Going gluten-free in Concord used to require raising a herd of wild animals to graze the gluten out of all your food products (note: most likely not factually accurate). Thankfully, times have changed. It’s never been easier to switch to a gluten-free lifestyle right here at home. Here are a few handy tips!
1. Most grocery stores feature dedicated gluten-free sections, complete with pastas, cookies, snacks and all the other goodies you don’t want to give up. They also usually feature flours and other baking goods so you can cook up your own tasty concoctions from the comfort of your home. Hannaford, Shaw’s and Market Basket all have such sections, and the Co-op mixes its gluten-free foods in throughout the store, labeled helpfully with orange tags on the shelf.
2. You don’t have to remain confined to your own home, though. Almost every local restaurant, including the Barley House and Common Man (to name a few) now features a gluten-free menu. Don’t be afraid to ask your server for advice, either – most are up to speed on the important deets. And you don’t even have to give up the Barley House’s super yummy hummus because you can’t eat pretzels or crackers – they’ll bring you a plate of carrots and celery and your own bowl of hummus (so you don’t have to cross contaminate with your gluten-grubbing buddies). The Common Man also features gluten-free crackers so you can still partake in its fantastic block of cheese and tasty cheese spreads.
3. Even pizza and beer is doable. Constantly Pizza is just one pizza shop to offer a gluten-free crust, and you can find solid gluten-free beer selections at places like Barb’s Beer Emporium and the Co-op. Do you know what this means? You can officially reconcile your most depressing gluten-free relationship breakup. I now pronounce you pizza and beer and delicious and happy.
