Gluten-free grocery shopping in Phoenix

What in the world is gluten? Better yet, where does gluten come from? Gluten is a by-product of two proteins, gliadin and glutenin, that are found in grains such as wheat, rye, and barley. In bread baking when water is mixed with wheat based flours and yeast and then kneaded several times, gluten is formed and causes the dough to rise. Gluten is an important component in cooking, especially for baking.

So, if gluten has purpose in cooking, then why in the world would anyone want to cook or eat without gluten? The most common reason why a person might eat a gluten-free diet is because he/she may have Celiac (pronounced as See-lee-ak) Disease, which is an autoimmune disorder that damages the small intestines whenever a person eats anything with gluten. Some of the signs/symptoms of Celiac Disease includes, but are not limited to, gas or abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea or constipation, infertility (male and female), missed menstrual period, canker sores in mouth, spontaneous miscarriages, bone or joint pain, etc.  Another reason why people may choose to eat gluten-free is if they have been diagnosed with autism. Many claims have been made that when people with this disorder have eliminated gluten (as well as dairy), they have improved tremendously!

Some foods that are gluten-free are dairy, beans, poultry, fish, nuts, seeds, vegetables, brown rice, corn, soy, tapioca, quinoa, millet, buckwheat, sorghum, arrowroot, and flaxseeds.  Foods that are NOT gluten-free are wheat, oats, spelt, barley, semolina, kamut, rye, wheat starch, and wheat hybrids.

Where to shop for gluten-free groceries in the Phoenix -metro area? There are several supermarkets throughout the valley that sell gluten-free products. The inventory for each store will vary depending on the store location.

The supermarket that stocks the largest variety of gluten-free products in Phoenix is Whole Foods. 

Sprouts Farmers Market is a close follower with better pricing. In fact it is not uncommon for Sprouts to offer 20% off gluten-free products!

Third on the list is Fresh and Easy Neighborhood Market; since opening, this store has done a great job with adding more gluten-free items on the shelves!

Other stores to consider are Fry’s Marketplace (the ones with the natural/organic sections), Safeway, and Trader Joe’s.

For more information: Celiac Disease, Autism