some suggestions, particularly for travel

We aren’t planning to travel anywhere soon. I just want to be at home right now. However, the next time we drag all our suitcases to the airport, I’m going to make sure these two foods are packed in them.

Simpli gluten-free oatmeal is delicious. Danny doesn’t like oatmeal, generally, but he loves this stuff. Maybe that’s because it’s instant and it reminds him of childhood breakfasts. I love the apricots and the fact that the oats are so carefully certified gluten-free. It’s also great as muesli. Lu eats it up.

Glutenfreeda granola has cashews, cranberries, and honey. I love that it’s from a local company, one that has been doing great gluten-free work for years.

The best part about both of these products is that they have individual packets inside. Stuck in a hotel where the only thing gluten-free for breakfast is yogurt? Bring out the granola. Have access to hot water? You can have oatmeal.

We all need a good breakfast, especially on the road. These two foods go with us.

 

30 comments on “some suggestions, particularly for travel”

  1. hannahpea

    Glutenfreeda instant oatmeal packets got me through a week in Austria–that and the wonderful cured meats I could get at the deli there. For lots of protein, sardines are my new favorite travel food.

  2. Suz

    I like to pack hemp protein mix inside baggies inside my shaker for back up. All I need is juice or rice milk, and I’m covered. It is a great back-up kit.

  3. Margaret Wright

    I found Trio bars at Costco — they have nuts, grains and dried fruit and they are delicious with yogurt or just by themselves as a snack or breakfast. Filling and gluten free.

  4. Kate (This Place is Now a Home)

    Any suggestions on gluten free snacks/foods “to go” that don’t have oats? Obviously we already do fruits, veggies, etc. My toddler is gluten sensitive and allergic to oats. So granola and oatmeal are a no go. I found one kind of gluten-free, oat-free protein bar for him, but they get kind of old. Would love to hear your suggestions, if you have any!

  5. Rachel Grundy

    Good ones — I am going on a buddhist study conference in December and I don’t think they will be able to completely cater for my needs there. Will definitely look out for these! I always take individual packets of GF oatmeal whenever I’m travelling somewhere, they have been a lifesaver in the past.

  7. Pat

    I don’t have any reason to be GF, but this oatmeal looks waaay better than what is generally on offer at my grocery. I’ll be looking for it!

  8. AmandaonMaui

    I tried out the Glutenfreeda Oatmeal while I was in Bellevue. While it’s sold here, I have a standing order with Bob’s Red Mill for a case of gluten free oats every six months. So, it was a good opportunity to try something else. While I found the price a bit high for how many packets are in a box (compared to how many servings I can get for the same price with non-instant oatmeal from BRM) they were a good option for traveling.

    In the hotel room I’d just run some water through the coffee maker and pour it over the oats in the morning. It was heaven sent when we would stay up working until midnight or later, only to wake up at 6am.

  10. Shawnette Fox

    I was so excited to find Glutenfreeda Granola on the cheap at a grocery outlet store in Issaquah that carries lots of GF goodies. You never know what treasures you’ll find. They had two flavors-one with almonds and apples, one with raisins and honey. I don’t like dried apple chunks, but I bought some of both kinds so my kids could have the variety. I excitedly opened the raisin variety to find.…dried apples. Maybe the packaging got swapped. I opened the apple variety to find.…dried apples. Another box of the raisin variety? Dried apples. My kids were thrilled they didn’t have to share. I love outlet stores.

  11. gluten free gift

    Neither one of these items are found on the shelves up here in Canada to date… I will keep my eye on the shelves next time we cross the border. Glutino does make some tolerable breakfast bars that I will pack and eat in an emergency. Hotel breakfast does usually just mean yogurt (or eggs that don’t look like ANYBODY should eat them!!).

    1. Laura

      Glutenfreeda instant oatmeal is in Canada. I was excited when I found it. I’m not sure where you’re located, but I get it at Lifestyle Markets in Victoria, B.C.

  12. Sarah

    I am always looking for things to go in our travel bags, these are great suggestions. Since we just moved to a new city, I have been able to find Gluten Freeda and have some of the abovementioned granola in our cupboards right now, but I haven’t seen the simpli. I think travelling with instant oatmeal is genious, nearly everyone loves it and it is easy, so that will definitely be added to my supplies. We have been doing lots of freezed dried fruits, glutino bars (for my toddler), fresh fruit and vegetable cut up and hard boiled eggs for the actual travel. But once we get there, unless I can find a good supermarket on arrival it can get pretty creative and nutritionally unvaried while I sort things out. I really need to have some more vacations to hone my skills.…

  13. karen morgan

    I’ll be sure to try both as I haven’t yet, but having traveled quite a bit myself this year, you are absolutely right about the dearth of gluten free options–especially for breakfast. I really love the Organic Pocono Cream of Buckwheat Cereal and Organic Bumblebars; these were mainstays for me, but I love the idea of the oats being individually wrapped! Super convenient, especially when traveling with a little one.

  14. Emily

    How fantastic—I was just doing some google searches for travel ideas. I’m a big fan of those individual packs of Justin’s Peanut Butter. And Kind Bars. (great recipe here: http://enlightenedcooking.blogspot.com/2011/09/homemade-trio-bars-and-homemade-kind.html) Also, a bit off-topic, but related.…My husband and I will be going back to Ireland soon, and staying with his family/traveling for 2 weeks—we’ll have access to their kitchen for most of our trip. I’ve been to Ireland several times before (I used to lovingly call it the land of bread, chocolate, and boiled foods.…now I’ll have to alter that catchphrase a bit! ;) ), but this will be my big first GF trip. I intend to do a bit of baking, and don’t realllly want to purchase pricey flours, starches, etc over there. Any tips about traveling with a good amount of flours, kasha, etc in my checked bagage? Not worth the hassle it might cause with TSA? Help! Our family over there is fantastic—but they happily subsist on fried foods and very little fresh fruit and veg/whole grains.…I want to be prepared to cook for them and myself while trying to avoid splurging on new supplies. :/

    1. shauna

      Emily, have a wonderful trip! I’ve traveled with flours before in checked baggage and have never had a problem. What I would suggest is making yourself a gf flour mix (we like our whole-grain mix) and pack it in an airtight jar. Then you’ll have plenty of flour without worrying about a dozen little bags.

  15. Estelle

    I found out the hard way that 10–15% of Celiacs cannot tolerate gluten free oats. Tried some on my son (had been Celiac for several years) & he loved them, but started getting sick with stomach pain & cramps. So out went the oats.
    If travel involves camping or preparing a quick meal in a motel room, there’s a great product called Mushroom Mate…just dip any kind of meat in it & then cook; the flavor is amazing.

  16. Caryn

    thank you for posting this! i’m always looking for products like these — great for keeping a stash at work or my mom’s house when we’re visiting! going on a search for them now…

  17. Brie

    The oatmeal looks yummy, but like all packaged foods, we pay a premium price for packaging. I make my own instant packages with gluten-free oats, sugar, salt, and anything else I want.

    Since gluten-free oats aren’t the quick-cooking kind, use the blender to pulverize 1/3 of the oats into powder. Add a dash of salt and 1/2–1 t. sugar (if desired) per 1/2 cup of oats/powdered oat blend, plus a dash of cinnamon and some dried fruit if you like. In the morning, dump the mix in a cup, add 3/4 c. boiling water, cover with the baggie you had the mix in so it steams well and something to hold the baggie in place (towel, plate, etc.). In about 3 minutes you have breakfast. (Or lunch or dinner in the airport…)

    1. shauna

      This is great! Of course, we generally make things from scratch, but it’s nice to have a package sometimes. Thanks for offering people a different way to do this.

  18. Tammy Bathgate

    Thank You! I am now putting together a survival travel food kit.
    The stress of travel is a challenge in it’s self.

  20. lexi

    Here’s an Andy Rooney-like comment: I always wonder why so many products are labeled as both “gluten-free” and “wheat-free”, such as the Glutenfreeda granola in your post. This is simply redundant. If something is gluten-free it is, by definition, wheat-free. However, I realise if something is wheat-free it is not necessarily gluten-free. Wheat-free means exactly what it says: “wheat-free”. This means it could be made from barley, rye, spelt, kamut, or triticale. This bothers me because I am a bread baker who makes wheat-free breads and people automatically assume they must also be gluten-free. I do make many gluten-free products that are labeled as such, but I am constantly left scratching my head when I see food labeled as gluten-free AND wheat-free. Shauna, as a former English teacher, would you care to comment?

    1. shauna

      I know. This drives me crazy too! I believe it’s because “wheat-free” came into use before gluten-free, since people with wheat allergies began asking for products. Now companies use both to insure both sets of consumers pick it up. But honestly!

  21. cariann1226

    Glutenfreeda saves me almost weekly– so easy to throw in your bag and have anywhere I go! I haven’t seen the other brand and will keep an eye out. I also love Kind Bars– easy to pack and a great snack on the go.

  22. Lisa

    I know that standards are different for pet food, but I’ve been startled to find dog treats that claim to contain wheat products yet be gluten free.

    For example, Nylabone “Healthy Edibles” says thus about one product:
    # All-natural, gluten-free formula …
    # Contains wheat starch,

    (Wheat disagrees with my dog, so I read labels there too. It really startled me when “gluten free” suddenly didn’t also imply “wheat free.”)

    1. shauna

      In Europe, wheat starch is actually classified as gluten-free, since there is no gluten remaining. It sure gets confusing!

      1. Lisa

        So, labels indicating both gluten-free and wheat-free suddently make sense on products sold in Europe (or potentially sold in Europe) because gluten intolerance and wheat allergies are two different issues.

  24. Will

    Help! I’m recently GF and I’m headed to a fairly remote beach house for two weeks. Any secrets and tips? I’ve got quinoa, my whole-grain GF flour mix from your muffin recipe (a godsend– I’ve made not only muffins but pancakes and cookies from it), GF soy sauce, bags of GF chips. Have access to good meat and fish. Thoughts? Thanks! Your website s a life changer.

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