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The one thing I loved most about Australia was the availability of gluten free foods. It was incredible! Almost every restaurant served gluten free dishes, and so many of the foods were things I haven't enjoyed in a while. I had gluten-free French toast, a delicious burger, and a variety of baked pastries (which my sweet tooth appreciated).

Unfortunately, a gluten-free lifestyle is still a new thing over here, but our selections are getting better! In fact, grocery stores in Charlotte are starting to offer a variety of gluten-free foods. Each one has something different too, so between each store, those of us with an allergy have a good collection to choose from. If you're allergic to gluten, here are some of the stores I recommend visiting.

Whole Foods - So far, this is the Nirvana of gluten-free stores in Charlotte. I’ve only been there once, so I can’t name a lot of specifics, but I just remember how big the selection was. This is the first place I've found pre-made pies, and with how difficult it is to find Xanthan gum, finding pre-made baked foods is a blessing! There was also a strong selection of microwaveable meals (perfect for the work week) and snacks.

Publix - I made my first trip to Publix this weekend and I was thrilled with some of the things on offer. One of my favourites was a ready-to-eat quinoa salad. Packaged quinoa is available everywhere, but as Robert doesn't eat it, it can be a pain to cook for myself. Having my lunch ready for me to dig into made a nice change! They also have a special brand of gluten-free crackers that I love. I've found a lot of GF crackers have an odd taste to them, but Crunchmaster multi-grain crackers, which are sold at Publix, are delicious! I particularly recommend the rosemary and olive oil and the roasted vegetable flavours. Paired with the cucumber and dill yogurt dip they sell, you've got the makings of a perfect snack!

Harris Teeter (Lancaster Highway) - I'm really impressed with the Harris Teeter chain and the gluten-free sections they are adding to their stores. So far, this location is my favourite. It's here that I've found ready-made Alfredo, pizza crusts, muffins, and more. Just recently they added ready-to-bake GF cookies! All Harris Teeters have regular sales on Wolfgang Puck soups too and many of his recipes are gluten-free. The fact that there is one on almost every street corner makes dinner for the gluten-free family easier.

Stores I haven’t visited often:

Trader Joes – I’m told Trader Joes have a list which you can use to shop for gluten-free foods.

Healthy Home Market – Not as big of a selection as most stores, but they do have a good collection of snacks and breakfast cereals.

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