Free From Foods

I have a wheat intolerance and need to look for some food items that I can use to replace pretty much everything I love.

So far I've tried the Sainsbury's Freefrom flapjacks and they are really great. 

Just wondering if anyone has tried anything they really loved, or hated (So we stay away) at any of the shops in the UK.

Also wondering if anyone in the US know of items there and where to get them.

Thank you all.  I hope this helps other people as well!

I took some Co-op gluten-free Jaffa cakes to my cousin, and she loved them. I haven't tried them, though. In the US there are some crackers--Nut Thins maybe?--that are really good. (edit: they seem to be pretty available at regular grocery stores)

What kinds of things are you looking for specifically?

Oh, just remembered, if you bake at all these almond cookies are wicked good! Just make sure to put them on parchment. Don't ask me how I know...

Stacey, is your intolerance a gluten thing, or wheat generally?  I've got a TON of blogs, websites, etc. bookmarked for allergy stuff, and I'll try to dig through them this weekend and pick out the best of the best and post it here.

When you're in the US, take a wander to a Whole Foods and talk with the folks at the main/concierge desk.  They have all sorts of fliers and printouts of allergen-free foods that they carry.  Very handy!

I took some Co-op gluten-free Jaffa cakes to my cousin, and she loved them. I haven't tried them, though. In the US there are some crackers--Nut Thins maybe?--that are really good. (edit: they seem to be pretty available at regular grocery stores)

What kinds of things are you looking for specifically?

Oh, just remembered, if you bake at all these almond cookies are wicked good! Just make sure to put them on parchment. Don't ask me how I know...

Thank you! 

I guess I'm looking for baked goods. (Sweet and savory) A substitute for bread for sandwiches. (Though is that even possible) 

Wow, those cookies look amazing, I LOVE almond anything.  Thank you!

Stacey, is your intolerance a gluten thing, or wheat generally?  I've got a TON of blogs, websites, etc. bookmarked for allergy stuff, and I'll try to dig through them this weekend and pick out the best of the best and post it here.

When you're in the US, take a wander to a Whole Foods and talk with the folks at the main/concierge desk.  They have all sorts of fliers and printouts of allergen-free foods that they carry.  Very handy!

It's wheat, though tbh, I have a feeling gluten should also be limited. 

I would love to see your info, that would be great.

Thank you, I thought of Whole Foods.  There is one near my parents.  A good excuse to go, I love it there!

Stacey, just curious, but how do you know you have a wheat intolerance?
I thought of trying a gluten-free diet, since they say that people with psoriasis are often allergic to gluten, and I have heard other people say that it helps the condition a lot to stop eating gluten. I wouldn't know if I was intolerant or not. Either way, it sounds fairly tough to cut it out completely, so let me know how it goes... maybe I could give it a go!  

There is a bakery in Yorkshire (I think) that caters to this. I found it back when Sammy was being tested for coeliac disease and I went on a research frenzy. Lemme go see if I can find it again.

Also, for bread, have you considered a breadmaker and then getting some of the wheat/gluten free bread mixes?

On that note, I seem to recall reading that many people who can't tolerate wheat *can* tolerate spelt. Have you tried it? There was a baker at the organic farmers market in Taunton who made amazing spelt breads, cakes, and cookies. I'm sure there are others.

OK, here's the Yorkshire link:

http://www.theglutenfreekitchen.co.uk/

MTA:; just saw your post - yes, you'd be amazed what is out there for wheat and gluten intolerance! It's just a question of finding things you like the taste of - which is why I mention spelt as I couldn't really tell the difference.

I say wheat intolerance, but to be honest I don't know.  I do know I have PCOS and my Consultant has urged me to cut out wheat and a lot of carbs. I'm taking him seriously now (After a few years)  I'm treating as an intolerance because I don't want to eat it.  (It's the only way I might actually stop)

This is all new for me, so I have not tried anything yet.

I live in Surrey though, so not really an option for anything in the North.  Oh well.

OK, so if anyone has tried any of the free from foods, please let us know here.  Any of them, does not have to be wheat-free.  It would be good just to have a list for everyone.

Thank you all!

If you want a wonderland of free-from foods, try the Wheat-free view of Goodness Direct. We've used them a bunch to buy bulk foods, sugar-free stuff and household crap like hippie shampoo and washing up liquid in bulk, and they're a fantastic company (PM me for a referral code if you do decide to buy).

I'm afraid, not having a wheat intolerance myself, I can't vouch for the taste of anything there, though...

I live in Surrey though, so not really an option for anything in the North.  Oh well.

I know. They deliver - though they might not be something you want as a weekly shopping option.

Their products are also stocked in a few places in the London area:

http://www.theglutenfreekitchen.co.uk/acatalog/Stockists_of_GFK_Products.html

Anyway, I'm sure this will be useful for others as well.

oh, I'll be following this thread....I'm a case of suspected coeliac disease (will find out for sure in a few weeks) but even if it turns out I'm not coeliac, I'll probably try a gluten free diet to see if I have an intolerance instead...

If you want a wonderland of free-from foods, try the Wheat-free view of Goodness Direct. We've used them a bunch to buy bulk foods, sugar-free stuff and household crap like hippie shampoo and washing up liquid in bulk, and they're a fantastic company (PM me for a referral code if you do decide to buy).

I'm afraid, not having a wheat intolerance myself, I can't vouch for the taste of anything there, though...

Wow!  Thank you!  This is great!  I'm going to PM you for sure! 

oh, I'll be following this thread....I'm a case of suspected coeliac disease (will find out for sure in a few weeks) but even if it turns out I'm not coeliac, I'll probably try a gluten free diet to see if I have an intolerance instead...

Oh no!  Sorry to hear this.  I'm glad I started this thread!!!

Oh no!  Sorry to hear this.  I'm glad I started this thread!!!

I think it'll be great to have resources like this! 

To add something to this thread- I'm a big fan of the Ma Baker oat bars.  They have all sorts of different fruit varieties, etc and are wheat and dairy-free!  I get them through a local shop but I know Goodness Direct sell them as well.

Stacey, just curious, but how do you know you have a wheat intolerance?
I thought of trying a gluten-free diet, since they say that people with psoriasis are often allergic to gluten, and I have heard other people say that it helps the condition a lot to stop eating gluten. I wouldn't know if I was intolerant or not. Either way, it sounds fairly tough to cut it out completely, so let me know how it goes... maybe I could give it a go!  

It IS tough--tougher than you could imagine, if you have to be quite strict about it. I have several family members with coeliac disease, and my doctor put me on a gluten-free diet for a couple of weeks while I was being tested for it myself. I nearly went crazy. It's not something I would recommend doing without the advice and support of a doctor.

Stacey most higher end grocery stores here in the USA stock GF/wheat free stuff.  So go to whatever is a local store in a higher end area and they should have a decent selelction.  It's usually in the Health Foods or Organic section and the bread (which is often stored in the freezer section usually) can be any number of odd places.  I have a very very wonderful person you can email about this.  I'm sending you her email via email.  Also I have several cookbooks someplace I will find and send to you.

Quinoa is also a fairly good sub for stuff.

Also (and this is US-based), I can't recommend the products from Enjoy Life enough.  Their cookies are faaaabulous!!

Okay, I'll stop with the US-based stuff now.