Childen's Hospital Boston 300 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 355-6000
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Clinical Services (Celiac Disease Program and Support Group):
Celiac Patient Education Information: Traveling Tips
Image Going away for the weekend? Is your celiac child having a sleepover at a friend's house? Sometimes these plans happen last minute and the best way to prepare for an unexpected event is to always expect it and be ready. This can be done as part of your regular grocery shopping and day to day cooking.

Yes, traveling and day to day activities can be quite difficult when you have to avoid gluten. Here are some tips to help make life or unexpected events a little easier.

Things to keep on-hand:  
  • To-go containers
  • Soft-sided cooler
  • Ice packs
  • Nuts & dried fruit
  • Trader Joe's trail mix
  • Muffins (keep extra in the freezer)
  • Cupcakes (keep extra in freezer)
  • GF cereal to eat dry as a snack or with milk
  • Cookies (keep extra in freezer)
  • Brownies (keep extra in freezer)
  • Frozen dinners (&/or leftovers)
  • Annie's individual dressing packages
  • Popcorn
  • Snack bars
  • GF pretzels
  • Peanut butter
  • Corn chips
Plan Ahead
Image If you have an extra freezer this can be especially helpful. When you are making a big meal or desserts make a little extra or put the leftovers in "to go" containers and freeze them.

Keep easily accessible snacks on hand so that you have something to curb your appetite if you get really hungry and can't find a safe place to stop for a bite. Like dieting for weight-loss, the worst choices can be made when you are feeling overly hungry.

An easy way to pack any of these items is with a soft-sided cooler and ice packs. I prefer the coolers that have more than one compartment so that you can keep items that don't need refrigeration dry.

Packing Tips
When you do have a place to store refrigerated items &/or a place to cook/heat food
  • Pack a salad and bring some individual packages of dressing.
  • Pack Skillet Meals from The Gluten Free Pantry. These can be prepared in as little as 15 minutes.
  • GF popcorn is an easy snack item and easy to pack, too.
  • Thai kitchen single serve rice noodles with sauce (microwavable).
  • Single serve applesauce.
  • GF pasta with jar sauce (sauce can be frozen in small single serve sizes. I use lots of zip lock bags.
  • Put pre-measured uncooked rice with a chicken bullion cube in a zip lock sandwich baggie for no measuring.
  • Yogurt
  • Cheese (precut or small prewrapped cheese cubes)
Packing Tips
When you do not have a place to store refrigerated items
  • Grab a 'to go' container of frozen food from the freezer. If it is for lunch, take it out of the freezer the night before.
  • GF trail mix from Trader Joe's is a great snack to keep on-hand.
  • Snack bars and cereal are easy snacks to keep on-hand, such as EnviroKidz Crispy Rice Bars in Berry and EnviroKidz Frosted Flakes.
  • Any other freezer snack items such as brownies, cookies, muffins, etc. are also easy to bring along. If the brownies or cookies don't defrost by the time you are ready to eat them it's ok since many times they taste better frozen.
* In the winter, you can also keep your food in the trunk of your car for refrigeration.
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X The information on this website should not be taken as medical advice,
which can only be given to you by your personal health care professional.
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