Son Traveling Without Me

[SAHM2one]

My mother and sister are taking my son to see his great grandparents in 2 weeks. Jackson is only one week gluten free, I am going on 1 1/2 months, and they want a list of foods that are safe for him to eat when traveling. Packing a cooler is out because they just don't have room in the van, they are traveling with 4 kids.

I need both breakfast foods at places like McDonalds and Burger King and also lunch ideas for fast food places.

Please help! I am so nervous about this trip.

[ShayFL]

I found this. It is very recent:

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But keep in mind that the people that work at fast food places might not be as careful as you would like. There is ALWAYS the risk of CC and he could get sick. If it were me, I would find a way to squeeze in at least a small backpack with foods he can eat that do not require refrigeration. Then he could always have a shake or frosty at McD or Wendy's so he isnt completely left out.

[SAHM2one]

Thank you.

can you give me some snack ideas I could maybe pack if I can get them to take a small bag? We eat mainly at home so most of what we eat needs to be kept cold.

[dandelionmom]

EnerG pretzels come in small packets and you can buy travel size peanut butters to dip the pretzels.

Envirokids cereal bars are good (my kids like the Panda ones the best).

Fruit (apples, bananas, and raisins all travel well).

Rice chex and shelf stable milk (like the Horizons milk boxes) make a good breakfast.

I mostly don't trust fast food places to prepare a safe meal. If they're going to try though, I've had best luck with Wendys when I tell them my daughter has a severe wheat allergy so her food can't tough other food or surfaces that have touched other food and that they must change their gloves before handling her food. We get a cheeseburger with no bun, mandarin oranges, milk, and a frosty.

[ShayFL]

I dont know what he likes to eat but fruit and nuts are good and easy. Lundenberg rice cakes with nut butter (make a sandwich with them). Corn chips with a little plastic disposable container filled with refried beans. Canned fruit with flip-top lids. Fresh fruit (apples and bananas store well and aren't messy to eat). Gluten-free dry cereal in zipper bags.

Kids love Chex Mix:

Classic Chex Mix

3 T butter, melted

1 T gluten-free Worcestershire sauce

3/4 t salt

1/2 t garlic powder

1/2 t onion powder

1/8 t pepper

1/4 t chili powder

4 1/2 c gluten-free rice Chex

1 small package Ener-G pretzels

1/2 c nuts like peanuts

Mix the first 7 ingredients together. Put the Chex and pretzels and nuts, if using, in a bowl, toss with the butter mixture. Spread on a pan and bake at 250 for 45 minutes, stirring every 15. Let cool, try not to eat all at once.

[SAHM2one]

thanks! I think I will try and pack him a few bananas and some chips. The closest place to buy gluten-free crackers, gluten-free prezets and gluten-free cereal, except Rice chex, is 3 hours from me so those are out. I need to learn how to make gluten-free snacks like crackers!

So far Wendy's, Chick-fil-A and Hardee's have been very accommodating with me. Burger King was a nightmare and I had to have them remake my burger.

[Phyllis28]

Consider buying an softside insulated lunch box or small can cooler. I know You can find these at Target near the camping section. With the addition of blue ice cold food will keep 6 to 8 hours. I wrap my food in blue ice mats when I go to work. This would allow you to add a cold cooked meat such as chicken to his traveling food. Also, you might want to consider baking him gluten free muffins for the trip. I freeze them an put them in my lunch when I travel. Also, gluten free pancakes are good cold with jelly made into a sandwich.

Hope he has a good trip.