Save money in other areas.
One thing I encounter a lot is, "Well, it's not exactly life-threatening, right? So, they can have just a little bread/cake/cookie." But, having Celiac disease *is* life-threatening. Untreated Celiac disease can lead to malnutrition, failure to thrive, loss in bone density, miscarriage, hair loss, heart disease, liver problems, anemia, skin problems, and more, including lowered life expectancy. Celiac is a whole-system problem, and sometimes you don't know that there's a problem until a lot of damage has been done.
My point is that eating gluten free to treat a medical condition is more important than the budget. It's more important than cable TV or cell phones or paying down debt.
But there are ways to save money on groceries, even if you have to eat gluten free.
- Eat less meat.
- Eat more rice, potatoes, and beans. Eat eggs. Eat bananas. There is still a world of inexpensive and healthy foods available to you.
- Don't buy brand names. Crystal at www.moneysavingmom.com has excellent luck with sales and coupons, but we don't have stores that offer these kinds of things, so my best bet is to buy simple, whole foods, and stick to generics when necessary.
- Buy in bulk. Spices, yeast, rice, beans, are all available at unbelievable prices when bought in bulk.
See all the rules: http://glutenfreefrugal.blogspot.com/2007/10/my-5-basic-rules-for-eating-gluten-free.html
4 comments:
You're right. We do the bulk thing and couldn't survive otherwise. We buy anything we can in bulk -- from ketchup and nut butter to gf flours and chips.
-- jim at gfcfrecipes.blogspot.com
Sorry I don't have a relevant comment to this post other than...you're real smart and pretty.
I can't find your email on your site cuz I'm prolly an idiot. I want to ask you if you would consider guest posting for me next week? Please say yes! I'd be honored.
zdoodlebub[at]gmail[dot]com
My philosophy - being healthy is cheaper than being sick! We do the bulk thing too, and I think David would faint if he saw a recognizable brand name in our pantry.
Good for you for sticking to your guns with the kids and the gluten-free diet. Those of us who weren't lucky enough to get diagnosed as kids usually have related, permanent health problems that don't go away with gluten-free. Your kids won't have to worry about those things!
Buying bulk isn't always the best idea for eating gluten free. When buying bulk from bins one has to be concerned about cross contamination.
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