Visit to the grocery store(s)

Today we went grocery shopping.  Kalie's diet is supposed to take into full effect on Monday so these next couple of days, we are easing into it.  To prepare for this trip, I carefully studied all the lists and suggestions that Amy emailed to us.  Then I made up a list of all the things she would need and then other staples we needed for the rest of the family.  The first store we hit up was Trader Joe's.  First time there, not a big fan.  The workers were all really friendly, but they had about 5 things that we needed.  It's more of an organic type store than a GF,DF store.  We were in there for maybe 40 minutes, and the kids were already acting wild.  I was dreading going to the next store which was Whole Foods.  Charlie and I had previously walked around there (our first time) just to see what it was like.  We were a little confused so we just left.  Imagine taking 3 tired, hungry, grumpy, crying(and sometimes screaming) kids to a huge store that you are lost in to begin with.  Add on top of that having to read each and every label up and down to make sure its GF and DF and EF and no vanilla or corn.  Guess what?  It sucks.

  

We have come to the conclusion that Kalie will basically have to eat only vegetables, fruit, and chicken.  So many things were gluten free and dairy free but we turned the label around and sure enough, there were the words 'traces of corn' or 'cornstarch.' Soy yogurt? Cornstarch in it.  Soy cheese? Casein in it (which doesn't make sense).  Gluten free chocolate cookies? Vanilla in it.  Do you know that we had to get her vegan cheese?  Do you want to know what vegan cheese smells like? Vomit.  I'm not even joking.  I know a lot of times you smell something bad and you joke around and say "ew, that smells like crap".  No, this honestly smelled like that.  I gagged while grating it for her tacos.  She tried it, but didn't like it. Can you blame her?!  We also got her GF tortillas.  It didn't really "wrap" like a tortilla should and it was really hard to chew.  Again, she tried it and didn't like it. She hasn't tried the milk yet, but what if she doesn't like it? This is where I'm concerned.  What happens when we buy all these things and try them out, yet she doesn't like them and then won't eat at all?  It broke my heart when she asked if she could have a plain tortilla just for tonight. (We did let her have real cheese, I wasn't about to make her eat that vomit cheese)  Don't worry, I emailed Amy and told her my concerns.  I'm secretly hoping she'll just say "Ok, since casein is on her mild list, let's let her have that back."  That won't happen though. 

 

The third store I had to go to was Smith's.  I was dreading this because although I got to go alone while Charlie put the kids to sleep, it was the third store I had been to today!  They are also remodeling so I didn't know where anything was, and I was running on low fuel.   I am glad I went because I found a sweet little aisle full of organic, GF food!  It's like our prayers were answered.  Organic and GF eating is expensive! To have to spend gas money to go get it was like a smack in the face.  Now our regular grocery store, that is 5 minutes away instead of 25, has a great selection.  Almost everything we got at the other 2 stores were there plus some different stuff.   I'm so grateful that I will be able to do almost all of my shopping in one place! Now here's hoping she will like her breakfast of GF toast and Soy milk.. :/