Traveling Food Ideas

[daughteroftheking]

I enjoy traveling and I have to have a gluten free diet. I have found 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 is 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

[The Edifying Conscience]

I have a softsided cooler on wheels that I use when traveling. I've found that it's better to take food in the frozen state as it stays fresh and tends not to break. I normally pack all food in the cooler even if it's not frozen. When I return home I sometimes stuff it in my suitcase or fill it with things I've bought.

When traveling by car or air I normally brings a meal with me. Grilled chicken is good because it can be eaten hot or cold, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, cheese, pretzels and something sweet. I also buy a bag a gf candy to take along when traveling by car--bad habbit. If you have a Trader Joes or Whole foods or even a Walmart near you they sell those boil-in-the-bag vegetarian entrees. One brand is Tasty Bites. I've found them to be good eaten at room temperature or hot and it doesn't matter if they get smashed. They are far more nutritious when served with brown rice which makes them a complete protein, but that's not always an option.

There was also a recent thread on disaster food that may have some ideas for you. A couple of suggestions included Dinty Moore Beef Stew, beef jerkey, protein drinks, canned soups, etc.

Hope this helps.
TEC

[Guest]

I travel quite alot for business and have to bring my own food on the plane. I actually bought a baby bottle black bag made by munchkin that has an ice pack in it and I was able to pack a sandwich and bring fruit snacks, raisins and fritos with me. I purchased the bag at Target and it stated that it kept the bottles cold for hours which was true since I travel to CA and the ice pack was still intact after 8 hours. The bag cost about $10.

When I travel by car, I puchased a travel fridge that plugs into the adapter and I fill it with all sorts of food and beverages. I purchased one for $30 at Target. It has 2 settings - you can have it for cold foods ot hot foods but need to wait 2 hours before switching the setting from one mode to the other.

[csocain]

Great travel ideas! Thanks. I bought a Rival vacuum seal Seal-a-Meal yesterday so that I could freeze individual size servings here at home. I'm the only one who has to be gluten free in my home so foods, especially breads, spoil before I can eat it all. By using the vacuum seal bags I can use what I need and save the rest. Vacuum sealing foods for travel would be a great idea too if you are traveling by car. Wouldn't be able to open them on a plane since we aren't allowed to have sharp objects on the airlines. Vacuum sealing would eliminate the problem of crumbling everywhere too. Just be careful when you vacuum seal breads, muffins, or the like. They can get TOO squished if you aren't careful. They advise freezing breads before vacuum sealing them or stopping the vacuum sealing process before it gets to be too much for the breads, etc. I am really looking forward to using the vacuum seal machine. Got it at WalMart for $40 plus the rolls of bag material. Praying that you'll find lots of convenient ways to take things with you. Blessings!
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Carolyn

Surviving And Thriving By God's Grace

[csocain]

Have you tried Orville Redenbacher's Caramel or Peanut Caramel corn cakes? They are delicious. The mini size would probably travel much easier than the large ones.
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Carolyn

Surviving And Thriving By God's Grace

[Professor]

[csocain]

I can eat Fritos and Lay's potato chips safely. No problems. Praying that you can too. Blessings of hope and grace to you.
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Carolyn

Surviving And Thriving By God's Grace

[paw]

Lays stax chips (like Pringles) come in a plastic tube and they are made on a separate line that does not process gluten items. Check them out or email the company for more info. Those might not make you react.

[Professor]