I have just been diagnosed with celiac, and we are still awaiting test results for my teenage son, which I assume will be positive, because he’s so small and horrifying thin, along with other clinical symptoms.

I realize I’m still in the bewildered stage and I know that I will learn how to do things, but right now I am paralyzed about our immediate travel plans for the next few months. This is the traveling time of year for our homeschooling family:

In March we have two 3 or 4-day speech & debate tournaments (from 8 AM to 8 PM nonstop, away from home, we could bring our own meals, but not have time to MAKE our own meals…unless we used a crockpot??). In April we were planning to spend 3 days at Niagara Falls while Dad is there on a business trip, and do another 3 day speech & debate that takes one whole day of driving to get there and one whole day back. I was also going to enroll my son in a week-long TeenPact conference at our state’s capital (buy your lunch in the capital building, eat supper at the retreat center).

Then there’s the annual Ladies’ Overnight convention I ALWAYS go to, where we traditionally stop at this special pizza place on the way, and then go to Old Country Buffet in the evening….etc.

I am so overwhelmed that I think surely we must cancel all these events, even though his high school years are so short and I don’t want to keep him from these. Can you give me some specific ideaslinks of how I might leap into celiac traveling (more on the “sack lunch” scale than restaurants) immediately?

Thanks for any help you can give!

Don't worry----you won't have to cancel!

You can look for gluten free restaurants near where you are staying.

When I travel, I always bring my own food. Make everything ahead of time, and put it in meal size containers. Stay in a room with a fridge and microwave and you'll be fine. If you go out to eat with a group, and its an unsafe restaurant, bring your food along, tell them you have severe allergies, and ask them to plate your food and heat it up for you.

I traveled out of state a few weeks ago for four days/three nights. Didn't eat anything other than what I had brought, but went out with co-workers and brought my own food.

String cheese, fruit, gluten free cereal, yogurt, oj for breakfast.

lunch: lunchmeat/cheese roll-ups, chips/popcorn, veggies/dip, gluten-free chocolate chip cookies.

snacks: dips, gluten-free pretzels, crackers and cheese.

Dinner: anything you normally make for dinner, that can just be reheated.

There are also gluten-free frozen foods like Amy's brand, or soups, Thai Kitchen instant meals, etc. that you could bring or pick up at the grocery store when you are in town (which may be helpful if you are not driving, but flying)

I'm sure others will chime in with ideas and suggestions. Good luck!

Well, not knowing the restraunts in the areas you plan on traveling to I can't help you there, however I can offer the following:

I am a railroad engineer and due to this fact I have to be prepared to be gone from home 8-48 hours at the ring of my phone, I NEVER know how long I will be gone until I answer my phone

That being said, I have to be able to eat during the time I will be gone, so I have done the following which may or may not help in your situation:

I prepack meals that travel well in my cooler...

#1) when cooking meat for dinner I cook extra and put that in a freezer bag and pull it out to take with me, I can re-heat it in a microwave inside the bag in case the micro isn't clean, single serve cans of veggies also can be easy to carry to go with the meat!

#2) I make big pots of soups/stews and store a couple extra containers of it in the fridge (these dont always freeze well) this can be easily reheated in a micro without to much worry about CC

#3) When all else fails a salad with all your favorites, add meat, veggies whatever your heart desires can esily be put into a storage container and no micro needed just add a fork!

#4) When dining out at a strange restraunt, a safe bet is generally a salad, simple, hard to screw up even for the worst waitress's and you can carry a small bottle of your own dressing

Hi Gayle

Where do you live in Pa? I'm from north of Pittsburgh. Let me know where you are headed on your trips & maybe I can let you know where you can eat ort find gluten-free foods...

mamaw

I live in Grove City! The trouble is, with these tournaments and conventions, there isn't time to go to a restaurant; usually there's just a 30 minute break, if we're fortunate. So people either bring their own lunch or sign up to purchase the set meal that is served there by the organizers. So I really need to learn how to travel with our own meals.

But after day 3 or 4, wouldn't most of my prepared food begin to spoil (I heard someone say that gluten-free bread doesn't last too long?

By the way, Mamaw, you mentioned somewhere else about a good gluten-free Italian restaurant in Hermitage. Can you tell me the name? Thanks!

The rice bread will last the three or four days of the tournament as long as it it kept cold. If you don't rent a room with a refrigerator take an ice chest and add ice everyday.

I premake my meals and freeze them when I travel. Peanut Butter and jelly makes a good cold meal. Gluten free bars make great snacks.

I also freeze my meals before to make them last during travel. Will you have a fridge in your hotel? Even hotels that don't offer a fridge and microwave standard will often give you one if you have a medical need. Are you driving? If so, you could pack a large cooler and refill with ice everyday.

I try to bring stuff that doesn't spoil, but that type of food tends to get boring after a while. I'm lucky and have found these prepackaged Indian foods that don't need to be refrigerated. I take cooked rice with me and feel ok leaving that out of the fridge for a few days.

If all else fails and I have to go to a fast food place, I can usually get an ice cream or shake. Then I get a cup of hot water and add my own pasta. The pasta will pretty much cook in five minutes or so. You can add cheese to the top for protein if you have it.

my 11 year old went to two summer camps last summer and will going to four this summer. WE sent ceral or bagels for breakfast, lunchable nachos for lunch and cookd spagettie for dinners or alfredo and froze them, thhey also keep the cooler cold, We also sent chips and kraft dip, beef jerky, fruit roll ups and plenty of fruit, popcorn. All went well and she can't waite to go back.

My daughter and I are both new to this too.... In my work, I have to have a lot of business lunches, I have had to have three since I found out.... I was too chicken the first week. I have taken to calling restaurants and asking if they have gluten free menus and also pulling them up online...... I have been suprised at how many restaurants are accomodating and/or have gluten free menus online.... saved me any awkwardness during important lunch meetings....
My daughter was really bummed when we couldnt go out to get pizza.... but then we found two restaurants in town that have gluten free crusts.... we were shocked and very happy. I am learning to not feel wierd about asking for special menus...