How a Celiac Safely Eats Gluten Free at the Whole Foods Hot Bar
As a celiac who needs to eat a strict gluten free diet, I only have a handful of restaurants I feel safe eating at. One of my favorites? The Whole Foods Hot Bar.
Sure, Whole Foods Market isn't always a restaurant. However, many locations do offer a Whole Foods buffet, that is complete of organized dishes. The exceptional element? Every tray of food has all of its elements indexed above it, with allergens indicated at the lowest. The Whole Foods warm meals bar isn't reasonably-priced, so this celiac doesn't dine there all the time.
When I want a gluten free treat, though, Whole Foods is where I'm at! Ready to eat gluten free at Whole Foods? Here are four tricks and tips for eating celiac-safe and gluten free at the Whole Foods hot bar!
1. Read like your existence relies upon on it (which it type of does).
First of all, you need to take advantage of those ingredient cards and read EVERYTHING. Gluten can hide in some weird places, from soup to a rice stir fry that uses wheat-filled soy sauce. So, never assume that something is gluten free without double checking the ingredient list.
Some Whole Foods places are absolutely top approximately indicating any allergens in all caps at the labels above every dish. Other places simply listing the components. In the latter case, this means you must experiment the elements for any gluten "buzz words" like wheat, all cause flour, barley, and many others.
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| When greens have gluten... |
One last point: Even if you revel in one dish on the Whole Foods buffet all the time, usually take a look at the substances. I've found that ingredients can trade via vicinity, every so often turning a gluten loose dish into an risky one.
2. Be aware of your (gluten-stuffed) environment.
One of the biggest concerns many celiacs (rightly) have with the Whole Foods buffet is cross contamination. As a warning sign at the Whole Foods hot bar explains, the kitchen in Whole Foods Market is not allergy-free and the chefs cannot 100% guarantee that all items are free of trace amounts of allergens. I will say this, though: I've been eating gluten free at Whole Foods for four years now, and I've neverbeen glutened. How? Besides analyzing labels like they're a college final, I pay attention to what dishes are surrounding the one I want to try.
What am I speakme approximately? Picture this: there's a scrumptious Mexican sweet potato and black bean bake which you need to try. There's no gluten within the elements. However, it's surrounded by two pasta dishes. In this situation, I might double assume the sweet potatoes because human beings should have easily used the wrong spoon to get a serving. I'd definitely ditch the sweet taters if one of the pasta spoons had a few sweet potato on it or if I noticed a chunk of pasta by accident thrown in with the "gluten unfastened" dish.
Yes, it's obvious that the Whole Foods hot food bar isn't set up with celiac disease or cross contamination in mind. However, as long as you're vigilant about ingredients and location, you can improve your odds of a celiac-safe meal.
Three. If you are doubtful, go away it out!
This piece of recommendation might also sound obvious, however it's nevertheless well worth mentioning: if a dish seems a little sketchy in phrases of being gluten free, do not try it!
Personally, I stroll the perimeter of the Whole Foods hot bar - and study all the dish labels - several times before I grasp my to-go container and fill it up. By scoping out alternatives before scooping, you can keep money via most effective getting the gluten unfastened candies you actually need. This tactic can also preserve you from by chance adding a gluten-filled dish to your to-move field...And contaminating the entirety else you already picked.
Sure, it stinks when you see some delicious fried chicken or enchiladas, and they don't fit your dietary needs. But getting sick after eating your "gluten free" Whole Foods hot bar feast would be even worse!
4. Know that the Whole Foods buffet changes with each visit...And learn how to embody the surprises.
One of the first-class (and perhaps worse) parts about the Whole Foods hot bar is that it adjustments each day. Sometimes, the ingredients are seasonal (like masses of turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, and so on for Thanksgiving). Other instances, the chefs simply seem to be having amusing attempting out new cuisines. (Case in point: lately, my neighborhood Whole Foods buffet has been complete of Indian food...And I've been loving all the gluten loose options I've attempted!)
On the terrible facet, this indicates I every now and then go to Whole Foods and simplest discover a few gluten free options that sound appealing. However, whilst you hit the jackpot and discover even greater gluten free candies than predicted, the Whole Foods hot bar feels greater magical. So, my largest piece of advice is to go with the drift and store at Whole Foods without a expectancies. You never understand when you'll find out your new preferred soup or stir fry...Or examine which you like a completely new sort of cuisine!
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5. BONUS: My favorite gluten free Whole Foods hot bar items.
I'd be a less than stellar foodie if I didn't mention my favorite gluten free Whole Foods buffet finds. All Whole Foods hot bars typically have a salad bar, and I always enjoy their grated veggies (ranging from beet to zucchini to broccoli) and beans (black, chickpea, edamame, etc). The baked chicken at Whole Foods is also AMAZING. Fresh, plain (in terms of being lightly steamed and not oily or over-spiced) and tender.
As for the prepared dishes, some of my favorite celiac-safe finds are:
Whole Foods Market's gluten free kale and white bean soup:
I've seen this kale and white bean soup made with gluten in one location, but it's usually gluten free. It reminds me of some of the soups from Olive Garden and is always full of flavor. Whole Foods' gluten free soup is perfect for cold weather or just some healthy comfort food.
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| Whole Foods' gluten free soup even made an appearance on my Gluten Free and Vegan Snack Plate Dinner! |
Gluten Free and vegan refried beans:
Ever since my celiac diagnosis, I haven't regularly enjoyed Mexican food or refried beans at home. So when I saw these at the Whole Foods hot bar, I couldn't say no. Thick, creamy and dairy free as well.
Turmeric spiced rice:
What is it about turmeric that turns plain rice into an addiction? I don't remember what other spices are commonly included in this rice, but I do know they're super delicious. Not to mention that yellow rice is super pretty!Roasted potatoes and grilled veggies:
Sure, I could easily make roasted potatoes and grilled veggies myself at home (and sometimes I skip them and do just that). However, Whole Foods does something amazing to these naturally gluten free foods to make them ten times as delicious. The grilled veggies are always super thick and have very defined grill marks. Meanwhile, the roasted potatoes can be a little oily, but the flavor definitely makes up for it.
Balsamic mushrooms:
Because, well, so juicy!Any quinoa pilaf or stir fry:
Whole Foods Market always cooks the quinoa perfectly and I love trying all of their different flavor combinations, from turmeric to Southwestern.
Like all restaurants, the gluten free and celiac-safe options at Whole Foods Market can differ by location. However, if you're looking for a mix-and-match healthy dinner, the Whole Foods hot bar is a pretty safe bet!
Have you ever eaten at the Whole Foods hot bar? What is your favorite dish to try? Tell me in the comments!
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