A Gluten Free Frenzy in Brookfield, WI

If there is one thing I have gotten better at in the last two and a half years, it’s label reading.

Isn’t it funny how we can quickly scan a label with words like Monosodium Glutmate, Lactic Acid, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil and many other quite-the-mouthful ingredients and not bat an eye? But a word like WHEAT, BARLEY, MALT will cause us to put that item right back on the shelf with a *sigh*. (those in italics are ingredients in Cheetos…no, not the healthiest, but I dig ’em every once in a while)

Wouldn’t you just love to go into a store and NOT have to read labels?

Just stroll through the aisles without a worry.

Stopping at little tables to try the samples they have out that day.

Grab those hard to find items from amazing bakeries across the country.

Then you could grab a deli sandwich and a Diet Coke and be on your way.

Or kick back with a cup of java before you head out.

Now you can.

A Gluten Free Frenzy is THE new place to find gluten free products. Owners Martha and Greg were thrilled to open their doors just a couple of weeks ago. (we’re thrilled too)

Everything in their store is gluten free. NO label reading.

Ok, you might have to label read if you have other allergies too, but a list of “other allergens” is in the works. In the near future you’ll be able to get your hands on the list to see what items are not only gluten free, but also soy free, dairy free, etc.

Their goal is to provide the best variety of gluten free products. I would say they are well on their way.

And it gets better. There are ready-made food options too.

You can grab some bakery items from the front case that are made with mixes they have in the store. The perfect way to try out the mixes before you buy them to make at home. Plus there are samples all over the store for you to try.

Pizza by the slice? Done. They have that too. And they are using crusts they carry in the store. Try. Then buy.

Perfect.

Deli Sandwiches in the cooler? Check.

Mainstream products like Betty Crocker, Chex, and Thai Kitchen?  Double check.

Plans for their Grand Opening are underway for August. And there is talk of pancake/Belgian waffle Saturday’s. Sign me up.

If you find a product you love that they aren’t carrying yet? Just let them know, they would be happy to order it. (No worries, I have already put in a request for Crispin Cider )

We have been chatting about it all week on the Celiac in the City Facebook page. We are crazy excited to have this new store in our community. We are even making a stop there for our Gluten Free Get Together VI on Monday, July 26th.

Want to join us? Check our the invite on Facebook.

Kudos to Martha and Greg!

General Mills GF List

There are plenty of companies out there selling gluten free products. Some are delish. Some not so good. Sadly, I wasted a-lot-o-cash when I first started out on this adventure. I figured GF on the package meant good stuff. Not so much. You have to pick and choose. Find the good ones and stick with them.

I would try anything back then. Pay over $7 for a tiny little pizza that had to be doctored up so much it was basically a whole new pizza. Pick out one of every Lara bar flavor (not knowing I would end up hating most of them). Play the sucker who thought gf bread in the freezer section was worth a toasting. It goes on and on. Then we (my sister and I) started catching on. Many of the items we were buying ended up in the garbage. So we started communicating BEFORE  purchasing. Who knew?

It was not uncommon to get a text or two a day asking about products. And I would (and still) do the same. I would be running around campus and get a picture mail from a grocery store in South Dakota. “Have you tried these?” Below the message was a picture of the lastest gf item to hit her store shelves. Or I would be reading my way down the aisle and text her “Are these good?” with a picture of some teff tortilla type wraps. To which she replied, “Yuck, didn’t like those at all.” They went back on the shelf.

Some of the mainstream companies are finally catching on. Like General Mills . Thanks to them, we can enjoy “puppy chow” again! And Chex cereals are just some of the products that are now gluten free. They have a website dedicated to all the items. Go see for yourself.