Every time I travel I have to check out the gluten-free offerings in that city.  Of course, restaurants and bakeries are the first things to Google.  But I also have to check out the local grocery stores.  It’s so much fun to see what different products have made it to the shelves of the same grocery stores where I shop in Nashville.  And many times I find products that I’ve never heard of before.

It’s even more fun to shop with my mother, who is also gluten-intolerant.  (I can scientifically blame her for my inability to digest gluten.  Thanks, Mom.)  Most mother-daughter shopping trips involve malls and dressing rooms and sound something like this:

H:  What do you think of this dress?  (twirling in front of the mirror)

M:  Oh, that’s really cute.  The length is perfect on you.

H:  Do you think it will work with my little strappy shoes? (up on tiptoes)

M:  Yes, and I have the perfect necklace you could borrow.  If only you lived closer…

H:  I know, I know.  Now, wait, let me show you the other dress.

And while we’ve had our share of fashion shopping trips, Mom and I are more likely to go on a gluten-free shopping trip where you’d hear something more along these lines:

M:  Oh, Heather, have you tried these chocolate-covered gluten-free pretzels?

H:  What???  Are you serious?  No!  (Into the cart it goes.)

H:  Mom, have you found the Bionaturae pasta I’ve been telling you about?

M:  Ooooh, no!  I’ve wanted to try it.  And they have the skinny spaghetti!  (She puts one package into her cart.)

H:  You’re going to wish you had more than one.  (A second package goes in.)

M:  Have you ever heard of WOW Cookies?  They had the at the gluten-free potluck.  I wonder if they have them here.  (No luck.)

The trip will end hours later after multiple conversations with managers and a cart filled with goodies to take home.

We found several incredible restaurants in Chicago, but we also had a lot of fun at the local Whole Foods.

Who else but my mother would get just as excited as I do about a display that looks like this?

Or understand my little dance in the aisle when I find such a huge selection of one of my favorite gluten-free bread mixes?

We had a lot of fun shopping, but I had to be selective about which products I brought home.  With TSA restrictions and baggage limitations I couldn’t take everything that struck my fancy.  But here are 8 items that made the cut.

1.  Double Dark Chocolate Mate Tea by Republic of Tea

2.  Glutino Chocolate Covered Pretzels – No brainer.

3.  Glutino Yogurt Covered Pretzels – I can’t even remember the last time I had yogurt covered anything.  It had to be PG (pre-gluten).

4.  Daydreams:  Brownie Cookies with White Chocolate Chips from Deerfields Bakery – I just love that Whole Foods carries products from local bakeries.  Next time, we’re visiting this bakery.

5.  Cranberry Bread Mix by Simply Organic – It’s a seasonal mix, so grab a few while you can!

6.  Cranberry Pancake and Muffin Mix by Breads from Anna – I’m thinking Thanksgiving breakfast?  Sadly, our Whole Foods does not carry my beloved Anna’s mixes, so I usually have to order them online.

7.  Justin’s Chocolate Almond Butter – Never even heard of these, but how could I pass this up?  You can’t go wrong with nut butter and chocolate.  They come in jars and individual serving packets.

8.  Cornbread and Muffin Mix by Pamela’s – (Okay, we have this at home, but it was convenient.  It’s cooling on the stove so I can make cornbread stuffing for Thanksgiving dinner.)

I’m thrilled with my 8 purchases, but one Chicago find didn’t even make it home.  It was delicious.  Guess which one.