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The Ultimate Guide to Buying Gluten-Free at Whole Foods

This article is written by a student writer from the Spoon University at CU Boulder chapter.

Gluten-free eating can be difficult, especially for someone who’s new to this lifestyle. While I’m not gluten-free, I’ve explored my fair share of the aisles at Whole Foods looking for cool products to try out. After years of searching, I’ve found the 25 best gluten-free Whole Foods products, ranging from hummus to coffee to chips. There’s something for everyone on this list, so I’m sure you’ll find something new to try. 

Rolled Oats

Fiber cereal wheat
Jocelyn Hsu

At Whole Foods, you can get gluten-free rolled oats with ease. If the bulk bin doesn’t sell them, check out Bob’s Red Mill’s Certified Gluten-Free Rolled Oats in the cereal aisle.

Granola

Granola is hands down one of the trickiest products to buy gluten-free. While many brands claim to be full of “whole grains,” not many are actually gluten-free. Check out Purely Elizabeth Original Ancient Grain Granola for maximum chunks, crunch, and flavor without the gluten.

Cereal

Like granola, cereal is hard to find gluten-free. Here’s my hack: buy a few bags of puffed kamut, and spruce it up with some One Degree Organic Foods sprouted brown rice crisps for a hearty cereal bowl! All of One Degree Organic Foods’ cereals are gluten-free, so you can’t go wrong with any of them.

Bread

Gluten-free bread can be a lose-lose scenario. It can taste bad, and will break the bank. However, if there’s one brand to buy at Whole Foods, it’s the Udi’s Gluten-Free Multigrain Sandwich Bread. It’s hearty, a decent size (as compared to some brands, which have gluten-free bread slices the size of my palm), and won’t hurt your budget either.

Protein Powder

Protein powder can be full of weird ingredients, so it’s hard to find a gluten-free powder that actually tastes good. Thankfully, Vital Proteins collagen is gluten-free, and Whole Foods happens to sell it. It’s full of protein, nutrients, is flavorless, and dissolves into practically anything, so it’s great for yogurt, milk, smoothies, and more. 

RXBARS

gluten free whole foods
Emily King

RXBARS are hands down some of the best protein bars around. They happen to be gluten-free as well, thanks to the fact they’re made from wholesome, real ingredients! My favorite flavors are peanut butter chocolate chip or the chocolate sea salt.

Perfect Bars

Wine Pairings pumpkin pie
Caroline Bowman

Oh, Perfect Bars. You may break my budget, but you make my heart swoon, and my (gluten-free) taste buds dance. Packed with protein, flavor, and natural sweetness, these are hearty, filling, and gluten-free protein bars Whole Foods keeps in their refrigerated section. You can’t go wrong with the classic peanut butter flavor, and the dark chocolate chip peanut butter is pretty great as well.

Square Bars

Lastly for the bars, we have Square Bars. These bad boys are not only gluten-free, but they’re vegan as well. They contain about 12 grams of protein per bar and are coated in chocolate, making them a decadent, sweet afternoon treat. Find them at Whole Foods in the bar section, and don’t be afraid to buy them all—been there!

Simple Mills

If you need a new gluten-free (and grain-free!) cracker, look no further than Simple Mills Almond Flour Crackers. Made with simple ingredients like almond flour and eggs, they’re hearty, flavorful, and delicious. The best flavors? Can’t go wrong with a nice sea salt cracker, and the rosemary is pretty tasty as well.

Mary’s Gone Crackers

Continuing with the crackers trend, Whole Foods sells Mary’s Gone Crackers, which are flavorful, wholesome gluten-free crackers everyone needs. Made with seeds and minimal ingredients, they’re a great gluten-free dipping alternative.

Siete Chips

quarantine midnight snack salsa tomato
Caroline Ingalls

Siete Chips have become all the rage, and for good reason. These grain-free chips taste just like the real deal, and are gluten-free as well. Pair them with some salsa for a delicious tailgate combo.

Siete Tortillas

Continuing with the Siete Foods trend, their tortillas are not only grain- and gluten-free, but Whole Foods also just so happens to carry them. Made with almond flour and other simple ingredients, they freeze well, hold together, and are the perfect vehicle for any taco.

Corn Tortillas

If you’re not a fan of grain-free tortillas, corn tortillas are a gluten-free foodie’s best friend. One Degree Organic Foods Corn Tortillas are gluten-free and contain three ingredients: corn flour, guar gum (to hold everything together), and sea salt. Shoutout to Whole Foods for being the real MVP.

Kombucha

Kombucha What? juice ice
Rachel Hartman

Whole Foods has a variety of kombucha options, and while it has a ton of health benefits, it’s also incredibly tasty and makes for the perfect afternoon pick-me-up if coffee isn’t your thing.

Suja

Continuing with the drinks, Suja juices are a must for anyone, gluten-free or not. They contain tons of nutrients, vitamins, and flavor. Plus, most of their flavors are gluten-free and vegan, making them perfect for almost any diet.

Peanut Butter

Peanut butter should be a staple for anyone, regardless whether you’re gluten-free or not. It just so happens that peanut butter is gluten-free, so that’s even better! The Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value Creamy Peanut Butter is the best item for your budget, and when they say creamy, they mean it.

Popcorn

If you’re a volume snacker who happens to be gluten-free, popcorn is your best friend. Whole Foods carries Lesserevil Popcorn, which is a non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan, and DELICIOUS snack. Since it comes in a huge bag for about $5, you get the best bang for your buck.

Pasta

I’m a huge pasta fan, and when I can find a good gluten-free pasta that also tastes delicious and holds together, it’s a win. Eat Banza is a chickpea-based pasta that’s packed with 15g of hearty, plant-based protein per serving. Whole Foods is stocked up on gluten-free pasta options, so if chickpeas aren’t your thing, you have plenty of options.

Burgers

Barbecue season is slowly approaching, which means burgers are slowly going to become part of our diet again. Thankfully, Whole Foods carries Hilary’s Eat Well Veggie Burgers, a line of vegan, non-GMO, and gluten-free burgers that are protein packed and taste delicious. Find them in the freezer aisle for the perfect summer meal.

Burger Buns

Because what’s a burger without a burger bun? Thankfully, Whole Foods carries Udi’s Classic Hamburger Buns, a line of gluten-free buns that taste like the REAL DEAL.

Dressings

Salad dressings can contain a lot of weird hidden ingredients that make using them sketchy at best. Thankfully, Whole Foods has Primal Kitchen Dressings, which are paleo, non-GMO, and gluten-free dressings that elevate the flavor of any salad! My favorite flavor is the Greek dressing, but the ranch is also delicious.

Dips

Can you go wrong with a classic dip? Nah, man. When looking for a good gluten-free dip at Whole Foods, look for Hope Hummus, aka the best hummus ever. With flavors like spicy avocado and Thai coconut curry, this vegan and gluten-free hummus is the real deal.

Coffee

We all need a pick me up here and there, right? When that’s you, head to your local Whole Foods and pick up a bottle of Califia Farms Cold Brew Coffee with a Splash of Almond Milk. Gluten-free and energy packed!

Milk

Milks, like salad dressings, can be tricky. But when it comes to a good gluten-free milk, look no further than Almond Breeze. Any nut, coconut, or dairy milk is gluten-free, but a good brand to stick with is Almond Breeze, for sure.

Yogurt

best Greek yogurt brands sweet milk
Taylor Treadway

Lastly, we need some good quality Greek yogurt in our life for that delicious gluten-free cereal and granola. The only yogurt I trust is Siggi’s Dairy. It’s thick, creamy, filled with real ingredients, gluten-free, and tastes delicious.

See, gluten-free eating at Whole Foods really isn’t that difficult. Just make sure you walk in with a budget and get a hand basket. If you don’t, well…buyer beware. It’s a slippery slope that we’ve all fallen down, even if we don’t like to admit it. Good luck on your gluten-free eating journey, and shoutout to Whole Foods for keeping us stocked with options.

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Danielle Clark

CU Boulder '21

Hard working, passionate foodie with a love for health, fitness, wellness, and happiness