Back Up Food

[Telith]

So I work in Theatre, the hours are awkward, the locations are odd, and some days I just don't have time or energy to pack snacks/ a meal before hand.

 

Before I went Gluten Free I often kept protein bars in my bags to supplement a meal because they have a long enough shelf life that I can keep two or three in my common bags and generally forget about them.

 

I know Lara Bars and Kind Bars exist, but the fruit base gets to me after a while, and nut allergies are more common in my line of work than Celiac's.  I've had some luck with Luna's Protein bars (Yay chocolate chip cookie dough) but the calorie count they have is on the low side for what I want from a tiding over snack.

 

Does anyone have any advice or a favorite go to emergency food for the days when life is just unkind?

[LauraTX]

Welcome Telith  So just to clarify, are you saying you don't want to bring nuts to work to avoid exposing others?  Nice thing of you to do if that is the case.  I, too, get sick of the fruit bars like Lara bars after a while.

 

If you are a cooking type, you can have pretty good luck making your own.  You can use sunbutter as the base to avoid nuts, and other than that there really are endless recipes you can find online and adjust based on your likes.  A lot are oat or quinoa based but just do a google search and you will bring up a ton of recipes.  Just make a big batch, wrap individually in wax paper, and throw one in your bag/pocket every day to eat at break.  The Enjoy Life Foods brand makes a lot of good top 8 allergen free + gluten-free bars, but I don't think they are protein/meal replacement ones.

 

When I need on the go snacks, nuts are my primary protein source usually.  But I am a fan of old wisconson brand jerky- they have turkey bites and sticks I like a lot.  If you have space to pack a lunch cooler you could do hummus or another bean dip, or cheese to snack on.  But my personal favorite of stranded without food snacks are Van's chocolate chip granola bars and a banana.  I am also a huge fan of Snyders gluten-free pretzels and keep those on hand, but they are not highly nutritious.

[mamaw]

We  love Comfort Bars.......but  you have  to mailorder...  they  are  coated in Italian   Chocolate......  Not  sure  what  all , you  avoiding  but  a few  other  bars  are Quest , pure fit,  Chia  & many more.... Jerky, cheese  & crackers, veggies  with a  side of  dip,  hummus & crackers.wild  salmon   or tuna, protein  shakes, fruit,  oatmeal(gluten-free)  breakfast  bars. Plenty of recipes  on the  net...salads....Go picnic has  boxed  gluten-free   lunch/snacks......

Luna Bars????  didn't know  those  were gluten-free????  Lara bars  yes  gluten-free....

[LauraTX]

Luna Bars????  didn't know  those  were gluten-free????  Lara bars  yes  gluten-free....

Some of the Luna protein bars are gluten-free.  The cookie dough ones are really good.

[nvsmom]

Hard boiled eggs or extra scarmbled eggs from breakfast, pepperoni sticks, half an avocado,trail mix and Lara bars are my go too snacks.  If I'm organized I'll make myself a smoothie in the morning, but that requires effort.... Some mornings I just don't "do" effort.  

[mamaw]

LauraTX

 

I'll  check out  the Luna Bars.....I guess I  never looked  at  them with so many other  to  choose  from....thanks

[NoGlutenCooties]

The Luna Protein Bar line is gluten free:  Open Original Shared Link

The regular Luna Bars are not.

 

I don't know if they have cheese curd available where you live but they will survive in a bag for the better part of a day without an iceblock and be fine.  In the winter months you can order it from Helluva Good - they make the very best cheese curd, IMO.

[mamaw]

Well,  that is  why I  never  knew  Luna  Bars  were  gluten-free.. I  have never seen  the protein  ones!!!!    thanks  for the link

[JodyM75]

This is a great thread.  I 2nd the vote on hardboiled eggs.  I have one sitting at my desk all day unrefridgerated with no problem.  Cheese is also a good option.  I need to look up making my own protein bars.

[Nikki2777]

When I get really busy, I try to keep a few go picnics on hand.  I empty out the boxes into a ziploc bag to make it easier to carry around.  I don't much like bars, though I'm glad Kind bars are easy to find in an emergency.  I also sometimes bring 100 cal packs of peanuts or almonds along to get a little protein.  Crunchmaster crackers in a ziploc.  Tapaz 2 Go makes these gluten-free hummus packs.  they're pricey but will do in a pinch.

[CathyO]

I carry food with me any time we're going to be gone for a while, just in case.  You never know. (I over prepare for everything!)
My staple take alongs are:
Jerky

Crunchmaster crackers

Cheese cubes

Pepperoni slices or gluten free sausage cubes

Almonds

 

I also buy envelopes of salmon (tuna comes in them, but I am allergic to tuna).
I can eat it just like it is with my crackers, or if we're somewhere that everyone else is eating, I nab a squeeze pack of mayonnaise.

 

Fruit cups

Hardboiled eggs

Gluten free cookies

Nabisco Rice thin crackers

Potato chips

Some peanut butter in a little plastic container with some cut up celery

 

I bought a small insulated bag to take along with me ... and I also started carrying a bigger purse so I can just slip a baggie or two of nuts or crackers or cookies in there.

 

Others have said they take the veggie / fruit squeeze packs. Intended for kids, they can give some energy and stave off hunger.

 

Staving off hunger = choosing to not eat the wrong thing + risking exposure
 

[LauraTX]

Ha!  I bought a bigger purse for my snacks, too!

[jebby]

Hi,

Zing Bars are gluten-free, soy free and dairy free. Can be ordered by the case on Amazon. I discovered them last year and they are my "go to" bar for traveling, working long shifts, etc. after getting tired of Larabars and Kind Bars.

[GottaSki]

So I work in Theatre, the hours are awkward, the locations are odd, and some days I just don't have time or energy to pack snacks/ a meal before hand.

 

Before I went Gluten Free I often kept protein bars in my bags to supplement a meal because they have a long enough shelf life that I can keep two or three in my common bags and generally forget about them.

 

I know Lara Bars and Kind Bars exist, but the fruit base gets to me after a while, and nut allergies are more common in my line of work than Celiac's.  I've had some luck with Luna's Protein bars (Yay chocolate chip cookie dough) but the calorie count they have is on the low side for what I want from a tiding over snack.

 

Does anyone have any advice or a favorite go to emergency food for the days when life is just unkind?

 

Welcome!

 

I like to pack a bit of real food - simply.  

 

When time is available - bake chicken thighs with salt, pepper and garlic.  Once cooled, throw two at a time in a sandwich sized ziploc, Freeze.  

 

On the way out the door...throw one of those frozen packs in a insulated lunch bag or simply wrap in a paper towel.  If a Micro is available when ready to eat, then warm.  Otherwise I have found they taste quite good cold.

 

I do many other things like this....but my go to...

 

that I leave in all go-bags and every vehicle is the squeeze baby/toddler foods that are available now -- we call them astronaut food -- they are awesome -- hubs has started stealing to throw in his cycling kit.

 

Oh...and almonds with salt and/or sugar in ziplocks.

 

Hang in there

[IrishHeart]

This is a great thread.  I 2nd the vote on hardboiled eggs.  I have one sitting at my desk all day unrefridgerated with no problem.  Cheese is also a good option.  I need to look up making my own protein bars.

 

maybe you could try these! I make these often and they are delicious and contain fiber and a host of nutrients and vitamins. A, C, D, E , selenium, magnesium, and Omegas, blah blah blah (i.e. good stuff!) 

 

Giant Granola Oatmeal Cookies (adapted/tinkered with from various gluten-free recipe sources)

Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free

Makes 12.

 

Dry Ingredients:

2 cups gluten-free Quick Cooking Oats (Bob's Red Mill, for example)

1 cup Almond or coconut Flour ( I like Honeyville)

1/3 cup Organic Coconut Palm Sugar (or use Light Brown Sugar)

1/4 cup Quinoa Flakes (I use Ancient Harvest)

1/4 cup Ground Flax seed meal (or Chia Seeds or Ground Hemp Seeds. ) I get them all Certified gluten-free from nuts.com

2 tsp. Ground Cinnamon

3/4 tsp. Celtic Sea Salt

1 cup Dried Fruit of choice: pick one --or use a combination to equal 1 cup Raisins, Golden Raisins, (SunMaid) or Dried cranberries, Dried apples, apricots, cherries, pineapple, mango, etc. 

1/2 cup Seeds or Nuts of choice – pick one or use a combination to equal 1/2 cup (Pepitas, Sunflower Seeds, Chopped Pistachios, walnuts, Cashews, Macadamia Nuts, Pecans, etc) (again, I like nuts.com)

1/4 cup cacao nibs (certified gluten-free at nuts.com!!) or dark Chocolate Chunks (I use Enjoy life in my baking)

1 Tsp. Xanthan or guar gum (optional--but not necessary)

 

Wet ingredients:

1 egg, beaten

2/3 cup Cold-Pressed Unrefined Coconut Oil or Canola Oil

1/2 cup Grade B Maple Syrup

1 TBSLP. Vanilla (McCormick's is fine)

 

Directions:

 

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  

2. Pam spray 2 muffin top pans with regular PAM. (not baking pam--it has wheat in it!!)

    

3.  Sift together in large bowl: all dry ingredients.

4.  Make small well in center of dry mixture.  Add: beaten egg , oil, maple syrup, and vanilla.

5.  Squish/mix together with hands.  Press into prepared muffin pans. I wet my hands a bit to squish them a bit to form big “cookies”.

6.  Bake for about  12--15 minutes, or until edges look slightly golden. Center will look a bit undone.

7. Let sit for at least 30 minutes on cooling rack before removing cookies from the tins.

8. Cookies store well in a tupperware container and they freeze well, too.

 

The muffin top pans look like this 

Open Original Shared Link

 

PS I am NOT a paid spokesperson for nuts. com but they really, really do "owe" me. 

my G F mom makes them and doles them out to everyone. She gives me some "cred" at least.