Gluten-free On The Go

[micahjelinek]

My fiancee, who has Celiac disease, works in an office where she is not comfortable bringing food to store in a fridge and heat up at lunch. We have discussed her need to have consistent meal times and proper nutrition, but so far we haven't been able to create a diverse enough menu. I was wondering if anyone could suggest some cold meals that would work for her on the go ? Thank you.

[urbancowboy717]

Have you considered spring rolls. You can find them in any Vietnamese restaurant or at Whole Foods. They are pretty much any meat with veggies rolled up in rice paper. You have the option of dipping in their sauce or your own. These are very easy to make at home. We use either chicken, shrimp, tuna, or salmon and then we add romaine lettuce, bean sprouts, cilantro or fresh basil leaf, carrots and cucumber. They are eaten cold and should be refrigerated with a wet paper wrapped around them for storage. This keeps the rice paper moist and not hard.

Veronica

[ShayFL]

I just need to find he rice paper!!

She could make pasta salad (gluten-free pasta of course) with veggies, meat and dressing. Then no need to heat.

I am not sure if she is uncomfortable storing things in the company fridge or actually heating things up.

Does she want something she can keep at her desk so as not to use the company fridge?

If so, a good quality lunch box is in order. And she can use ice packs to keep her spring rolls or pasta salad cold.

Tuna, Egg and chicken salads are another good option. Mix em up and pack lettuce leaves and veggies to eat with them.

Fruit!!

[dionnek]

I use pancakes (Trader Joes frozen gluten-free pancakes or home made) to make pbj sandwhiches, and I use waffles or corn tortillas to make turkey/cheese sandwhiches/rollups. Fruit (fresh or canned), pudding, yogurt, gluten-free power bars/granola, rice cakes (NOT Quaker Oats brand) with anything on them, cheese and gluten-free crackers, hummus and carrots/crackers, salad (love a salad with avocado, black beans, corn, and cilantro with lime dressing!). You can put any protein on a salad, too. These are just some of the things I bring (although I will use the office micro with a lid over my food).

[aikiducky]

A food thermos jar? Heat up a meal in the morning and it will keep warm until lunch for sure. I usually make a think stew/soup to take with me if I do this. I cook it the day before, heat a portion up in the morning in the microwave and put it in the thermos.

A quick google found for example: Open Original Shared Link

Not meaning to advertise anything, just as an example, there were lots of similar sites when I googled for thermos.

Pauliina

[Phyllis28]

I agree with ShayFL about the lunch box. I do not use the refrigerator at work. I pack my lunch in a softsided lunchbox and put ice mats on the botton and top. Hot food can be put into a thermos.

Below are the foods I consider when I pack cold gluten free meal:

Yogurt

Fruit

Raw Veggies

Nuts

Chef type Salad (including dressing)

Cold meat (Examples - chicken or turkey or ham)

Gluten Free bread or muffin

Cheese

Rice Cakes

Peanut Butter and Jelly on rice cake or gluten free bread

Glutino gluten free crackers

Gluten free bars such as Enjoy Life or Lara

Dry cereal

I use the microwave at work. I put my food in a container that has a small hole in the top for microwaving (link to the one I use below). This way my food is always covered. I wipe down the outside of the microwave and the area in front of the microwave. I always put a clean papertowel underneath my food.

Link to food container:

Open Original Shared Link

[missy'smom]

There are many recipes out there for various flavors of rice salads, with fruit, nuts etc. Some made with wild rice. Add some chicken or other protien. Also various bean salads that you can add tuna or feta to or other protein. Quinoa is a good nutritious grain to use for salads. Someone always brings one with corn, black beans, salsa, etc. to the gluten-free gatherings I attend.

[bbuster]

I keep a stash of Zone Perfect bars in my desk for times when I forget or don't have time for a real lunch. They have several kinds that are gluten-free. I like this brand because they have a lot of protein, not just a lot of carbs, and they fill you up pretty well.