Healthy snacks to take on travel

[jkirk]

My husband is gluten intolerant (among other food allergies!) and we love to travel. It seems that the majority of 'snacks' out there are rice-based (which aren't very healthy). Does anyone know of some really healthy snacks that could pack well? Like bars? We haven't seen much that impresses us, leading me to my next question:

We're thinking about starting up our own line of healthy snacks. What would you most want to see in a convenient snack? Besides taste (of course!), what is important? Is it important that it pack well? Be healthy? Not require refrigeration? Anyone that provides input to the above I will put on our list to get a first shot at trying out any foods we develop.

Thanks!
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Julie Lenzer Kirk

[Linda]

Hi jkirk,

My son is new to the Gluten-free diet, and will be starting grade one in a week.
For us, I think the important things in a snack are:
-nutrition
-taste
-it should travel well in a backpack or lunch bag
-it should be affordable
-available in Canada
-and...no peanuts. We can eat peanuts at our house, but peanuts are "discouraged" at school.

Our snacks lately (other than fruit) have been Yoplait minigo yogurt or yogurt tubes, Sun-Rype Fruit to Go or Energy to Go, and on occasion cheddar flavoured rice chips. I have found out that ALL Yoplait and Sun-Rype products are GF. I am not sure if they are available in the States or not.

[Andi]

A few recommendations for your husband...
One of my favorite snacks are Snyder's of Hanover Veggie Crisps (they look like ruffles chips, but have spinach and beet? powder to make them colored). I saw GF pretzels at the store the other day, but they were $4.50 a bag so I didn't buy any....maybe one of these days when I get a pretzel craving. Pretzels travel pretty well though so maybe for a trip....Veggie Crisps are GF. They aren't super nutritious, but they are fairly satisfying. Snyder's of Hanover makes several GF snacks, which are listed on their website. I don't know about travelability! I guess if you put them in a reusable container (like the Ziploc or glad plastic "leftovers" containers) they would do pretty well. They're thicker than regular chips so they don't crumble or smash quite as easily. There were hardly any crumbs at the bottom of the 2 lb bag I bought!
I have seen GF cereal/breakfast bars at the store, but have not tried them yet.
Does he like nuts? Those travel well and are nutritious and filling.
Dried fruit?

I would like to put my daughters (ages 3 & 1) on a GF diet, but my biggest deterrent is the cost of GF food. It's nice to think - well, they can just eat whole foods, but everywhere we go, people are handing out crackers and cookies, which means I have to have a substitute or I'm going to be dealing with lots of resistance from my little munchkins.
I would love to see a GF goldfish-like sub stitute....probably best if it's also dairy free since the two intolerances often are found together, but something in fun shapes with a kid-friendly taste. If there is something out there already, I haven't found it.
I was so excited when I found the Mi-Del GF arrowroot animal cookies, but my kids don't like them (I do though!)....that's the only thing I've found that's close.
Back to your husband - Mi-Del also makes pecan cookies and gingersnaps that are GF if your husband likes those kinds of cookies. Newman's Own makes GF fig bars (like newtons). I haven't tried them, but they would probably travel a little better than chips!

Hooray for you to try to create some better options out there!
Because I have small children, my priorities for snacks are:
reasonably priced
kid-friendly
nutritious (this IS very important, but if it's just the snack that we carry around for substitutes, it's not the most important - they eat very healthy at home)

Good luck to you!
Andi

[skbird]

Check out Mrs. Mays nut crunches. They sell them at Costco, Sams Club, Whole Foods, and I think Cost Plus. They are great - they are nuts and sesame seeds mixed with some dehydrated cane juice, only have 4g sugar per serving, and between 4 and 8g protein. I have had the cashew ones, the almond ones and the pumpkin seed ones (my fav, also the highest protein). They come in bigger bags and also smaller ones, good for lunches, etc. I love 'em!
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Stephanie

[daughteroftheking]

I enjoy traveling as well and find it hard to take a lot especially when flying. The biggest thing is finding good things that don't have to stay cold. Also, things like cereal and other dried goods are easily broken, so finding a good way to package them to keep them safe when traveling would be important.

When I've traveled, I have learned to pack a sack lunch because most airlines and airports don't have anything for celiac's to eat unfortunately. All I have figured out to take with me has been fruit, trail mix, gluten free pretzels, and Glutino apple or blueberry bars. If anyone has some better suggestions I would love it!

As far as long trips, I try to take a bag of dried foods w/ me like cereal, pasta, muffins, bread, etc. so I have that avaliable. It get's hard to pack that sort of thing though without having it smashed, cumbled, or dried out. So I wish there was a better way to travel with things like this! If you have any ideas, please let me know! Thanks

[aztecprincess]

[Guest]

Organic Food Bars are really great to travel with!
www.organicfoodbar.com
They can also be found at Whole Foods. I also really like Alpsnacks (really healthy and tasty) and Sharkies Organic Energy Fruit Chews. Larabars are pretty good too.

[paw]

[Guest]

It would be nice to have snacks that are nutritious, easy to travel with, tastes good, and have no preservatives or dried fruit in them. Most of us have other food allergies or dietary restrictions, so I'd keep it as simple as possible. The additives seem to get to most of us. I know they do with me. I encourage you in your quest for making gluten free snacks that are easy all the way around. Praying that you will discover just what you need to make. Blessings of hope and peace to you and yours. Thanks for your efforts!