Back in March, the Mount Sinai Health System in New York hosted a webinar called “Celiac-Safe and Budget-Smart.” The focus was on grocery prices, which have increased steeply over the past several years and are rising at a concerning rate at the moment. It’s a topic of interest for everyone — but especially for those following a gluten-free diet, because GF groceries are already priced sky-high.
There are plenty of reasons for this. Wheat production is heavily subsidized in the US, which means wheat-based products can be made on the cheap. Meanwhile, gluten-free goods require multiple ingredients to get the right taste and texture, and those include expensive flours. There’s a cost to gluten-free certification, which at a minimum includes tests and product audits. Sometimes special packaging is necessary, because GF products don’t always have the usual preservatives in them.
The webinar was good at identifying the problems, but less helpful when it came to tips about dealing with the upward spiral of prices. The suggestions included “community gardening,” “buy in bulk,” and “look at sales flyers.” They’re not wrong, but I have a much more aggressive approach that will save you far more money: stop buying gluten-free groceries.
I know this might be shocking to hear. Heretical, even. Let me explain.