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Gluten Free Vegan Traveling Tips

Posted June 5, 2013 By Sandy

Summer time is here!!  Traveling is in the air and many of us will be hitting the road to visit friends and relatives, going camping, experiencing theme parks …. of whatever you do while on vacation.

Being Gluten Free and Vegan requires some pre-planning to make your travel more enjoyable.  I did some research and found some great Gluten Free Vegan Traveling Tips I would like to share.

Road Trip 3

First, Pamela’s Products offers a list of travel tips that I have condensed here:

  • Pack snacks for the plane or car ride.  Gluten free bars or muffins are perfect snacks!
  • Bake bread in advance, wrap it in a Ziploc bag, and put it into a shoebox. This will ensure your bread will not be crushed during your travels.
  • “Do your homework!”  Make sure to research gluten-free restaurants in advance so you know where you can eat safely.
  • When traveings abroad, carry gluten-free restaurant cards in the native language. Also, check the internet to find out what celiacs in the local community recommend.
  • Check glutenfreetravelsite.com (and you can also get the app). The site is an “online collection of user-submitted gluten-free dining and travel tips from around the world.”
  • Traveling with someone who understands your dietary needs – who will not make you feel bad or inconvenient due to your allergies – is helpful. Traveling with a supportive person can ensure a much more pleasant vacation.

If you are planning a camping trip, I love what Lindsay of the Happy Herbivore suggests as staples for your camper (which many of her suggestions also work well for traveling of any kind):

  • Oatmeal
  • Fresh fruit and fruit salad
  • Trail mix
  • Granola bars
  • Ketchup, mustard, fat-free vegan mayo 
  • Tomatoes and lettuce
  • Canned or boxed organic beans
  • Soy dogs or veggie burgers (homemade or store bought, depending on your preference)
  • Coffee and non-dairy milk (almond milk)
  • Variety of gluten free wraps, breads and buns

Check out more of her suggestions:

Plant based Camping Trips

Vegan Camping

I frequently make myself a large green salad with all the ‘fixings’ and keep it in a cooler packed with ice.  Amy’s canned beans and soups are also a good travel item as they can be eaten right out of the can.  And of course, I bring snacks like granola bars, bananas, oranges or whatever fruit is in season.  Gluten free vegan chips are also a good item to pack as well.  I also have a love for Jack-in-the-Box taco …. I know, not very good food, but a treat for me from time to time!!

What do you do when you are traveling?  What do you eat while you are traveling?

 

 

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Gluten Free Restaurants and the GFRAP

Posted October 22, 2012 By Sandy

Eating out can be a nightmare if you are Gluten Intolerant or have food allergies.  Trying to figure out which restaurants will serve you allergy free dinners on their menu or if they will alter their menu items to accommodate you, can be challenging.  But according to Living Without Magazine, this is changing:

A renaissance is taking place in the restaurant industry and people on special diets can taste the benefits. From independently owned restaurants to national chains and fast food franchises, the food service industry is recognizing food allergies and sensitivities as a market that can no longer be ignored. The shift in awareness is due to the growing number of people on special diets—12 million Americans have food allergies, 3 million have celiac disease, and millions more have dietary concerns due to conditions like lactose intolerance and diabetes.

The increased need for allergy-friendly dining options has generated industry interest in the special-diet diner. It’s a win-win situation that’s sure to increase business for restaurants and provide a wider trough of choices for food-sensitive diners.

The article continues with a special focus on a restaurant owner, Kevin Herron, who is catering to allergy free customers.  What I found especially interesting about this article was the mention of the Gluten-Free Restaurant Awareness Program.  According to their website:

The Gluten-Free Restaurant Awareness Program (GFRAP) facilitates a relationship between individuals with celiac disease and other forms of gluten intolerance, and restaurants. The relationship builds a win-win opportunity for restaurants to provide service to people following a gluten-free diet, and to gain increased patronage. Participating restaurants are able to provide gluten-free meals from their regular meals. GFRAP is a program of the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America.

If you dig deeper into the site, there is a page to locate a Gluten (and allergy) Free restaurant by state and zip code.  Since Idaho, where I live, is a relative small state (by population, not by size), I looked up the restaurants that are registered on the site.

Only eight restaurants are listed, and most of those are in the Boise area.  But what I found interesting is that the Outback Steak House is listed in several locations.  So now I know that if I go on a trip, I can find an Outback Steak House — which is located in most areas.

Since I live close to the Washington border, I checked the Washington listings and found several pages of restaurants listed including several listings for the Outback Steak House, Old Spaghetti Factory, Jet House Pizza, and Garlic Jim’s Famous Gourmet Pizza!  Once again, if I find any of these restaurants, I will know they are save for Gluten Free menu items.

The site also has a recipe database that you might want to check out!

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Gluten Free Diets are NOT a Fad

Posted August 8, 2012 By Sandy

I use to get angry when writers talked about Gluten Free (and Vegan for that matter) diets as being the latest new diet!!  Gluten Free Diets are NOT a Fad for me — and I am sure that is true for lots of you!!

Being Gluten Free and (nearly) Vegan for over three years, I have learned to live without wheat, dairy and egg products.  This was not a decision based on a choice to follow a fad!  I was generally ill from these foods.  (NOTE:  If you are interested in reading about my Gluten induced Alzheimers, click here!)  But even now, I crave pizza, ice cream drumsticks, and scrambled eggs …. and, I am sorry, but the substitutes are just not the same!!

So, this is where my angry comes into play when I read about the new Gluten Free fad diet!!  If I had a choice, I would probably be eating pizza, ice cream drumsticks, and scrambled eggs!!  But I chose to be healthy and have my brains working correctly rather than enjoy these foods. 🙂

On the other hand, there is some good to this fad diet craze:  More and more stores and outlets are offering Gluten Free Vegan options.  Even since I first went Gluten Free Vegan three years ago, there are lots more options available.  I use to be afraid to go out to eat, but now I know that MOST Mexican dishes are safe (when I tell them to hold the cheese and dairy), and if I am careful, Chinese food works.  There are a few restaurants, like the Red Lobster,  where I can ask specially for help with my restrictions and someone is there to help!  And buffet style restaurants are wonderful as I can find Gluten Free Vegan dishes and my meat-eating husband can find something he likes!!

In conclusion, I have now learned to appreciate my fad diet friends because without them, I would not have all the Gluten Free Vegan options that I now enjoy!!

PS:  This post was inspired by the following article:  Going Gluten Free:  Is it Worth the Effort?

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Raw Vegan Cheesecake

Posted June 21, 2012 By Sandy

Cheesecake is one of my favorite desserts — after Gluten Free Brownies!  Imagine my delight in finding this Raw Vegan Cheesecake recipe!  Packed full of wonderfully nutritious ingredients, this Raw Vegan Cheesecake should be a winner at your house!!

The recipe comes from the Eat Raw, Eat Well cookbook by Douglas McNish (which is considered on the best raw food book available!).

Cashew Cheesecake (page 360)
This rich cake is particularly delicious served with fresh berries and a sprinkle of cinnamon. I like to save this for special occasions. You will need a high-powered blender to achieve the smoothest consistency possible.
Makes 16 servings

Filling

4 cups raw cashews, soaked (see Tips)
1 cup filtered water
1 cup raw agave nectar
1 cup melted coconut oil (see Tips)
1 tbsp raw vanilla extract
2 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

Crust
2 cups whole raw pecans
1⁄4 cup chopped pitted soft dates
1⁄2 tsp fine sea salt

1. Filling: In a high-powered blender, combine soaked cashews, water, agave nectar, coconut oil, vanilla and lemon juice. Blend at high speed until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
2. Crust: In a food processor, pulse pecans, dates and salt until smooth (no large pieces should remain). Press into bottom of pan, ensuring that there are no gaps.
3. Assembly: Pour filling over crust and freeze for at least 2 hours or until firm in the center. This dessert can be made ahead and kept in the freezer for up to 1 month.
4. When you are ready to serve, remove from freezer and set aside to thaw for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove pan sides and slice. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate for up to 1 week.

READ FULL RECIPE — and make sure to check out her extra tips!

If you would like to know more about Doug McNish or his book, Eat Raw, Eat Well click the link below:

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Gluten Free Pizza from Domimo

Posted May 8, 2012 By Sandy

At last!  Finally a Gluten Free Pizza option from a national chain!!  Domino’s is, once again, leading the pizza industry into new waters!!

Please note that the Gluten Free Pizza from Domino’s is still prepared in ovens along with regular pizza.  While probably safe for us gluten intolerant folks, celiac suffers should use caution!

Domino’s offers gluten-free pizza crust

Perhaps the single biggest if not most frustrating void for folks stuck on gluten-free diets is about to be finally filled: home-delivered pizza.

Gluten Free Pizza from DomimoDomino’s is introducing a pizza made with a gluten-free crust.Monday, Domino’s, the world’s largest delivery pizza chain, will announce plans to sell a pizza made with a gluten-free crust.

It comes as some of the biggest foodmakers and food sellers — including Frito-Lay, Subway, Anheuser-Busch and P.F. Chang’s — are jumping into the $6.2 billion market for people unable to consume products made with wheat, barley and rye.

“We are the first national pizza delivery chain to offer this,” boasts Domino’s CMO Russell Weiner, who notes that while the crust is certified gluten-free, the pizza is still prepared in ovens with pizzas that aren’t gluten-free, so folks who are extra-sensitive need to be aware. The gluten-free pizza costs about $3 more. Most gluten-free products typically do cost more to make.

READ FULL STORY

More on this news item

More stories on this news item

Let’s support this wonderful new product by ordering a pizza from Domino’s!!

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Gluten-Free Vegan Dining in Seattle

Posted May 2, 2012 By Sandy

Are you planning a visit to Seattle?  Looking for great places to find Gluten Free Vegan Dining in Seattle?  Rhean, author of the Northwest Herbivore, gives us a wonderful list of places and food to eat in Seattle.  She even includes pictures and a map of each location!!

Gluten Free Vegan DinningI was a bit spell bound while reading and viewing some of the food she experienced during her tour.

A few of the Gluten Free Vegan restaurants (or those with Gluten Free Vegan options) she visited at during her tour:

  • Pizza Pi where she sampled some gluten free bread stick with a tray of four vegan sauces.  The Vegan pizza pictured looks really healthy and delicious!
  • Travelers Thali House where she shared of a tray of interesting Thai food.
  • Wayward where she pictures a yummy ‘bacon’ lettuce and tomato Gluten Free Vegan club sandwich.  Her companions ordered Gluten Free Sampler and a Gluten Free Veggie omelet.
  •  Chaco Canyon was a bakery that offered so many Gluten Free choices that she had trouble deciding which ones to try!  Gluten Free heaven!!

I personally loved the Raw Broccoli salad she pictured from the Flying Apron :

Raw broccoli (of which I’m not usually a fan, but gladly make an exception here), cabbage, and carrots with plenty of cashews and raisins in a lightly sweet, creamy dressing. Holy cow. Don’t miss this if you go.

READ FULL POST

Rhea filled us in with numerous choices for Gluten Free Vegan dining.  Living in rural Idaho, I was jealous of all the options available in Seattle.  May just have to go for a visit there sometime — if for no other reason, to enjoy the worry free food!!

Thanks Rhea!!

 

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Vegan (and Gluten Free) Bakery

Posted April 13, 2012 By Sandy

Right about now, I wish I lived closer to Vancouver.  The goodies pictured in the article from the Vegan Bakery make me hungry just looking at them!!  This couple is truly talented and consider of the Gluten Free Vegan eaters!!

Edible Flours vegan bakery looks to grow in Vancouver

Edible Flours, which opened its doors on April 15, 2011, makes cakes, cookies, cookie sandwiches, croissants, cupcakes, donuts, loaves, muffins, and scones. All of its products are vegan—meaning they don’t contain dairy, eggs, honey, or other animal products—and made with natural ingredients. Much of its goods are also gluten-free, wheat-free, soy-free, and sugar-free.

Vegan Baker

READ FULL ARTICLE

The Edible Flours bakery is, hopefully, a sign of more similar restaurants around the country.  I am happy to see that Canada has supported the establishment — maybe they will open some similar bakeries in the states!!

If you know of any Gluten Free Vegan Restaurants or bakeries, please let me know and I will post a message about them!

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Gluten Free Restaurant Chains

Posted April 13, 2012 By Sandy
Have you had problems finding a plan to eat when you are out or travelGluten Free Restaurant Chainsing? Eating out can be a challenge for Gluten Free Vegans.  Carolyn Scott, Executive producer, creator, host, writer, ‘The Healthy Voyager” has compiled a list of 36 (yes, that is thirty-six) restaurant chains that will oblige Gluten Free Vegans.

How to Order Vegan, Gluten Free Or Healthier Options at National Restaurant Chains

Expanding on last week’s post on healthier fast food finds, I’ve compiled a list of popular restaurant chains that can be found nationwide. You never know when you are heading out for a meal with a group and need to do the best you can with the menu you are given. No matter where you may be in the U.S. (and Canada), you should have no problem finding a decent meal at any of the places on the list below.

READ FULL POST

I love Carolyn for taking the time to check out these great restaurants for Gluten Free (and Vegan) menu options.  Personally, I get rather tired of constantly packing food whenever we travel.

One tip we use that works really well is to check out any buffet style restaurants.  Most of them have a large veggie/salad bar that always works well for me.  And if you ask, they are really helpful in telling you which dishes are gluten free or not.

One of our favorite buffet restaurant is Gold Corral.  My carnivore husband loves the large meat entrees, and of course, I find their veggie and salad bar just wonderful!  There are so many dishes to chose from …. even for me!  And occasionally, I find a dessert I can even eat (although, I frequently eat fruit for dessert)!

Other good choices are Mexican restaurants.  Most will fix vegan options using corn tortillas — but I have found that you need to be careful when making your requests because lots of the waiter cannot fully understand English as well as the rest of us.

Our third choice for restaurants is Chinese buffets.  I need to be more careful in these restaurants as their is hidden gluten in some of their dishes. Rice is nearly always safe and they have lots of veggie based entrees as well.

So … where do you go to eat where you are out?  Have you found a restaurant that caters to Gluten Free Vegans that you would like to share with us?

By the way, if you are interested in Carolyn’s book, The Healthy Voyager, click the link below:

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Gluten Free Travel

Posted March 28, 2012 By Sandy

Gluten Free Travel can be challenging.  Where can you eat safely?  WHAT can you eat safely?

Amie Valpone gives us some great ideas on how to deal with this issue in her article in the Huff Post Food!  Her best advice is to bring your own food!  Don’t know if that is the answer you were expecting, but it is the best answer.

When we travel (mostly by car), I ALWAYS bring a few things with me.  Sometimes, packing a lunch or two is so much easier than trying to explain to friends, family or restaurants what you can or cannot eat!

How to Travel Naturally Gluten-Free

We all know how tough it can be to eat healthy while traveling. Add a food allergy or intolerance to your trip and it gets even tougher. Aside from the endless packing and lingering jet lag, the last thing you want to do is spend hours in the kitchen preparing healthy snacks. Am I right? …..

… Take a corn tortilla, such as those from La Tortilla, and spread on a dollop of hummus, avocado slices, a handful of cooked lentils, Barlean’s ground flax seeds and fresh arugula. Wrap it like a burrito and wrap in tin foil for an easy snack or meal option….

READ FULL STORY

Gluten Free TravelWe often eat out at Mexican Restaurants when we are traveling.  They have lots of dishes that are Gluten Free and with just a few suggestions, they can also make them Vegan.  Mexican Restaurants are one of the few places I feel ‘safe’ as there are so many options and most dishes can be ordered with corn tortillas.  Our local Mexican Restaurant makes a wonderful vegan Fajita that I would think you could order in any similar restaurant.  And of course, I bring lots of my own food and snacks just in case ….

How do you deal with Gluten Free Vegan Travel?

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Best Gluten Free Vegan City

Posted March 6, 2012 By Sandy

Asheville, North Carolina has been named the Best Vegetarian-Friendly Small City!  Featuring numerous vegan/vegetarian restaurants, they continue to add more Gluten Free Vegan grocery stores as well.  No wonder, they are considered the Best Gluten Free Vegan City in the US!

Asheville, NC is a Vegetarian, Gluten Free and Vegan Diner’s Dream

Asheville, North Carolina continues to live up to it’s title of Best Vegetarian-Friendly Small City.  Asheville is a vegetarian, gluten free and vegan diner’s dream. Starting in downtown Asheville and heading north along a 2 mile stretch of road, locals affectionately refer to as the Merrimon Shuffle, you will find two exclusively vegetarian restaurants; the Laughing Seed and  Rosetta’s, Posana, a gluten free restaurant, Plant, a vegan restaurant and VegHeads, a vegetarian drive thru. Only in Asheville.  Along the way you will also go by Greenlife  Grocery store which features everything from “simple vegetarian to “raw” cuisine in a mostly local food approach. And this is just the Merrimon Shuffle. You will find many more  food co-ops, grocers and other restaurants that fulfill the needs of any dining desires.

READ FULL STORY

Sounds like a great place to spend a nice vacation!

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