What To Take To Eat On A Trip?

[emcmaster]

I'm going to Vegas in about 3 weeks and am at a loss for what I can bring with me to eat. I can't eat out at restaurants unless it is something ridiculously simple like a veggie-only salad and fresh fruit.

Here's what I *can't* eat that would be easily packable:

-nuts

-anything that isn't virtually fat-free

-dairy

-soy

-grains (for now at least)

What I'm planning on bringing in a soft-sided cooler to keep in the room and continuously fill with fresh ice:

-produce (apples, bell peppers, carrots, cucumbers, etc.)

-dried fruit (dates, apricots, cranberries)

-almond milk & egg white protein powder, plus a mini-blender (for protein shakes)

-Organic Fiber Bars (even though they're expensive)

Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm used to going to restaurants with groups of friends and not eating - that's not a problem. I just worry that I'm going to be starving all the time or that my food will get confiscated at the airport (I need to call on that next week).

Thanks

[daffadilly]

Maybe call your hotel & talk to the chef & see what he can do for you. (you might be pleasantly surprised)

If he can help you out, I would tip him well, especially if at the end of the trip you have not gotten sick. !!

Are you also vegetarian?, if not Hormel has that great package turkey meat that has no preservatives - geez that stuff is good & I have gotten no reactions from it.

raisins

those little grape tomatoes - they travel well

cooked meals that are frozen in serving size containers to heat in the microwave

(you can also layer baked sweet potato mashed, rice, vegetable - this freezes really well)

Since you are flying in you might need to just buy everything there. Maybe contact the local LasVegas celiac group for stores etc.

[tiffjake]

I went to vegas in July and took all of my own food, but everything I took has something in it that you can't have!

But I will say that the hotel (we stayed at the MGM Grand) gave me a fridge and a microwave, and worked with me on ordering from room service (I got hard boiled eggs, and my hubby would get steak and eggs and I would eat some of the steak). So I think you should talk to the hotel A LOT and see what they would be willing to help you out with. They were really great to me!

(I DID have to talk to several people before I got someone who could actually "make things happen" but everyone along the way was nice, they just didn't know if they could help me and would send me to someone else).

And if you eat out, There is an Outback on the strip (across the street from the Mirage), and they made me a great gluten-free meal....but I am not sure how that could fit into your diet needs....just an option. There is also a PF Changs (right next to/kinda in front of the Aladdin).

About your food and the airport....you COULD ship something to the hotel about 3 days before you leave (priority mail is 2-3 days) and ask them to hold it for you. The really nice hotels will have no problem with that.

Have fun!!!!

[eKatherine]

You might find it simpler to visit a supermarket and natural food store there, rather than bringing all your food in.

I have stayed in a room with a microwave and refrigerator. I was boiling eggs in a cup, which just took a few minutes.

[Guest cassidy]

What do you usually eat at home? I have been traveling a lot lately, including by plane with the new restrictions. We were out of the country when it happened, and we had no problem bringing food back in. I have flown again since then and just checked my cooler since you can't have any liquids. They didn't question it at all.

I do usually bring things that you can eat, but here are some ideas.

I make casseroles like lasagna and freeze them in saran wrap in meal sized portions. Then I bring a plastic container and microwave each meal in the container, washing it out in between. I'm sure there will be a microwave in your hotel, even if it is in the kitchen and someone would be able to microwave your food. Even if you made chicken and veggies or whatever you usually eat, that should work for meals.

The canned beans and rice (not sure if you can have rice) from Eden Organic is great. That again can be heated up in the plastic container.

I eat a lot of salads. I pre-cook and freeze portions chicken that I marinate with tomatoes and peppers so it is saucy and tasty. Then I bring a bag of lettuce and a bag of carrots. I put it all together and have a salad. This also works with lunch meat and you can add any veggies you want. There are canned veggies that have corn, beans and tomatoes that are also good on top (if you can tolerate)

I bring cereal in baggies and then get milk in the little plastic cups in the hotel room. I add a little cereal at a time and eventually I eat it all. That also works with a carton of milk in the airport. Maybe there is some type of milk that you can eat?

Most nice hotels have minibars. I empty the mini bar and put my food in so I don't have to use ice. Also, I bring freezer packs and most of the time the top of the fridge is cold enough to re-freeze the freezer pack.

I would also bring whatever you usually eat. You can make it work, but it is tough. Good luck and have a great trip.

[momandgirls]

Hi - Just wanted to also suggest that you call your airline and ask about their policy on bringing food on the plane. We were also out of the country when the lastest episode happened and I wasn't allowed to bring perishable food onto the airplane and was not allowed to bring perishable food into the US (if you checked the bags with the food it was ok). Any packaged food was ok (fruit bars, etc.).Of course, no drinks were allowed either. The policies may vary by airline so I would check. It may just be easier to go grocery shopping when you get there.

[ravenwoodglass]

You have gotten some good advice and I want to second the idea of buying your fresh produce and such there. Even traveling by car I have had to throw out fruit when entering certain states and carting everything with you on a plane is going to be rough. What if your checked bags get lost and your food is in there. They are even making folks take sips from their babies formula I doubt you'll have an easy time of it trying to get food on the plane itself. Make sure your hotel room has a kitchenette and you should be fine. Personally I would not trust anything from any restaurant at this point in the US unless they specifically advertise that they cook for 'hard to feed folks'. Enjoy your trip and have fun and cook for yourself in your room.

[jesscarmel]

I'm also going to vegas in october for a wedding and was going to bring a hotpot and some pasta to cook up. thats what i did in my dorm room in college so i figured why not. i thought i would bring cheese and bread, crackers, cereal, lara bars, stuff like that. i can bring food on teh plane i think- just not liquids.

anyways let us know how vegas was.

jess

[CarlaB]

When we went to Vegas, my husband told them I had food allergies and they gave us a refrigerator to use while we were there for no charge. I understand most hotels have this available, but this is the only time I asked about one.