ISO: Useful gluten-free sources and products in Ontario

[Darienne]

I'll leave out all the drama and just ask for some direction to decent tasting gluten-free products in Ontario.  Ed is now gluten ...at least...intolerant.... if not outright unable to tolerate any of it.  We found out by accident and now I have to turn my mind (not in the best shape currently ...long story) to finding products he can buy and places to look. 

 

We live outside Peterborough and he can go to JoAnne's to start looking.  I've not been able to go much of anywhere for a while now and so he's on his own in this one.  We have a Main Ingredient store also but we haven't gone there much since our long-time acquaintances sold it.  

 

What good products are on the shelves in what stores?  He's not much of a food searcher.

 

As my health returns, I'll get back to cooking and baking...I hope...but in the interim, I'm eating almost all of the frozen foods I made some time ago ...and Ed is eating quite a lot of sandwiches on gluten free bread.  Promise is the brand he buys at Superstore or Sobeys.  

 

All replies gratefully received.  

 

[Alex]

By "products," do you mean items that require a minimal amount of prep and/or items that are ready to cook and eat? I'm afraid I can't help you there, but when you're back to cooking and baking I'd be glad to recommend some products that may well be available by you, or at least via mail order.

[Darienne]

At this point, it's ready to eat as is, or ready to heat and eat only.  I'm still not well enough to go further than that.  Thanks for the reply. 

[ElsieD]

I don't often buy ready-to-eat meals but whenever I'm in a grocery store I'll keep an eye out.  Which chain grocery stores do you have access to?   Do you have a Farm Boy there?  It's the one we mainly shop at because it's a 5 minute walk but we go to others as well.

[Senior Sea Kayaker]

I've asked, via email, my SIL who lives in the Haliburton area for her recommendations.

She and her sister both suffer from celiac disease and could be a good source.

I'll post any of her recommendations.

 

[FauxPas]

15 hours ago, Darienne said:

What good products are on the shelves in what stores?

 

I don't live in Ontario and can't help with specific grocery stores and their products but I'll mention a couple of possibilities. M&M Foods has a gluten-free list. It's not my favourite store but they have some good stuff and it might be a way to stock your freezer with a few easy to prepare items. 

https://www.mmfoodmarket.com/categories/gluten-free

 

Also, services like Heart to Home will deliver frozen meals and also have a special diet menu. 

https://www.hearttohomemeals.ca/meals?collection=specialdiets

 

Not sure if either are a good option for you. 

[Darienne]

1 hour ago, ElsieD said:

I don't often buy ready-to-eat meals but whenever I'm in a grocery store I'll keep an eye out.  Which chain grocery stores do you have access to?   Do you have a Farm Boy there?  It's the one we mainly shop at because it's a 5 minute walk but we go to others as well.

No  Farm Boy, alas.

[Darienne]

45 minutes ago, FauxPas said:

 

I don't live in Ontario and can't help with specific grocery stores and their products but I'll mention a couple of possibilities. M&M Foods has a gluten-free list. It's not my favourite store but they have some good stuff and it might be a way to stock your freezer with a few easy to prepare items. 

https://www.mmfoodmarket.com/categories/gluten-free

 

Also, services like Heart to Home will deliver frozen meals and also have a special diet menu. 

https://www.hearttohomemeals.ca/meals?collection=specialdiets

 

Not sure if either are a good option for you. 

Thanks for the reply.   I'm overwhelmed right this minute and not sure about buying M&M stuff.  We never have before but I'll send Ed in next trip to get a copy of their products if they have a printed version.

[Darienne]

1 hour ago, ElsieD said:

I don't often buy ready-to-eat meals but whenever I'm in a grocery store I'll keep an eye out.  Which chain grocery stores do you have access to?   Do you have a Farm Boy there?  It's the one we mainly shop at because it's a 5 minute walk but we go to others as well.

Ed shops at No Frills, FreshCo, and Superstore mainly.  We have Sobeys but Ed considers them too expensive and the only thing we get there are Poblanos.  We got Promise bread there before it was carried at Superstore.

[ElsieD]

https://www.mmfoodmarket.com/en/categories/gluten-free

[Senior Sea Kayaker]

My SIL's recommendations for ready to eat are Annie's individual gluten free meals from the frozen food section.

She likes the burritos, mac and cheese with cauliflower and the mushroom risotto.

She's a fan of Promise for bread products and also likes desserts as well as their lemon, poppyseed and chocolate loaves.

Bob's Red Mill for their mixes.

They have access to a Foodland  and an Independent (Weston Loblaws) so a lot of these products are carried by Superstore and No Frills.

FreshCo is owned by Sobey's so they carry a lot of their products at a significant lower price.

Hope this helps.

 

[Darienne]

23 minutes ago, Senior Sea Kayaker said:

My SIL's recommendations for ready to eat are Annie's individual gluten free meals from the frozen food section.

 

 

Section of what store/s please?

[Senior Sea Kayaker]

8 minutes ago, Darienne said:

Section of what store/s please?

Frozen Food aisle.

Weston Loblaw's stores. Superstore, No Frills....

FreshCo.

 

Edited May 12 by Senior Sea Kayaker (log)

[Alex]

40 minutes ago, Senior Sea Kayaker said:

My SIL's recommendations for ready to eat are Annie's individual gluten free meals from the frozen food section.

 

It looks like Annie's makes a lot of g-f entrees. They also offer two varieties of g-f pizza, although the website says one of them is currently unavailable. I haven't had or made either one, but Ms Alex is a big fan of their regular spinach pizza.