For the Love of Pasta

For a wheat allergic pasta lover in the Kingston Metropolitan Region (KMR), shopping for pasta no longer needs to be an online import-it-yourself affair. Over the past few months, several KMR based supermarkets have been expanding their pasta selection to include pastas from corn, tapioca, rice and other non-wheat sources.

We have been able to find brands like Glutino and Felicia on the shelves at Lee's Food Fair, Hi-Lo Supermarket, Mega Mart, CPJ and Sovereign Supermarket. Shell types, variety of shell types and prices vary by store. These pasta brands are easy to cook and, just like the common wheat based pasta, to cook it, you just add water, salt (optional) and boil it for a few minutes.

Wheat Free Grocery Finds - Sovereign Supermarket

While we were at Sovereign Centre in Liguanea, St. Andrew, we decided to take a look at the wheat free and gluten free grocery offerings in Sovereign Supermarket. Kudos to the Purchasing Team - there is a variety of wheat free and gluten free products, including several from lines which have certified gluten free facilities. Sovereign Supermarket is yet another place in Jamaica where the wheat free or gluten free consumer may one stop shop with some ease. It is located at Sovereign Centre at 106 Hope Road, Kingston 6, St. Andrew. 

The products shown below are only a very few of the products available. There are many naturally wheat free products as well as wheat free alternative products. 

Wheat Free Grocery Finds - Lee's

Grocery Shopping in St. Andrew

This week we did a grocery run at Lee's Food Fair at Boulevard Super Centre in St. Andrew. Both branches of Lee's Food Fair are good stores for the wheat allergic to visit as there are several wheat free food finds, including both naturally wheat free foods and wheat free alternative foods. Though slowly, they continue to expand their wheat free alternative offerings.

Those Udi's Gluten Free Cookies

Gone wheat free and have the munchies for some yummy cookies? Look no further than Udi's Gluten Free, the brand that is "full of taste and free of gluten". 

Cravings for soft and simply delectable cookies may be answered by snacking on Udi's Gluten Free Soft & Chewy Cookies. The name is very fitting as these cookies are indeed very soft and have a chewy quality to them. The cookies come in a convenient firm and resealable plastic container and are available in the flavours of Oatmeal Raisin, Snicker Doodle, Chocolate Chip and Ginger. These Udi's Gluten Free Soft & Chewy Cookies are all soy and nut free. They contain milk and eggs. 

Milk Please, Hold the Dairy

Here a fart, there a fart, everywhere a fart, fart. For so many people, having a glass of cow's milk doesn't go well at all. For some, the flatulence and sudden need for TP is consistent, especially those with lactose intolerance, while for others it's a gamble - will the tummy rumble this time?

Being allergic to milk, lactose intolerant, a non dairy consumer, wary of the effects consuming cow's milk has on you or desirous of variety, milk substitutes are great. There are several grain milks and plant milks.

Soy milk, almond milk, rice milk and hemp milk are milk substitutes found in several supermarkets across Kingston, St. Andrew, Portmore and other towns in Jamaica. Prices tend to range from JM$200 to JM$500 for one quart. These non-dairy beverage are often consumed as they are or used, in the place of cow's milk, in food preparation.

Brownies made using Bob's Red Mill Wheat Free, Gluten Free, Dairy Free Brownie Mix and Rice Milk

Have a Sandwich, it's Gluten Free

Some shoppers don't mind going to several stores at a time, on the hunt for bargains and for those hard to find items. There are other shoppers who simply want to find it all in one location. They want to be in one store, comparing different brands, rather than going from store to store and then back to some. For the wheat free and gluten free one stop shopper, CPJ Market at 71 Lady Musgrave Road is the store for you. In fact, it is also the store for the dairy free, soy free and nut free shopper, as it offers many options for persons afflicted by some of the more common food allergies. 

For the wheat free and the gluten free shopper there's:

• bread 
• waffles 
• bagels
• cake mixes
• brownie mixes
• pancake mixes
• frozen pizzas
• cookies
• ladyfingers
• soft pretzels
• coated pretzels
• soy sauce
• muffins
• spaghetti
• tortillas
• penne alfredo
• macaroni and cheese
• french baguettes
• granola
• hot dog buns
• and many other products.

Keeping it Wheat-free, Alternative Product Finds

"Where do you get all your wheat free products from?"

Lately, this has been a question I get regularly asked, as colleagues and acquaintances take in the view of my pantry or lunch bag.  

Cookies, waffles, bagels, pastries galore

Wraps, crackers, baking flour and counter flour

Nom Nom and there’s still much more

"In the supermarkets" I reply.

"Here??"