--basically all of the stuff I didn't provide here! If you are feeding a large gluten-free family and or are on a budget, it could be a great resource.
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