Going To Florida!

[StrongerToday]

Hooray - I'm leaving Michigan (where it's 7 degrees w/ the windchill right now) for balmy Florida next week! I have long flights there and back with a big layover.

What's your favorite tip for being stuck in an airport and planes all day? Any recommendations on eating out when I get there? (I rarely eat out at home, but will be eating out a lot there.) I did get a hotel room w/ fridge and micro and am thinking of packing a toaster too, as I'm planning on bringing my own bread, cashew butter, etc. Of course, I'm the only one of our group of five that has "food challenges" so I don't want to hamper their fun by insisting I just eat in the room.

I'm a little worried, but looking forward to having fun and getting away from it all up here. I'd appreciate any advice.... thanks!

[minibabe]

When you get there, survey the area and see what restaurants are in the area and give them a call. I am sure that places will be very accomodating. Maybe you could google the area that you are going to be in and see what restaurants are in the area and give them a call before you leave. Good Luck

As for the airport, just eat some of your snacks pretzels are one of my favorites

Amanda NY

[marciab]

When I travel, I take my Hamilton Beach personal blender and protein powder. You can always find fruit to make a smoothie. Enjoy your trip. Marcia

[pixiegirl]

Well my travel tips are: check out the restaurants in the area you are staying BEFORE you get down there, you can find a lot of info on the internet and locate the chains near you that do gluten-free, have their addresses and phone numbers written down. I often call them or e-mail them prior to getting down there.

I buy small travel packages of gluten-free salad dressing so I can pretty much eat salad anywhere.

I always travel with a small carry on bag and pack in a few various gluten-free type power bars (like lara or whatever you like), cheese, a few gluten-free cookies. (bring enough of this for the return trip) Very little food at airports I consider safe, when I was traveling last month at least 2 of the airports i was in didn't even have a safe salad, they came with the crutons already on them!

I carry gluten-free soy sauce then I can eat sushi.

Have fun, Susan

[Mango04]

Pack a big cooler full of food to bring with you on the plane.

Try to find a health food store or a good grocery store as soon as you get there.

Make sure you always have a little bit of food with you, everywhere you go, even if it's just an energy bar, a piece of fruit, a bag of almonds etc. That way you can partake in all the fun stuff without feeling like you need to run back to your room for food...and you won't be tempted to eat something potentially unsafe out of hunger.

If you can find them, carry around packets of safe salad dressing as well.

[floridanative]

Were do you guys get these gluten-free dressing packets? I can't find them at Whole Foods. Do you have to order them online, and if so from what site? I need some myself but didn't realize they would not be in the stores where the gluten-free dressings are. Luckily the only time I've been out to eat so far we went to a place with gluten-free menu items and two of their salads had gluten-free dressings. But I'm afraid to go out again without my own dressing. I need to order like yesterday.

[pixiegirl]

Travel sized servings:

This page of the Gluten free pantry has Annie's dressings in travel size (at end of page)

Open Original Shared Link

A lot of travel sizes, I heard they are going to carry gluten-free soy sauce soon. (I bought my Annie's salad dressings here but they are no longer on the web site... at least I couldn't find them)

Open Original Shared Link

Hope this helps a little bit

Susan

[Becky6]

Those are all great ideas! I would bring fruit leathers with me as they are a tasy easy to carry snack. And any bars or other things that would fit easy in a purse or bag. Def look at restaurants via the internet ahead of time. You don't want to be stuck while you are there!

[Guest nini]

a baked potato is also a usually generally safe food at most restaurants... just ask them if they are coated with anything before being baked. They should be plain or just coated with salt and butter... also baked sweet potatos... you can also ask at the restaurants how their meat is prepared... is it marinated ahead of time? (this is always chancey, only you can decide if it's worth the risk) then if it is not marinated you can ask that it be prepared in a clean pan or on foil... with no seasonings except salt and pepper... steamed veggies (without sauce) are also usually a safe bet...

See if you can't convince your group to go to safe restaurants that have gluten-free menus like Carraba's, Outback, Bonefish Grill, and PF Changs...

I also like the idea of carrying your salad dressings But always make sure they do not mix the salads with the croutons in them and request yours be mixed in a clean bowl.

When we went to Florida, we drove and I packed a cooler full of foods and bags of my pasta and other snacks... I always kept something like an energy bar or fruit snacks in my purse for times when we got stuck out somewhere and I couldn't reasonably find something safe to eat... Didn't happen often, in Sarasota where we went there are a lot of gluten-free options! Had lunch one day at Whole Food's salad bar, they had all their gluten-free stuff LISTED on the salad bar as gluten-free! and it was away from the gluten containing foods, thus minimizing risk of cc (I mean it was on an entirely different salad bar!) We also ate at Outback and Bonefish Grill and a mexican restaurant called El Adobe while we were there... El Adobe was my fave restaurant as a kid and now I know why! Most of their food (except for those prepared with flour tortillas) are naturally gluten-free... they had a separate fryer for their chips and the meat was seasoned with fresh herbs and spices and tomatos and onions... even the sauces were safe! (I spent a long time on the phone with the manager making sure he understood what I was asking and he double checked everything before we got there and my daughter and I were able to have a feast.

With just a little planning ahead it can be done... try to have fun and relax (that is my best advice!)

[floridanative]

Thanks so much pixiegirl!! I ordered my dressing packets and the teriaki sauce from the GFP . And I've been looking all over for packets of honey to buy for an upcoming trip. They have Sue Bee honey (naturally gluten-free) on the minimus.biz site. Also, on that site the kraft dressings are less than Annies from GFP so I may see which ones are gluten-free and order some of those when I order my honey packets. Thanks again!!

[StrongerToday]

These are great tips, thanks.

And today it's 5 degrees with a -13 windchill.... at this point I don't care if I'm eating rice cakes and peanut butter... at least I'll be warm!

[jenvan]

I do several things when I go on vaca:

-Find chain restaurants with gluten-free menus (like pf changs etc) and local wild oats or health food stores

-Contact a local support group for area tips etc if there are local rest. with gluten-free menus or are accomodating

-Pack food! I take lots of snacks and I take things I can supplement a meal out for me--say, a thai kitchen noodle bowl (all I need it hot water for it--any restaurant or fast food joint can provide that..and it helps supplement a salad per se). In addition to the snacks I pack salad dressing and Bragg's soy sauce.

-I call my hotel, explain I have food allergies and get them to put a fridge in my room, if there isn't one already.

-I also bought two coolers--one is large and plugs into your car and regular outlet. I use that for long trips. I also have a smaller, foldable travel cooler. I use those frozen packs to keep stuff cold. It works great! I took it on the plane with another carry on recently.

[floridanative]

Thanks for all the great tips Jen! I already told my hubby he will now be taking a carry on bag for all plane rides with me....to hold all my food! I'll ask him for the car cooler for my b-day, great idea too! Now do you know if Bragg's soy sauce comes in packets too? I think this might be a great idea for me. Once city we'll be in is very aware of Celiac so I'm not too concerned about getting fed there. But the longest part of the trip is somewhere I'm told is not very Celiac friendly for dining out. The trip has been planned for two years and our tix are non-refundable ($400 to switch to another locale) so we're going and I will just have to make the best of it. I'm not so worried about b'fast or lunch as fruit and salads are fine for me plus I'll have my own dressing and snacks to supplement but dining out for dinner will be fairly challenging. If I had soy sauce at least I could have plain fish and jazz it up a bit myself. The staple of the city is a bread product but luckily I went once before on a layover so I got to have their specialty pre dx!

[jenvan]

I have not seen Bragg's in packets. I do have a full size bottle for home and a smaller bottle for travel. It is a little bottle with a pump. Go here to see my smaller one, you can order online--its the 6 oz bottle: Open Original Shared Link PS--You can get Annie's salad dressing in packets at the gluten-free pantry online.

[floridanative]

Thanks Jen! I ordered my dressing from GFP yesterday along with their gluten-free teriaki sauce. I got three types of Annie's dressings to see which ones I like and I'll order larger quantities to stock up once I've tasted them. I'll check out the travel bottle of soy sauce but I'm thinking it requires refrigertation. If not, I'll get it for sure! Thanks again!

[StrongerToday]

Thanks for the tip! I ordered my dressings and the rep said I should have them in time for my trip. She also suggested I try their new "Ritz Cracker"... can't wait!

[StrongerToday]

Floridanative... (I tried to PM you, but it wouldn't let me). You don't happen to live near Cocoa Beach? Any dining suggestions you could share?

[Alvina214]

Also, just in addition

www.food4celiacs.com

is a place in the midwest, a physical store you can shop,

as well as phone/fax or call in orders...and they ship to you.

They carry the Annie's dressing packets...and the owners are Celiac positive...as well as some other allergans. I found the lady to be very helpful when asking questions about food, taste, and non food items.

they have a catalog you can download and print a copy of...

I finally made it there after knowing about the place and wanting to go but no time to...

spent 100 bucks easy. Bought lots of snack bars, crackers, cereal, loaf of bread to try, frozen pizza, etc.

My granny said...you aren't starving...you got lots to eat...hehehehe. Sometimes I agree.

Good Luck Everyone...in your travels and daily life!

[GlutenFreeAl]

Food4Celiacs is under construction and you can't browse the store right now!

Does anyone know anywhere else we can order Annie's packets from??

[StrongerToday]

Food4Celiacs is under construction and you can't browse the store right now!

Does anyone know anywhere else we can order Annie's packets from??

I ordered mine from Gluten Free Pantry