Tortilla sandwich and other stuff

Approximately two more weeks before my husband is no longer employed… and we’re now revisiting our finances.

As some of you know, celiac disease is expensive. Whether you’re eating more fresh fruits and vegetables (as opposed to cheaper, highly processed foods) or buying special gluten-free products, you can expect to spend (on average) a minimum of $2000 more per year maintaining the diet. This figure might be less if you’re savvy about what you buy and where you shop.

When you think about it, Americans really don’t spend much on food compared to other cultures. We spend more money on homes, cars, and vacations while relying on cheap and fast foods.

My food hero, Michael Pollan, states that Americans “spend less than 10 percent of their income on food” and less than thirty minutes preparing meals. Italians, the French and Spanish all spend at least 14 to 17 percent of their income on food.

It’s a trade-off for many of us.

Food, however, is not a trade-off for some. Friends of ours spend about $900 per month on groceries, buying organic whole foods, and environmentally friendly home and body-care products.

That may sound shocking but they’re just investing in health, and that’s worth a lot more than sinking money into a car, which has far a shorter life span.

***

Now, there are ways to save if you just can’t spend much on the gluten-free diet.

You can survive on the gluten-free diet eating whole foods found in the produce aisle and gluten-free grains, nuts, beans, and meats. Obviously the more you depend on packaged processed foods, the more you’ll spend. You don’t have to feel as though survival means relying on expensive packaged foods touting a gluten-free label. This is a misperception.

***

We’ll have to spend less on expensive gluten-free packaged foods, make fewer trips to gluten-free bakeries, and learn how to shop for whole foods more frugally. Some things, like packaged breads and gluten-free flours, will remain on our grocery list. But other things, like pizza crust, we can make ourselves for less.

Speaking of packaged bread products, I just discovered a gluten-free, lactose-free, casein-free, and peanut-free tortilla. One package of these will last you six bean burritos or sandwiches so it may be worth the investment!

French Meadow Tortillas

Where to find: Kowalski’s

Cost: $5.35