coeliac and supermarkts

[buzz for boys]

Hi,
I have a really daft question but please humour me. My dd is coeliac and the parks have been fantastic with emailing menus suitable for her. We are staying in a villa and im just wondering will i find a good range of gluten free food in supermarkets in the USA or am i better to bring stuff from home??? ( we live in the UK and supermarkets here stock bits and bobs)
Thanks Louise x

 

[oliviansmom17]

Hi!

I can't speak for Florida specifically, but I think this is generally the case throughout the states- there are small sections in most grocery stores that offer gluten-free products. Hopefully with this response someone from the Disney area will see this post and chime in. And double check Garden Grocer- they are are company that will shop for you and deliver it. I know they offer soy and rice milk- I know that doesn't apply to you but it's a decent indication that they are open to alternatives. You can call them- the number is on their website- and speak to them directly about your needs.
You might want to bring a few things yourself just in case you have to hunt down some of your favorites and it takes an extra day. That way you're covered. I'm a worst-case scenario gal so when we travel, I bring some of the things my daughter and I eat. We both have allergies....
I hope this helps!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

There is a very large store, Whole Foods Market, which is primarily organic and special diet. If you take I-4 to Sand Lake Road (It is exit 73 or 74), turn West and go to the first traffic light. Turn left again and the store is immediately on your left. They should be able to help you there.

 

[mechurchlady]

First go to FAQs on this board. There you can find links to celiac sites in America that will tell you what foods are gluten free. From there you can find many gluten free items in stores. This will also help you to familiarize yourself on what we mean by certain terms like chips which in America are like crisps, very thin slices of potatos.

Some brands are very good with allergies and others not so. Some gluten free items are widely available like Heinz ketchup, yellow mustard, pickles, plain corn and potato chips (not all but most), alternative drinks (soy, almond, hazelnut, and rice milk), and hard candies. A knowledge of the foods in America will help you be prepared. Check out the stores and some you can actually see what is for sale. Cereal is harder to find that is gluten free but that play Sue mentioned should have some. If in doubt when you are in your room call them.

I am soy, cassein, egg and chocolate free so I avoid lots of things. Most peanut butter and jelly is gluten free, some meat products, many nuts, and many drinks. You should not have a problem at stores with getting gluten free foods. However since you are making a long journey do bring in your carry on bags snacks and food to get you through the flight plus several more hours in case the flight is delayed. If the food is for medical reasons then it should not count toward your luggage, check with your airline. I say pack food for carry on as I have found that when I am hungry there is nothing to eat.

 

[BeckyScott]

One thing you'll find helpful is that products now have allergy warning labeling. This will tell you if the product contains wheat, at least, although that's not the same as gluten. It's a start. When I am shopping I look for that labeling first. If it contains wheat, then that's a really fast way to eliminate that product. If it doesn't, then I'll go on to read the ingredients.

I second the Whole Foods Market, they have a gluten-free section of dry goods. Plus the employees are helpful if you have questions. But if you have something specific, favorite foods, bring them with you.

There are some brand names that are good to know, as many of their products are gluten-free. The Glutino brand (baking mixes, cookies), Van's frozen waffles, Ener-G, Barbara's, Tinkyada, some of the Amy's frozen stuff. If you look up their websites online you can get an idea of what their boxes look like, that will help you spot them in the store.

 

[buzz for boys]

Thanks so much for the advice - i am going to google the brands and then ill know at least what some things looke like !! Thanks for the tip on the whole food market think we will defo be trying to find that place!
My mind has been put to rest a lot by the answers so thank you so much I really appreciate it !! Im starting to get excited now instead of apprehensive.
Big hugs x

 

[BeckyScott]

Are there specific things you'll be needing? We might be able to recommend more specific brands. Are you planning on eating some meals in the parks and some at the villa? Maybe eating breakfast at the villa and the other meals in the parks? If so, what does your DD normally eat for breakfast? Or are you looking to cook 3 full meals a day? Or mostly just snack foods for her?

 

[buzz for boys]

im basically looking for snacks cakes biscuits we plan to eat in parks most days but on weekends relax at the villa so that will require me cooking a meal but i thought pasta with a pasta sauce and then a roast dinner will be nice and easy !! im sure im worrying about nothing really

 

[BeckyScott]

That should be easy enough to come up with if you go to Whole Foods.

For the snacks, I can tell you that Glutino makes great pretzels and also lemon and chocolate wafer cookies/biscuits. My son will eat the whole box or bag in one sitting if we don't watch him! Glutino also makes a breakfast bar that's pretty good. And I'm sure Whole Foods carries their stuff.

The pasta will be easy, even our local Wal-Mart carries g/f pasta. But not the good brand. Tinkyada and Mrs. Leepers have several different pastas, different shapes.

Whole Foods specializes in gourmet and organic foods, so while their meat and produce is expensive (at least by U.S. standards), it is very good quality. And for 99 cents you can pick up a reusable shopping tote to take back to the UK to impress your friends.

 

[dzorn]

One thing you'll find helpful is that products now have allergy warning labeling. This will tell you if the product contains wheat, at least, although that's not the same as gluten. It's a start. When I am shopping I look for that labeling first. If it contains wheat, then that's a really fast way to eliminate that product. If it doesn't, then I'll go on to read the ingredients.

I second the Whole Foods Market, they have a gluten-free section of dry goods. Plus the employees are helpful if you have questions. But if you have something specific, favorite foods, bring them with you.

There are some brand names that are good to know, as many of their products are gluten-free. The Glutino brand (baking mixes, cookies), Van's frozen waffles, Ener-G, Barbara's, Tinkyada, some of the Amy's frozen stuff. If you look up their websites online you can get an idea of what their boxes look like, that will help you spot them in the store.

Whole foods also has a web site. I have not printed it for a while but they use to list GF foods.

Denise in MI

 

[dzorn]

Contact Brenda Bennett she can let you know more of what is available in the parks. They have been very good with my daughter. I know they have GF brownies in the parks. Boma has a flour free chocolate cake.


Denise in MI

 

[dzorn]

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/specialdiets/FL_WPK_Gluten_Free.pdf

This is for the Whole food in Winter Park. I am not sure if that is the location Cheshire Figment was talking about.

Denise in MI

 

[GrumpyMom25]

We went to Disney World over the summer, out first trip since our sons Celiac Disease diagnosis. As far as eating in the parks you should have not trouble at all ... I didn't even call ahead. Just tell the host/hostess when you check in if you have reservations and they will send the chef out to talk to you ... they will even walk you through a buffet to point out what your child can eat and we were even told if there was anything else we wanted they would make it for our son. At counter service restraurants they had books available for us to check the ingredients of what they were serving. We were very surprised that there were GF pizzas at Pizza Planet in DHS.