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As I'm getting more familiar with finding things that are gluten-free and dairy-free for a family member, I feel so fortunate that San Luis Obispo is so understanding on dietary needs at restaurants and grocery stores. I think if I were in a different town, in a different state, it would be a very different and difficult journey.

Here's a list of grocery stores that I've found to have gluten-free snacks in San Luis Obispo County so far:

1. Grocery Outlet - The Grocery Outlet that we frequent is in Arroyo Grande and they have a whole side of an aisle dedicated to gluten-free products! I was so amazed and everything was priced right. You can find almond flour and other special flours for the best deals here. There were really cool products that I've never heard before that were gluten-free.
   
   Currently there are several Grocery Outlet locations in San Luis Obispo County and they are located in the following cities: Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Los Osos, Paso Robles, and San Luis Obispo.
2. California Fresh Market - I feel that when I am looking up recipes for wheat substitutions, I can always rely on California Fresh Market to find random things like arrowroot powder and gluten-free pasta. These substitutions can be pricey here at California Fresh Market, however.
   
   They also carry a lot of vegan popular options like vegan butter, and other vegan snacks for those who are on a plant-based diet. Pro-tip: find more gluten free bread in their freezer section! At a couple of the non-freeze aisles, we enjoy looking through gluten-free snacks. Our favorite snacks there for our family member who has to stay away from gluten are cookies by a brand called Enjoy Life. There are currently two California Fresh Market locations in San Luis Obispo County: Pismo Beach and San Luis Obispo City.
3. VONS - Amazingly, VONS offer an array of different gluten-free vegan snacks as well. Best of all, you can usually find one in many cities in San Luis Obispo County. The one I usually frequent has been putting their gluten-free options at the very top rack in the snack aisle. I'm so appreciative of this. A lot of the items under this area are also vegan.
   
4. CVS - I know this seems like such a random place here on my top places for gluten-free snacks but I've found this one particular brand called MADE GOOD that has these amazing granola snacks that are individually wrapped and I've always been able to find them at CVS. It's free from nuts, gluten-free and organic. These are great to carry on the go or on the plane. I find it very hard to find boxes of vegan or gluten-free snacks that have them individually wrapped inside. This is especially important if you want to make sure you're giving the correct snacks to kids who are allergic to particular food items.
   
5. Target - Target is a really great and reliable place to find gluten-free and vegan food products and a convenient place if you're looking for other things besides groceries. What I especially like about Target is you can find many of these products online and have them deliver to your home! This makes it very easy when you can't get to the store, especially with a busy schedule. No physically scavenging around a whole grocery store required! There are 2 Target locations: one is San Luis Obispo City and the other is located in Paso Robles in San Luis Obispo County.
6. Walmart -  The Walmart that I frequent also has an area where I was able to find gluten-free alternatives in one area. It was so helpful and easy to find. They even had gluten-free hamburger buns. There are two Walmart locations in San Luis Obispo County: one in Arroyo Grande and the other one is in Paso Robles.