Desperate For Ideas

[Chrissyb]

I am going to a women's conference this weekend with my church and I need to bring my own lunch for both days. The church is getting the box lunch but of course I can't eat it so I had to get permission from the conference to bring in my own food. I can only bring it in in a big bag so I have no way of keeping any thing cold. So the standard nuts and stuff, I can't eat apples or bananas they make my stomach burn and no dairy. I need some protein they are going to be long days. I am just at a lose all I can think of is a PB&J and that is messy or a protein bar and that is boring. I need some help please. Thank you so much.

[Skylark]

Is there some reason you can't bring a thermal lunchbox with a cold pack that will keep your food cold for the morning? I would just make some sort of tasty sandwich on Udi's like ham and cheese, bring a bag of veggies and a bag of nuts.

[sb2178]

Do you have a thermos? Soup and crackers. Or else hummus and vegetables. You can freeze the hummus and it will thaw in the morning. Salad-- like a vegetarian salad nicoise. If you pack a vinaigrette separately, it should be ok if you don't include things like mayo, egg or meat.

[kareng]

I got a lunch bag that has gel stuff in the bottom and sides. You freeze it. If you freeze the sandwich ahead, it will thaw by lunch. You could also put a cold pack and a cold drink in the bag next to what you want to keep cold.

[Chrissyb]

Thanks these are great ideas. I am trying to figure out how to make everything fit in one bag. My wallet and all that stuff so I only have to carry one thing around.

[MelindaLee]

I am going to a women's conference this weekend with my church and I need to bring my own lunch for both days. The church is getting the box lunch but of course I can't eat it so I had to get permission from the conference to bring in my own food. I can only bring it in in a big bag so I have no way of keeping any thing cold. So the standard nuts and stuff, I can't eat apples or bananas they make my stomach burn and no dairy. I need some protein they are going to be long days. I am just at a lose all I can think of is a PB&J and that is messy or a protein bar and that is boring. I need some help please. Thank you so much.

I just found Old Wisconsin Turkey Snack Sticks. They were individually packaged and specifically said "gluten free". I don't know if those would work for you or not, as it seems you might have other limitations. But, a thought!

[kareng]

Thanks these are great ideas. I am trying to figure out how to make everything fit in one bag. My wallet and all that stuff so I only have to carry one thing around.

Get a big bag/ purse. .

I know it's a church group but you may want to keep your wallet in a small purse or wallet purse so you aren't tempted to get up and leave it with your heavy lunch sack to go to the rest room. Honestly, there are people who go to or work at these types of events for the purpose of stealing. Write a big gluten free on your lunch bag - that will keep people out. And if someone steals your lunch, it should be easy to find the only other Celiac in the group!

[GlutenFreeManna]

Target has some lunch bags that look like casual purses. I also saw these recently at BJ's Warehouse: Open Original Shared Link

They look just like a purse but they are insulated for carrying lunch or cold drinks. Also if you are staying at a hotel you might be able to keep some cold food in the hotel fridge if there is not one in the room.

[Takala]

Use a backpack if you want to keep your hands free.

I will have a small fanny pack with me for the stuff that I intend to keep with me at all times, that can fit into the backpack if I have to be walking around and if there is a "one bag" limit on what I am supposed to be carrying.

And you should get a hotel room refrigerator, tell them it's for medical needs. In a pinch, you can just bring a small picnic cooler and then raid their ice machine (assuming they have one if its a large hotel, most do) for the ice to keep stuff cold. Can you get a room with a microwave, or get access to one ? Some hotels have breakfast buffet rooms where there is a microwave to heat up foods.

You can then heat up soup. Some of the Imagine brand soups now come in smaller packages.

Almost anything can be packed in a heavy duty ziplock bag, including individual salads or vegetables, cut up. You can then pack the dressing in a separate sealable cup. I've also packed side salads in styrofoam cups with a lid on it. If you are wondering about salad dressings, olive oil does not need refrigeration, and neither does apple cider vinegar. If I am somewhere and don't know about the vinegar status, I ask for a wedge of lemon to use.

For protein, meat or chicken, tuna or fish, gluten free jerky, nuts, hard boiled eggs. You can also pre bake a potato and take that along.

[irish daveyboy]

Single Cheese portions + bring some Gluten Free crackers or crispbread.

single serve fruit packs, single serve nuts, single serve chips (Utz)

I suggested some of these on another thread.

Best Regards,

David

[missy'smom]

You can do what many of us do for our kids and take a juice box/pouch and freeze it and use it as a cold pack. Applesauce cups can be frozen and used the same way too.

[mbrookes]

Hormel pepperoni stix are gluten free, so there's a protien. They are individually wrapped and don't need refrigeration.