Christmas food shopping should feel exciting. For most people, it is about traditions, treats, and filling the house with food they love. But when you are gluten free, the experience can feel very different.
This Christmas, I found myself visiting nine different supermarkets trying to piece together what should have been a fairly straightforward festive shop. Instead of feeling inspired, I felt underwhelmed. Gluten free sections felt smaller, festive options were limited, and the overall experience was more stressful than it should have been.
In my latest podcast episode, I talk honestly about what gluten free Christmas food shopping was like this year. This is not a rant or a supermarket bashing exercise. It is a calm reflection on expectations versus reality, and how difficult seasonal food shopping can still be for people who need to eat gluten free for medical reasons.
I also share the results of a Facebook poll, where hundreds of people responded with their own experiences.
The episode covers:
- Visiting nine supermarkets and still feeling limited
- Shrinking gluten free sections at Christmas
- A lack of festive gluten free options
- Budget and access challenges
- Why consistency matters more than novelty
Most importantly, it is about inclusion. Christmas food shopping should not feel like hard work, and nobody should feel excluded during a time that is meant to be shared and joyful.
🎧 Listen to Episode 2. Nine Supermarkets Later. A Gluten Free Christmas Reality Check
If your Christmas food shop felt similar, you are very much not alone.
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