Traveling & Eating

[jasonD2]

I used to buy food frequently from the Whole Foods hot bar and prepared food section until I found out that there is a chance the food can be CC'd with gluten even though there are no gluten ingredients listed. So I stopped, which has made traveling extremely difficult...now im microwaving fish, spinach and potatoes in my hotel room which is horrible, but it seems like the only way I can eat safely. For a while Whole Foods was my salvation and giving that up has really depressed me

If I were to get a piece of grilled chicken or fish at whole foods would it be safe to eat if i just washed it off completely prior to eating?

Does anyone still eat at the WF hot bar w/o problems? My recent stool test showed that my gluten antibodies are very high so I suspect that im still getting gluten in my diet. Aside from the occasional accidental glutenings on the road I really have been very careful, so Im guessing it must be the WF's food that has kept my antibody levels high.

Any suggestions or thoughts?

[Ahorsesoul]

Post a listing of everything you've eaten and drank in the last 48 hours. Incclued brand names and how (and in what) it was cooked. Remember to list anything that goes into your mouth; soda, toothpaste, mouthwash, candy and additions to coffee/tea. List brand names of coffee/tea also as some flavored coffee/teas may containe gluten Maybe someone here will see the problem.

[missy'smom]

I recently took a trip. Before leaving I wrote down what and where we would eat for the three days-menus. Took some time to get it all down on paper and ironed out but it worked well. Ate on the road/in the car alot-had a fridge and micro in the hotel when I stopped for the night. I stocked up on small size canned/pouches of tuna, chicken, and salmon for my proteins. Nuts for my carb. Bought travel sizes of mayo, lemon juice, salad dressing, soy-sauce etc. from minimus.biz. They have some stuff marked gluten-free but others you have to research/know the individual brands yourself. Bought side salads enroute from the grocery or restaurants and when it was time to eat, drained the meats-they can be drained into an empty plastic bottle, capped and tossed at your next stop. Mixed a pack of mayo into the meats and dumped on the salad. This is better as a snack or lunch. For kiddo, I packed gluten-free crackers, shelf stable salami, fruit etc. We took along a cooler the first day out and had our first complete meal on the road packed for everyone to eat in the car. I also packed a cooked breakfast with veg. and meat that we kept in the cooler and put it in the fridge in the hotel room when we got there and warmed it in the micro in the a.m. Took along a few strong paper towels and a small travel size bottle that I filled with dish soap and washed the dishes(lunch containers) in the sink in the bathroom, carefully wiping them out into the trash with a paper towel before washing so as not to clog the drains. Made sure to take the trash out soon too. Worked great. Kiddo was able to get yogurt, fruit and milk or juice from the complimentary hotel breakfast to supplement the gluten-free cereal we brought along-one portion in a small container. In the past, I have brought along frozen breakfasts in tupperware on the plane and warmed them up when we got to the connecting airport-homemade gluten-free pancakes-with a little syrup on- and ham. If you are traveling through the midwest, Hy-Vee grocery stores have gluten-free sections. I was suprized at what a great selection they had at the location we stopped at! In some parts of the east coast, Meijer's or Kroger is where to look, besides WF or the healthfood stores, although it varies by location. Where there's a will, there's a way! You'll figure it out. It takes some planning and patience. When you get back or run into snags, take a minute to evaluate your trips and make note of what works and what didn't and take some time to problem solve about what you can do next time. I learned from this trip that I need to pack more shelf stable items and plan for an extra day, as we were delayed. In the back of my mind, I knew that is wise but I didn't act on it this time. I'll just do it automatically from now on.

[jasonD2]

I think everything Im eating is safe but here goes:

Meats: Chicken breast (WFs), canned salmon (WFs), lean steak (publix greenwise and TJs)

Carbs: Quinoa (TJs and Whole Foods brand), Brown rice (Lundberg), red potatoes (Whole foods), Rice cakes (Lundberg), sweet potatoes (WF's), canned tomatoes (eden organic), yellow squash (WF's), canned olives (WF's), hearts of palm (WF's), Olive oil (TJs), Sea Salt (TJs), pepper (Farmers market), seasonings (basil and oregano from TJs)

Snacks: Corn chips (Mission), Lara Bars, Pecans (Publix- gluten-free), pumpkin seeds (TJs- label says packaged in a facility that also handles treenuts and soybeans)

Veggies: green beans, avocado, romaine lettuce, spinach (all whole foods)

Tea: peppermint & chamomile (TJs brand)

toothpaste: Biotene

Supplements: Thorne Biogest enzyme, ther-biotic complete probiotic (Klaire labs), symbion probiotic, nature's way zinc lozenges, vitamin shoppe glutamine, source natural sublingual B complex, oxypowder (Global Healing Center)

beverages: whole foods spring water

[jasonD2]

any red flags?

thanks

[missy'smom]

Just my opinion, but I would eliminate the corn chips for a few weeks and see how you feel, if it makes a difference. I haven't eaten them myself. Their statement seems reassuring but I am very leary of CC with all flours/meals. I have had reactions. Mission may be doing everything right but who's not to say that their cornmeal/flour isn't contaminated. Under 5ppm gets me sick. I had problems with almond meal and didn't realize it at first but became suspicious after using it for a while and switched to a dedicated gluten-free company that grinds their own and then it became clear that indeed the previous brand was CC'd.

[jasonD2]

Dunno- seems like everyone on here has had no problems with mission chips, but i will lay off them for a bit anyway.

[OptimisticMom42]

RRRRR typed it all up and then lost it. OK so I'm going to Traverse City for three days on a business trip. I emailed the celiacs support group from that area and they sent me a list of 20 restaurants that are celiacs aware and most had gluten free menus. We also contacted The Great Wolf Lodge and Bowers Harbor Inn who both gracously agreed to cook for me to my specifications. I love my job! I will also be packing nuts, rice milk ect in the car just in case.

Is it possible for you to contact a support group in the area you are visiting? I was freaked out when I first got this assignment but now I'm excited! Bowers Harbor Inn has a ghost and we've all been instructed to dress nice so she will welcome us into her home. What a gas!

[GFinDC]

Hi Jason,

Have your doctors checked you for Chrohn's Disease? It might be worth asking them about it if they haven't.

[jasonD2]

No don't have Chrohns-