The key to gluten-free cooking is simple: take a little bit of homework on your part, a dash of extra effort, and dump in a whole lot of creativity - voila! Youre a gluten-free gourmet! But some of the greatest culinary challenges are for those meals-on-the-run, which seem to be the most common kind sometimes. Kids with Celiac Disease has extensive menu suggestions for all meals and snacks, but the following is a short excerpt of on-the-go snack ideas:

• Chips
  • There are many flavors of gluten-free chips available at grocery stores!
• string cheese
• Taquitos, quesadillas, tacos, tamales (made with corn tortillas - they travel well)
• Nachos
• Corn Nuts
• Raisins and other dried fruit
• Chex mix
  • There is a gluten-free cereal available at many grocery stores or health food markets thats just like Chex--make the mix as you would Chex mix.
• Popcorn
• Cheese cubes with toothpicks in them and rice crackers
• Fruit rolls
• Lettuce wrapped around ham, cheese, turkey, or roast beef
• Rice cakes (check with the manufacturer; not all are gluten-free)
• Hard-boiled eggs or deviled eggs
• Applesauce
• Apples dipped in caramel or peanut butter (if youre sending apples in a lunchbox, remember to pour lemon juice over the slices; that will keep them from turning brown)
• Individually packaged pudding
• Jello
• Yogurt
• Fruit cups (individually packaged cups are great for lunchboxes)
• Fruit snacks (like Farleys brand)
• High-protein bars (e.g., Tigers Milk, GeniSoy)
• Nuts
• Marshmallows
• Trail mix
  • Combine peanuts, M&Ms, dried fruit, chocolate chips, and other trail mix items for a great on-the-go snack.
    - Beware of commercial trail mixes--they often roll their date pieces in oat flour.
• The occasional candy bar or other junk food treat (see the next chapter for information on safe junk food)