Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Amtrak

charolastra00

Recommended Posts

charolastra00 Newbie
charolastra00
Posted

Anyone have any luck? I'm leaving tomorrow on a 32 hour train ride (each way!) from Boston to Nebraska, and I'm kind of scared about the food issue. I don't have room to pack any food except for some carrot sticks. I should be able to find things at the restaurants for my stops (Rochester, NY and Chicago) but in between Chicago and Lincoln it's 12 hours and I'm going to need to eat something in that time! I haven't eaten in the dining car before but I do remember that the only thing gluten free that I noticed in the snack car before was a cheese plate with individually wrapped crackers- but I'm allergic to dairy so that's a no go. Any help?

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


barbara123 Apprentice
barbara123
Posted
Anyone have any luck? I'm leaving tomorrow on a 32 hour train ride (each way!) from Boston to Nebraska, and I'm kind of scared about the food issue. I don't have room to pack any food except for some carrot sticks. I should be able to find things at the restaurants for my stops (Rochester, NY and Chicago) but in between Chicago and Lincoln it's 12 hours and I'm going to need to eat something in that time! I haven't eaten in the dining car before but I do remember that the only thing gluten free that I noticed in the snack car before was a cheese plate with individually wrapped crackers- but I'm allergic to dairy so that's a no go. Any help?

I have traveled on amtrak. Love it But don't remember the food so much. But you might call amtrak to see what could be done. The dining car should have some things that could be ate safely. Good Luck and have fun Barb

lovegrov Collaborator
lovegrov
Posted

I've ridden Amtrak just once since diagnosis and my memory is there were a couple of gluten-free things in the dining car. The menu changes, though. I try to call them first.

stargazer Rookie
stargazer
Posted

I just got back from a train trip a few weeks ago. We traveled on the California Zephyr. I was able to have just plain eggs in the morning with fresh fruit, a salad at lunch (I brought my own dressing), and at dinner, I usually had a salad, the vegetable of the night (plain of course), and just plain steamed fish (none of the other meats were trust worthy). The desserts are awesome, but of course not gluten free. I brought my own cookies just so I wouldn't feel left out. Good luck to you. If you go on Amtrak's website, you will be able to print out a menu for your train.

mrsnj91 Explorer
mrsnj91
Posted

It is probably too late for the OP....Hope you have a great trip.... But I wanted to post for those reading....

I was going to take the train for vacation. I called Amtrak and did not have a positive response. I was told that they do not provide gluten-free foods. That the food is premade and packaged to go. They do have other special diet menus like kosher and dairy free, etc but they do not have a gluten-free one. They will not heat food either and there is no way for you to do so on your own. When I asked how my DD would eat on a 20 hour trip I was put on hold, spoke with several people and was, in the end, told that it is up to the individual chef on that train. That menus change per train/chef. I would have to buy my ticket and then call to try and talk with the chef of that train no earlier than the week prior. Since there was no guarentee of food for her, I didn't want to purchase tickets and then get stuck. So we flew. I was very disappointed. It wasn't a 2 hour trip. It was 20 hours and I would have no guarentee that my DD would be able to eat. I was told that they will try their best to provide food that is ok but since it is premade up, a hamburger will come with a bun and a breakfast with toast, etc. Maybe they would have done something once I spoke with the chef but I couldn't chance it. That is a lot of money and a long trip to not be 100% sure. I was rather disappointed in Amtrak. Their site offers such a wonderful variety of special diet menus. But it seems if you don't fit the mold......

jmd3 Contributor
jmd3
Posted

We used to travel on the auto train to and from Florida years ago - so much fun! I remember they used to serve alternate meals for those that needed it, but they had to let amtrack know in advance. I remember they did Kosher meals, they could ajust those a bit and be gluten free, but if you call them you could work out your meal preferences. Let us know how they did, I would like to take another trip someday on the autotrain, :o)

  • 2 months later...
Char Apprentice
Char
Posted

I haven't taken such a long trip, but I regularly take the train from NYC to Boston. At least down the NE corridor, there's virtually nothing gluten-free on Amtrak (I think potato chips are it). Even salad w/ chicken has wheat (I think b/c of the chicken).

It sounds like the other folk who posted did some investigation, but I'd definitely recommend bringing something!

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to mamaof7's topic in Parents, Friends and Loved Ones of Celiacs
      6

      Help understand results

      That test is saying that your daughter is not making normal amounts of any IGA antibodies. She's not making normal amounts of antibodies against gliadin, not against bacteria, not against viruses. She is deficient in total IGA, so the test for antigliadin antibodies is not valid. The test was a failure. The test only works if all different kinds of antibodies...
    2. knitty kitty
      0

      Vitamins I Take

    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to hjayne19's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      10

      Insomnia help

      @hjayne19, So glad you found the information helpful. I know how difficult my struggle with anxiety has been. I've been finding things that helped me and sharing that with others makes my journey worthwhile. I like Life Extension Bioactive Complete B Complex. It contains the easily activated forms of B vitamins needed by people with the MTHFR...
    4. trents
      - trents replied to pothosqueen's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      1

      Positive biopsy

      Welcome to the celiac.com community @pothosqueen! Can you be more specific about which IGA test was run that resulted in 114 score and said to be "normal" and could you please include the reference range for what would be normal? By the size of that number it looks like it may have been what we call "total IGA" but that test is not usually run...
    5. pothosqueen
      - pothosqueen posted a topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      1

      Positive biopsy

      Upper endoscopy last week resulted in positive biopsy for celiac disease. The IgA they ran was normal (114). Does positive biopsy automatically mean definitive diagnosis?
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,993
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Tchudi
    Newest Member
    Tchudi
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Who's Online (See full list)

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Help understand results

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      That test is saying that your daughter is not making normal amounts of any IGA antibodies.  She's not making normal amounts of antibodies against gliadin, not against bacteria, not against viruses.  She is deficient in total IGA, so the test for antigliadin antibodies is not valid.  The test was a failure.  The test only works if all different kinds of antibodies were being made.  Your daughter is not making all different kinds of antibodies, so the test results are moot.  Your daughter should have the DGP IgG and TTG IgG tests done.   The tests should be performed while she is still consuming gluten.  Stopping and restarting a gluten containing diet can make her more sick, just like you refuse to eat gluten for testing.  Call the doctor's office, request both the IGG tests. Request to be put on the cancellation list for an appointment sooner.  Ask for genetic testing.   Celiac disease is passed on from parents to children.  You and all seven children should be tested for genes for Celiac disease.  Your parents, your siblings and their children should be tested as well.  Eating gluten is not required for genetic testing because your genes don't change.  Genetic testing is not a diagnosis of Celiac disease.  Just having the genes means there is the potential of developing Celiac disease if the Celiac genes are activated.  Genetic testing helps us decide if the Celiac genes are activated when coupled with physical symptoms, antibody testing, and biopsy examination. It's frustrating when doctors get it wrong and we suffer for it.  Hang in there.  You're a good mom for pursuing this!  
    • knitty kitty
      Insomnia help

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @hjayne19, So glad you found the information helpful.  I know how difficult my struggle with anxiety has been.  I've been finding things that helped me and sharing that with others makes my journey worthwhile. I like Life Extension Bioactive Complete B Complex.  It contains the easily activated forms of B vitamins needed by people with the MTHFR genetic variation often found with Celiac disease.   Avoid B Complex vitamins if they contain Thiamine Mononitrate if possible.  (Read the ingredients listing.)  Thiamine Mononitrate is the "shelf-stable" form of B 1 that the body can't utilize.  B vitamins breakdown when exposed to heat and light, and over time.  So "shelf-stable" forms won't breakdown sitting on a shelf in a bright store waiting to be bought.  (It's also very cheap.)  Thiamine Mononitrate is so shelf-stable that the body only absorbs about thirty percent of it, and less than that is utilized.  It takes thiamine already in the body to turn Thiamine Mononitrate into an active form.   I take MegaBenfotiamine by Life Extension.  Benfotiamine has been shown to promote intestinal healing, neuropathy, brain function, glycemic control, and athletic performance.   I take TTFD-B1 Max by Maxlife Naturals, Ecological Formulas Allthiamine (TTFD), or Thiamax by EO Nutrition.  Thiamine Tetrahydrofurfuryl Disulfide (TTFD for short) gets into the brain and makes a huge difference with the anxiety and getting the brain off the hamster wheel.  Especially when taken with Magnesium Threonate.   Any form of Thiamine needs Magnesium to make life sustaining enzymes and energy.  I like NeuroMag by Life Extension.  It contains Magnesium Threonate, a form of magnesium that easily crosses the blood brain barrier.  My brain felt like it gave a huge sigh of relief and relaxed when I started taking this and still makes a difference daily.   Other brands of supplements i like are Now Foods, Amazing Formulas, Doctor's Best, Nature's Way, Best Naturals, Thorne, EO Nutrition. Naturewise.  But I do read the ingredients labels all the time just to be sure they are gluten and dairy free. Glad to help with further questions.  
    • trents
      Positive biopsy

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the celiac.com community @pothosqueen!   Can you be more specific about which IGA test was run that resulted in 114 score and said to be "normal" and could you please include the reference range for what would be normal? By the size of that number it looks like it may have been what we call "total IGA" but that test is not usually run without also running a TTG-IGA. Total IGA tests for IGA deficiency. If someone is IGA deficient, then the celiac-specific IGA tests like the TTG-IGA will be inaccurate. Was this the only IGA test that was run? To answer, your question, yes, a positive biopsy is normally definitive for celiac disease but there are some other medical conditions, some medications and even some food proteins in rare cases that can cause positive biopsies. But it is pretty unlikely that it is due to anything other than celiac disease.
    • pothosqueen
      Positive biopsy

      By pothosqueen · Posted

      Upper endoscopy last week resulted in positive biopsy for celiac disease. The IgA they ran was normal (114). Does positive biopsy automatically mean definitive diagnosis?
    • hjayne19
      Mallorca Guide

      By hjayne19 · Posted

      This is great thank you very much @Scott Adams
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.