First Time....what To Pack?

[GF4LifeinWI]

I'm recently diagnosed celiac and leaving home for the weekend for the first time. I don't know if gluten-free foods and gluten-friendly restaurants will readily be available. I purchased a soft-side cooler and am looking for good ideas on what to take to supplement what may be limited choices out there. Will be staying in a hotel that will have a small refrigerator and possibly a microwave, but not sure on the latter. Any ideas are appreciated!

[Marilyn R]

I'm recently diagnosed celiac and leaving home for the weekend for the first time. I don't know if gluten-free foods and gluten-friendly restaurants will readily be available. I purchased a soft-side cooler and am looking for good ideas on what to take to supplement what may be limited choices out there. Will be staying in a hotel that will have a small refrigerator and possibly a microwave, but not sure on the latter. Any ideas are appreciated!

Lara bars and safe nuts in your tote and suitcase. I'd pack fresh fruit and peanut butter in my little cooler just in case you face travel delays. Maybe some crudites and hummus. I'd pack like a squirrel, nuts, seeds...

Hope you have a great trip!

[kareng]

To add to the above: Make a couple of sandwiches and freeze them. Cheese & crackers. A few microwave safe paper plates & plastic silverware. Call and ask about the microwave. Some places will give you one if you have a medical need. I froze a container of chili for dinner. I froze cooked chicken. Brought shredded carrots and cheese & a small container with salad dressing. You could bring a bag of salad ( also good to add like lettuce to your sandwiches) or get a bag at a grocery. I usually bring a package of ham cold cuts for snacking or breakfast. Corn tortillas & slices of cheese to microwave. Hummus & carrot sticks & pretzels. Pretzels & PB or almond butter. whole foods has little packets of PB or almond butter you can put in your "liquid baggie" for carry- on for a plane.

[tgrahek]

Tyson Chicken Packets

Minute Rice (use hot water from the coffee maker)

Chicken broth packets (available at Trader Joe's)

Nuts

Protein bars

St. Dalfour Read-to-go Salmon

GoPicnic meals

Peanut butter packets

gluten-free breadsticks or crackers to supplement a restaurant meal

[cap6]

I throw in some tuna or beans - something I can eat out of a can cold if there is no way to heat. Something that is ok to eat when starving.

[come dance with me]

I make wraps with salad now for travel. Travel is hard isn't it! We travel a LOT to visit people so we can be in the car for up to 18 hours (with stops of course) before we get to where we're going. I found wraps and containers of vege sticks and fresh pieces of fruit or rice crackers to be the best. Nuts and seeds are also good for a snack. Vegetable slices or mini muffins are also yummy and keep well.

[Poppi]

I bake like a crazy person on days when we are just hanging out at home and then freeze everything in small portions. So at a moments notice I can grab things like banana bread, brownies, blueberry muffins, cornbread, cinnamon buns and cookies. It's handy whether I'm taking the kids to the park or going out of town for a few days.

I also keep a stash of "travel" food in the pantry: almonds, Thai Noodle Cart noodle bowls, Lara bars, juice boxes, Hot Kid Superslim Rice Crisps (they are portioned into 3 sealed pods inside the box), cereal, tea bags (I have a really big thermos which I fill with boiling water), milk in tetra packs so it doesn't go sour en route to the hotel.

Then I add fruit, cheese, butter, peanut butter and a couple of sandwiches and I'm good to go.

I'm actually packing to go out of town today. I'll only be gone for 24 hours and we are going to a place where I know there are a few great restaurants so I don't need to pack a ton of food but I will be prepared.

The other important thing to do is research the place you are going. Look up the restaurants in the area, look for friendly chain restaurants, call local places, see if you can find any local gluten free blogs with restaurant reviews posted. Plan ahead and then pack food anyway.

What I'm nervous about is the 2 trips I am taking this summer that involve airplanes and hotels in cities I have no knowledge of. I'm really nervous about that.