<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

Hello all,

its taken me forever to compile all the answers I got to my question about economical gf sources.  I received soooo many helpful replies concerning all aspects of being gf...  So I've divided the information into four categories:  COMMENTS on gf eating/cooking, recommended BRANDS, BULK SOURCES,  and ONLINE SOURCES.  Many are already known, forgive the repeats..just thought I'd give all I got.  I learned a huge amount and most importantly learned that I will not be victimized by this disease in the sense that although we are limited to certain foods, we do not have to feel sorry for ourselves...at least not in the food purchasing department.  I realized that I'm spending my money on a positive aspect of this disease - for my family's wellness and health rather than on medical bills, testing, or temporary resolutions.  All 6 of us are gf and feeling so well!!!! its amazing.  So...here's the summary:

Suggestions, comments:

Many commented that trial and error is very expensive;   simplifying the diet was a very common suggestion - ie. not to replace glutinous carbs w/ gf carbs but to streamline the diet to fresh foods and whole foods;    several people sent me their whole recipe files!!!  Many make their own bread, cook from scratch.  Zojirushi bread maker recommended.  GF mixes were recommended:

1.  6c rice flour, 2c pot. starch, 1c tapioca, 1c yam flour

2.  1# sorghum, 1# tapioca, 1# cornstarch,

3.  7parts sorghum to 1 part arrowroot

4.  Buckwheat = sorghum

Use Whisper Mill to grind grains, esp. rice into rice flour;

Use rice cakes, polenta as substitutes for bread.

"Normal" food sources suggested were:  coops, Asian markets were repeatedly suggested (the closest is 300 miles away) since they sell numerous gf flours for about .50/# as opposed to the same product sold specifically as "GF" for Celiac types for $1.50/#;  asking local grocery store to order cases and give case discount (I did and that's been very helpful).

Many suggested Bette Hagman's cookbooks; Ultimate Rice Cooker Cookbook by Beth Hensperger & Julie Kaufmann ('02);  Marlene Herron ([log in to unmask]) for great conversion recipes; and Carol Fenster at www.savoryplatelcom .

Cooking in bulk was also suggested so that frozen meals were available.

Another money saving suggstion was to get "official diagnosis" from doc and write off the difference between cost of gf and normal foods on taxes as medical expense.

Many people also gave me the names of relatives to contact who lived in my neck of the woods, some even suggested that they would buy for me and meet me half-way between our two cities!!!  How kind is that?...what a bunch of generous people!

BRANDS suggested (to avoid costly, yucky tasting errors):

Pastato, Glutino

DaBolles Pasta; Giulin brand spaghetti (.69/14 oz. pkg)

Ancient Harvest (Quinoa/corn pasta - higher nutrition than rice)

Sailing Boat brand rice noodles

Tinkyada Pastas - suggested about 75 times.  I tried them and they were an instant hit...unbelievably delicious and a pretty good value.

Pastariso -excellent elbow macaroni - this was a favorite of MANY

Robert's; DeLand's,

Pamela's - the Brownies were described by one as being so delicious that they were "worth crawling over ground glass for":)

"Normal foods"  -  Dinty Moore Stews, Hormel Regular Chili, Durkee Seasonings, Knorr, MaltoMeal cereals (corn puffs, puffed rice, dynobites); Ragu, Newmann's Own; Nature's Path Cereals, Western Family Natural Directions Frosted Corn Flakes, McCormick spices/seasonings.

Foods by George.

BULK FOODS/SOURCES:

Mountain People's;  Bob's Red Mill;  Azure Standard;  Fruitful Yield, Arrowhead Mills, BiAlglut;  Whole Foods;  Wild Oats Stores; Lunberg Farms; Sylvan Farms; Fred Meyer, Kitchen Kneads, Riverdale, UT (very low bulk flour prices!!!), Will Hoglund, Fargo, ND for flour,

On LINE COMPANIES SUGGESTED/USED:

Gluten Free Trading Co.;  Kinnikinnick;  traderjoes.com,  www.madebymona.com,  www.missrobens.com ;  www.glutenfreepantry.com ;  www.chebe.com ;  www.giftsofnature.com ;  www.boisecoop.com ;  www.frankferdfarms.com ;  www.glutino.com ;  www.glutenfree.net ;  www.glutenfreeda.com ;  www.ener-g.com ;  www.glutensolutions.com - 800-331-5222- they have brand rating system;  www.lundbergfarms.com ;  www.authenticfoods.com ;  www.raymondhadley.com - for bulk flours;

So that's the info I got.  I know most of it is stuff that you already know about.  The most helpful thing for me has been to have my local grocer (we have 2 grocery stores here) order in specialty items that I normally have to drive 200 miles to get - like McCann's Oats, Bob's flours, etc.  My local Health Food Store owner was kind enough to order 25# bags of various flours for me and only charge me 15% over cost - that includes shipping.

From all that people shared with me about feeding a large family who are all gf, I was given much hope and consolation and had an "oooh-rah" feeling when I was done.  We have found a wonderful bread recipe that we tweeked a bit and I nearly cried the first time I ate it...it was so good to eat REAL bread again...all our glutinous friends love it, too!!

There was a concensus that our specifically "GLUTEN FREE" foods are priced absolutely outrageously, many felt that we are being taken advantage of by some gf companies since we have no choice but to use gf ...asking $10 for a box of cookies is just wrong...I guess actually  paying that is worse!!

I totally hold to the stripped down diet, but kids love mac and cheese once in a while, or spaghetti etc.  I have found lots of "normal" foods that are gf and my husband created a database on Word that we constantly add to and will transfer to a PDA to carry to the grocery store.  It will sort by Brand, Category (spice, canned, dairy, etc.) or specific Item.  That's been a huge help.  So as I read this list, I jot down the things that are confirmed gf and add them to the database.  It has 300 "normal" items so that I can shop w/ confidence.

My family is so much healthier since going gf 4 months ago.  Our 9yo daughter put on 10.5 lbs and 2 inches in 4 months (she was the sickest w/ only atypical celiac symptoms), another daughter (11yo) has grown 3.5 inches in 4 months, anemia gone; almost all the aches and pains are gone, I dropped 10# and my head cleared and I'm not bloated, no more bone pain.  My doctor who knew very little about CD is stunned, a "believer", and said I'd been a wise woman to pursue testing despite other's skepticism...he said I'd been his "Mentor" w/ this disease -I've given him lots of articles, papers, etc. from this list...my MENTORS!!!  In 9 months we've been dianosed, gone gf and healed...HALLELUIA!

So there you have it...thanks again for all the help.  I continue to read and learn from all of you.

peace to all in '03

Kate, Salmon, ID

So, THANK YOU all for all the time you take to help all of us.  My kids are sick of me being on the computer but in less than a year we've been diagnosed and have switched to gf and it is all because of the wisdom I've been able to gleen from this list.  I can never thank all of you enough.



---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now

*Support summarization of posts, reply to the SENDER not the CELIAC List*