New Celiac And Have To Travel!

[Frances03]

If anyone has any advice I'd greatly appreciate it. I'm on my way to Colorado and am in Wyoming now. We had to leave somewhat abruptly and I brought a few things with me but not nearly enough to make 3 meals a day. I will be staying with family for 5 nights and traveling 2 more, besides today and tomorrow! For lunch I ordered pintos at taco bell, apparently the red sauce has flour in it, but halfway threw the beans I found lettuce in it, so that made me worry the whole thing was cc'd. Then for dinner we went to Outback. Well, at the bottom of my salad I found a crouton. And this after they promised me they'd make it in it's own bowl and that they were VERY careful with their gluten free menu. They were VERY sorry and did everything they could to fix it, but, what can they do? I'd already eaten half of it. So now I'm feeling like it is IMPOSSIBLE to eat out anywhere, and I have all day tomorrow traveling too. I have some rice crackers, bananas, almond butter, and hummus in the cooler. But that isn't enough for an entire day. And driving home next weekend I probably won't have the food packed since my family will have nothing gluten free in their home. I'm also trying to care for 3 children and a husband in the midst of all this, and I know have to learn how to do it, but I just sort of got dumped in to this all at once it feels like with no time to prepare or anything! If anyone has any ideas for me, I'd love it very much. I'll try to check the computer before we hit the road again. There sure isn't much in Wyoming and I'll never find a health food store I know!! Wasn't much in Montana either!

[tgrahek]

If anyone has any advice I'd greatly appreciate it. I'm on my way to Colorado and am in Wyoming now. We had to leave somewhat abruptly and I brought a few things with me but not nearly enough to make 3 meals a day. I will be staying with family for 5 nights and traveling 2 more, besides today and tomorrow! For lunch I ordered pintos at taco bell, apparently the red sauce has flour in it, but halfway threw the beans I found lettuce in it, so that made me worry the whole thing was cc'd. Then for dinner we went to Outback. Well, at the bottom of my salad I found a crouton. And this after they promised me they'd make it in it's own bowl and that they were VERY careful with their gluten free menu. They were VERY sorry and did everything they could to fix it, but, what can they do? I'd already eaten half of it. So now I'm feeling like it is IMPOSSIBLE to eat out anywhere, and I have all day tomorrow traveling too. I have some rice crackers, bananas, almond butter, and hummus in the cooler. But that isn't enough for an entire day. And driving home next weekend I probably won't have the food packed since my family will have nothing gluten free in their home. I'm also trying to care for 3 children and a husband in the midst of all this, and I know have to learn how to do it, but I just sort of got dumped in to this all at once it feels like with no time to prepare or anything! If anyone has any ideas for me, I'd love it very much. I'll try to check the computer before we hit the road again. There sure isn't much in Wyoming and I'll never find a health food store I know!! Wasn't much in Montana either!

[tgrahek]

I am so sorry that you are having such a rough time!

Taco Bell's red sauce does not have wheat, according to their website. We often get tostadas and pintos and cheese. Of course cross contamination is always a concern.

In a pinch, we also get Arby's roast beef, no bun. It's very filling.

You should put some lunch meat in your cooler. We carry mustard packets and roll up turkey with mustard.

When traveling, we also stop at least once at a diner/truckstop and get poached eggs and bacon. Lots of protein to keep us full longer.

Good luck! I know it is too late for this trip but another tip is to go to gopicnic.com and buy a bunch of boxed lunches. We always have one in the car for emergencies.

[minniejack]

I know there are a lot of people out there who disagree, but we love McD's now. We get the Angus burger w/o the bun and, yes, french fries. We've never gotten glutened in the past year from them at all. And there are McD's everywhere.

The finer dining establishments are more helpful. And Mexican places are good, too.

And it's too late for this trip, but I highly recommend Triumph Dining Guide.

[tarnalberry]

Find out where the grocery stores are, and buy things that may not need cooking (or only in a microwave bowl) if/when you have microwave access. Sure, you might be eating coldcuts on corn tortillas warmed in the microwave with tomatoes and lettuce for a dinner sandwhich, but it's food! (And if you add a little avocado, or hummus, it's not half bad. ) There are lots of things that can be just cooked in the microwave or eaten without cooking, if necessary. (This applies to most canned foods, which can help, though you might have to buy a can opener.)

[momxyz]

More and more regular grocery stores are carrying gluten free foods now. If you're lucky you might find some brown rice pasta... I would buy 2 or 3 pounds. When you're at your family's place you could cook some up and use that to supplement your meals.

Or, you could even offer to cook a pasta meal with it! My husband, a good Italian, likes this pasta better than what we used to eat.

[Ahorsesoul]

You could post a question asking if anyone knows a good resturant in the cities you will be visiting. Post the cities name in the subject line so people in that area will know to read your posting.