In The Wedding Party, Need Travel Friendly Food...

[tiffjake]

Ok guys, you are the best with food questions! I am eating a low sugar, low carb, (gluten free) diet. Mostly lean meats, veggies, salads, some low glycemic fruits, stuff like that. I will be traveling for a wedding soon, and I am in the wedding party, so I will be staying with everyone over night, and out of my own element. Any ideas for food? I know that I can take gluten-free snacks, but most are high in carbs, so I was looking for other ideas.....anyone?? The wedding (and where we will be staying) is a small southern ranch, so no close grocery store, so I need stuff that I can put in my travel mini-fridge, or does not need to be refrigerated. Thanks!!!!!! TiffJake

[Guest cassidy]

Are you flying or driving? That would make a big difference. If you are driving then I recommend making up some meals ahead of time and freezing them in meal-sized portions. I made crock pot chicken with salsa, beans, corn and carrots and froze it in little zip loc bags. Then I brought bag lettuce and put the chicken on the lettuce. The chicken thawed out pretty well in the little bags so I didn't have to microwave it, but it was also ok if I didn't have a fridge for a while. I like weird salads, so you could put what you like on it. That makes an easy low carb meal, and you can add cheese if you can have it.

Some snacks would be nuts, string cheese or other bite-size cheese, lunch meat that you could add to a salad or eat with cheese. Are Atkins protein shakes gluten free? I have no idea but those have a good amount of protein.

I don't like to eat snack food/finger food as meals, but somethings that is all you can do.

What do you usually eat at home? You can probably find a smart way of bringing whatever you usually eat with you.

Have fun at the wedding!

[tiffjake]

Thanks Cassidy! I will be driving, so I know that means I can take a lot more stuff. I am mainly worred about the overnight stay with the whole wedding party. They are ordering Pizza that night, and making pancakes the next morning...and I just don't want to be a pain in the @ss, you know? Normally, I would be all over "my gluten free rights" but this is my sisters wedding, and there will already be drama, so I want to keep my food issues to myself as much as I can, you know??

I think I will pack lots of fruit, nuts, stuff like that.....ug, so not looking forward to this.

OH! And you know how "they" say to eat before an event where you are pretty sure there won't be lots of gluten-free food? Well, that would be the wedding party, but I can't eat before, unless it is something I pack! So, that is a bit worrisome...

[Mango04]

I had to travel to the opposite side of the country to be in a wedding last year so I know what you mean. It was totally fine though. I brought tons of food with me when we all went to get our hair and make-up done. That was basically my chance to eat before the event. The other girls were grateful that I had food because they were hungry too, so we all just snacked on my stuff and it didn't seem like I had any food issues or anything.

I like to bring fruit, nuts, energy bars, corn thins, peanut butter, veggies, cans of tuna and if you can find instant soups that only require hot water, those come in handy too. When they're cooking breakfast, they'll probably have eggs for the pancakes. Maybe you can find a way to snatch a couple and hard boil them so you at least have some protein and such. Good luck

[angel-jd1]

Thanks Cassidy! I will be driving, so I know that means I can take a lot more stuff. I am mainly worred about the overnight stay with the whole wedding party. They are ordering Pizza that night, and making pancakes the next morning...and I just don't want to be a pain in the @ss, you know? Normally, I would be all over "my gluten free rights" but this is my sisters wedding, and there will already be drama, so I want to keep my food issues to myself as much as I can, you know??

I think I will pack lots of fruit, nuts, stuff like that.....ug, so not looking forward to this.

OH! And you know how "they" say to eat before an event where you are pretty sure there won't be lots of gluten-free food? Well, that would be the wedding party, but I can't eat before, unless it is something I pack! So, that is a bit worrisome...

Sounds like you will be in a location where there are facilities to cook (you said they are making pancakes). Pancakes take eggs........soooo offer to scramble eggs for the whole group. That would go great with their pancakes and would be a great breakfast for you.

Peanutbutter is also very filling. A big spoonfull and you will be set for several hours.

Since you are driving, canned foods would be a good option. A big can of refried beans (not sure how beans are on the carb counting stuff ) and maybe some tortilla chips. Again, I am sure the tortilla chips aren't good for carbs, but it IS food

Hormel makes tamalies that come in a can. They are easily warmed in the microwave and make a good quick meal.

Hormel also has some shelf stable heat and eat type meals that are gluten free. Here is the list from their site: HORMEL

[happygirl]

Tiff:

You made me laugh about the comment about your sister's wedding and the drama.....

I was in a wedding the fall, and I'm in two this year (including my sister's), and attending another. I don't have much to offer since all the places we are going, even though out of town, I will be cooking full meals before hand, taking with me, and micro-waving. All the places have assured me that they can make food for me, but I am so extremely sensitive and have such horrible reactions, that I can't risk it....so I understand your concern! At the wedding in November, I just showed up everywhere with my own food in my cooler.

I like the idea of doing scrambled eggs that morning. Or, you could bring along your own mix (not sure how that goes with being hypo though---sorry) and your own skillet, and make pancakes that morning, just separate.

Something that I have found that travels really well (for about a day or so), as long as kept very cold, is shrimp. I boil or saute it at home, season with lemon, then chill and put in the fridge. You can then either re-heat or eat cold (think cocktail shrimp!) and put on a salad or something. Same with chicken strips.

Good luck! I hope that you find a way to successfully navigate it and enjoy yourself.

Laura

[tiffjake]

Thanks!!!! I totally forgot about peanut butter! You guys are life savers! Ok, I think I will be able to handle this....Now, about a toast....

[DingoGirl]

Thanks!!!! I totally forgot about peanut butter! You guys are life savers! Ok, I think I will be able to handle this....Now, about a toast....

something that I really like, and is so easy, is smoked salmon w/ cream cheese, red onions, and capers (if you feel like it) on rice crackers. I know the crackers are carbs.........but, it's SO tasty and easy and somewhat gourmand.

I make homemade nut bars, too......just mix in sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, almonds, dried cranberries, flax seeds, whatever you feel like. Pour on some Lundberg brown rice syrup, maybe a little cinnamon if you want, mix it all together with your hands. Spread on a greased baking pan, about an inch thick. Bake for about 30 minutes at 300. Slice into bars before cooling.

oh.....you have to make a toast? yikes! Just speak from the heart and you'll do great.

[snapple]

A few more ideas:

Meat and cheese roll ups

Canned tuna with some mayo and red/yellow/etc pepper strips. dip the pepper strips in the tuna instead of crackers. Really yummy and low carb. Also really filling.

Breakfast: you can make egg "muffins". Take some chopped mushrooms, crumbled bacon, chopped onion, chopped black olives, chopped pepers etc (whatever you like in an omlet) mix it all together with some eggs and pour it into a muffin pan. You can use muffin paper cups or not, I prefer not, and cook it for 20 mins in a 350 oven. they are easy to take along with you and are yummy as well. be sure to use pam or something similar to coat the muffin pan or the eggs will stick. This is actually really great for anyone who has to eat breakfast on the run. Trust me, everyone will want what you have.

Just a few ideas. Don't worry too much about the toast. keep it simple, and romantic and you can't go wrong. You can also google toast subjects. I guarantee there are a ton of ideas on the net.

Hope everything goes smoothly for you.

Kate

[tiffjake]

Thanks Kate and Susan, I really appreaciate the ideas! I am making a "to pack" list of foods! You know, you do gluten free for so long, it is like you are in your own bubble, but then you have to travel, and the bubble gets bigger and bigger, and the threat of it breaking is driving me nuts!

Susan, I love the idea about the nut bars, but where do you get the salmon? I like that idea too, just wondering, can I just use the vacummed sealed packs (instead of fresh?) so it will travel? I know that I will be able to find a grocery store SOME where, but I don't want to worry about keeping it cold AFTER I leave the store, since I really don't know about the set up of the "house" that we are staying in. (And the whole "this food is mine, see my name on it?" thing, you know?)

Thanks ladies!!!!

[DingoGirl]

Hi Tiff,

I get teh salmon at Trader JOe's. It's vacuum-packed. I actually leave it out for several hours beforehand - and also the cream cheese - because I like it room-temp (I am kind of a freak and like lots of things room-temp). mmmmmmmmmmmmmm tasty!!

happy travels!

[tiffjake]

Hi Tiff,

I get teh salmon at Trader JOe's. It's vacuum-packed. I actually leave it out for several hours beforehand - and also the cream cheese - because I like it room-temp (I am kind of a freak and like lots of things room-temp). mmmmmmmmmmmmmm tasty!!

happy travels!

Thanks! (Is Trader Joes a website or store?)