Canadian Smuggles Gluten-Free Food in from Buffalo!

It may sound strange... but thousands of Canadians do it.

Smuggle food in from the United States.*

The US has tons of products that we don't have here in Canada.  For whatever reason, the companies don't bother packaging and labeling products properly to sell in Canada... or maybe they haven't been approved by Canadian regulations.

I don't personally agree with making every day food purchases in the states if you are a Canadian.  Sure, food is cheaper down there... but this practice does nothing to strengthen the Canadian economy.  Standards are also completely different between Canada and the US so you really have to watch what you're buying.  (Check out what Brent from Grocery Store Guru has to say about cross border shopping.)

Anyway... I don't see anything wrong with picking up some items that just aren't available in stores in Ontario.

I posted about my visit last year - Part 1 covers the vendor fair I went to plus some products I picked up in Wegmans and Part 2 covers my visit to three different restaurants/fast food places in Buffalo.

So here goes... here's some stuff I picked up in the USA.

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Greens beer is freaking expensive.  $6.19 a bottle! Definitely not something most people would want to purchase on a regular basis but apparently it's good.  I was told, and I quote:

The Belgian ones are delicious! Especially the dark one. Guinness was my favourite beer, and it reminds me of a stout like Guinness. Love it!

So... it's gotta be good.  But for that price, not something I'd likely stock in my fridge regularly.

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Schar Cheese Bites are something that I will always pick up in the states whenever I go.  As I mentioned in my previous blog post about visiting Buffalo, they remind me of Goldfish crackers so if you have gluten-free children (or if you're a kid at heart, like me) you have to try them out!

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Wegmans was sold out of the Schar Ciabatta buns that I normally like to buy.  So I had to substitute with these Schar Classic White Rolls instead.  Haven't had a chance to try them out yet but looking forward to making some nice sandwiches :)

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These Schar Shortbread Cookies are a nice treat and they are not overly sweet.  They are excellent paired with tea or coffee.

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Wow, super cheap gluten-free Nature Valley Nut Crunch Bars.  I haven't seen these in Canada - anyone else?  Are they any good?  I haven't tried them.

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These hot cereals looked tasty but I didn't buy any.  I was trying to conserve space for things that really caught my eye.

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Chex is only $3.49 (regular price) in the US.  Most places in Ontario have it for nearly $6!  They also have other flavours over there... Cinnamon, Apple Cinnamon, Chocolate, Corn.  (Some stores in Ontario bring these over from the US but they are not legal to sell in Canada.)

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I bought the Luna Protein Bars in the Chocolate flavour.  Pretty good!! It's difficult to find gluten-free protein bars that are actually edible sometimes so this was a nice change.  And only $5.59 for a box!  It is packed with soy protein.

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mmmm super quick Annie's Mac and Cheese - you just toss it in the microwave and it's ready in under 5 minutes.  Apple Cinnamon Chex is a newer flavour that is only available in the States.  I sent this box to a friend who told me it was really good!

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Set of shelves offering gluten-free packaged food in Wegmans.

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A cookbook spotted in Wegmans.  It is just me or do out grocery stores in Ontario not seem to offer gluten-free cookbooks?

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Udi's also makes this granola, which is only available in the US, likely because of the Canadian labeling laws which prevent even pure oats from being labeled "gluten-free."

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Some gluten-free cookbooks in Wegmans grocery store.

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Gluten-free section in a store in Buffalo.

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Redbridge beer in Wegmans!  Only $8.99 for a 6 pack.  (It still makes me laugh that you can buy celery and beer in the same store.)

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Wegmans seems to have come out with their own line of gluten-free pasta products.

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A shot of the gluten-free aisle in Wegmans.

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I saw these Pebbles cereals at Tops I believe... they were probably at Wegmans too.  I didn't buy any of them but I think some of you would be interested to know that these are now labeled gluten-free and priced very reasonably.

*I claimed all foods at the border.   You may have to pay duty on all products purchased in the United States.

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What are some of your favourite gluten-free foods 
to pick up in US stores?