Road Warriors Working And Being Gluten Free-Is It Possible?

[Laurarose]

I am a road warrior, meaning I travel for my job. I am in the car for a majority of the day driving all over the state. 2-3 of my daily meals are eaten away from home, either while driving or in a hotel or restaurant. I am finding this to be close to impossible as I learn to adjust to my new diagnosis of celiac disease. I am super sensitive and only feel slightly better a day here or there. Besides the usual digestive symtoms I get severe hay fever and migraines.

So far I have learned some types of foods to stick with such as sushi or thai. I request a fridge in my hotel room for snacks. Honestly i am getting sick of nut bars!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

By the way, did i mention that I am 100% italian and grew up in an italian restaurant? My grandparents cannot understand how I can be allergic (easier to explain to grampa who is 88) to macaroni!

[cap6]

I am a road warrior, meaning I travel for my job. I am in the car for a majority of the day driving all over the state. 2-3 of my daily meals are eaten away from home, either while driving or in a hotel or restaurant. I am finding this to be close to impossible as I learn to adjust to my new diagnosis of celiac disease. I am super sensitive and only feel slightly better a day here or there. Besides the usual digestive symtoms I get severe hay fever and migraines.

So far I have learned some types of foods to stick with such as sushi or thai. I request a fridge in my hotel room for snacks. Honestly i am getting sick of nut bars!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

By the way, did i mention that I am 100% italian and grew up in an italian restaurant? My grandparents cannot understand how I can be allergic (easier to explain to grampa who is 88) to macaroni!

Get some good gluten-free bread (udi is good)and a travel toaster for making sandwich, Beans to heat up, chili, fruit for a salad, you can always buy the making for a good salad, hard boiled eggs.

[eatmeat4good]

I'd use an electric fry pan in my room. If you have a fridge you are set.

Stop at a grocery and pick up steak. chick breast, or burgers and salad.

Take it with you in a cooler for lunch next day.

Learn to like them cold...if you're driving. Make salads with the chick breast, meat, or burger on top. Keep the fixings in your cooler.

Warm in microwave if you are stopped for the night.

I don't travel for work, but the issue is the same for any kind of travel since I don't eat in restaurants. CC risk is too high.

Heck with canned food and protein bars...eat real meat and vegetables and salad.

Where there is a will there is a way. Good luck!

[Austin GF Family]

Don't be discouraged. Plenty of hotels have full kitchens (Residence Inn and Candlewood Suites are two that we prefer and are just about everywhere). Depending on the city, you may need to bring some food with you (gluten-free bread, pasta, cereal), but fresh meat, fruit, veggies, cheese, herbs and milk can be found just about anywhere. With a kitchen you can eat just like you do at home. I also recommend keeping a small cooler in your car to carry food you have prepared at the hotel (most of the hotels with kitchens are also equipped with some containers for food storage, or just buy the disposable kind sold in grocery stores). Salads and sandwiches are good ideas, because you won't need to heat them. But, if you are driving between cities, most gas stations or truck stops and many grocery stores have microwaves available for customer use in the store. So, when you stop for fuel or a drink, you can pop your prepared meal in the microwave and actally enjoy a hot meal on the road. If you are sensitive, I would avoid restaurants, but if you are travelling for work, you may need to dine with clients. If this is the case, you can always discretely ask for a gluten free menu. If they don't have one, just order a garden salad with no meat or dressing or croutons. Politely explain to your companion that you are not very hungry or on a diet, and when business is concluded, you can have your own food back at the hotel. I have a friend who has taken her own food into restaurants with her when she is dining with friends, but I would not recommend this if you are dining with clients, unless it is a client whom you consider to be a friend, of course. Here is one tip if you do stay at a hotel with a kitchen - run all the pots, pans, plates, utensils, etc. through the dishwasher when you first arrive (before using any of them) to reduce your risk of cross contamination. Also, don't use the toaster, as it will be contaminated with gluten from previous uses. I sincerely hopes this helps. It's an adjustment, but manageable.

[Laurarose]

awesome ideas! I have had my secretary book me a hotel suite with a kitchenette and I have gotten a small cooler for the car. I am going to start a box of my travel kitchen needs now. I am almost looking forward to traveling next week! I guess its all about just asking for what you need. when the alternative is feeling like crap I am learning very quickly to step up.

thanks!

[Roda]

I had a cooler that plugged into the cigarette lighter in the car and was kept cold. It also had an adapter that I could use to plug into a regular outlet. I loved it. I had it long before I knew I had celiac. I've got to buy another one because it got fried when my plug in the car shorted out.

[GlutenGladi8or]

I am did i mention that I am 100% italian and grew up in an italian restaurant?

Both Sam's Club and Costco have pre-cooked (heat & eat) Italian Chicken sausages. They need just a quick steam/sear in a pan and you are ready to roll. Almost all of them only have about 6-7 grams of fat as well. Packed with protein. And all you need is a plastic fork and knife.

The other thing I do while shopping the clubs, is buying a pack of all natural turkey breast. They stay cool easily. When I'm in a pinch for lunch, I just open up the package and eat it like a steak with a knife and fork. Again, low in fat and high in protein.

Of course, I supplment the above with an ample amount of fresh produce and good gluten-free carbs.

Being a road warrior like this, you'll be getting purchase orders left and right!

[kareng]

I came to this late. The one suggestion I haven't seen is to make something at home & freeze it. I have frozen portions of chili, grilled chicken, taco meat, BBQ beef, etc in a little plastic container. Put it in the cooler & it helps keep everything cold. Then microwave for dinner or for tomorrow. This will only really work if you are driving not flying.

You can always get cheese, packaged cold cuts, fruit, carrot sticks & Chex cereal at a grocery. I take a small paring knife, microwave safe paper plates, plastic "silverware", ziplock baggies & a cutting mat.