Hey everyone! I'm Kate and I blog (sporadically... oops) over at Work in Progress. Today I have the honor of filling in for the lovely Chelsea - unfortunately for you, I'm not a creative gourmet chef or a knowledgeable RD-to-be... BUT I have done the whole multi-day road trip thing!
Since Chelsea's on a road trip right now, I thought that it would be an appropriate thing to talk about. I've sent the past 9 months living out in Colorado Springs, Colorado and just last week made the five day (yes... FIVE DAY) drive back to my home in Philadelphia, PA. What makes this interesting (besides the Buffalos in Kansas of course) is that I have some serious food intolerances - namely, gluten and dairy. I know that's pretty much every food that exists, right? So as you can imagine, it makes travelling and eating out rather complicated. But I managed my five day road trip pretty well and even enjoyed most of the things I ate! So without further ado - here is your guide to extended travel with food intolerance: not just surviving it, but enjoying it!
1. Snacks for the road
This is a big one, because chances are there are going to be some meals where you're just not going to be able to get enough food. Especially if you're driving through the Midwest... there just aren't a lot of options. So before you even leave the comfort of your home, make sure to load up on snacks! My favourites:
Pop Chips (holy balls these are good. And the only ingredients are potatoes, salt, and oil!)
Other snacks like GF pretzels, lentil crackers, baked apple chips
Fruit: Clementines, apples, grapes (maybe pack a cooler)
Trail Mix: mine usually contains almonds, brazil nuts, walnuts (or whatever nuts you like... totally refraining from making nut jokes here, btw), chocolate chips, dried fruit (mango, papaya, banana) and cheerios (they are GF, did you know?)... and more chocolate chips. I'm all about the chocolate.
2. These restaurants are your friend:
Usually what my mom and I did was eat lunch on the go/in the car, and then have dinner in a nice restaurant after checking into our hotel. Mainly because I just wanted the whole trip to be over with ASAP, but in any case: eating on the road is hard. But I was able to find good, satisfying meals at:
Subway: huge salad with all you can eat veggies, a chicken breast, and a bag of baked Lays for carbs. Satisfied me just fine!
Jason's Deli: little known fact, but they offer ALL of their sandwiches on GF bread, and they've got a great salad bar.
Panera: HIDDEN MENU!
Usually without the baguette, a Panera salad keeps me full for... oh no wait, I'm usually still hungry when I finish it. But all the hidden menu options are gluten-free and packed with tons of protein and fats to keep me satisfied. Check it out here!
Side of potatoes, please!
For me the hardest thing about having a gluten intolerance is getting enough carbohydrates - especially because I'm an endurance athlete. And even when I'm not training (aka right now, recovering from a major surgery), everyone needs carbs. No ifs ands or buts. It's easy when you're at home and can make bastches of rice/quinoa or whatever, but most restaurants your best option is a salad. Especially if you're also dairy-intolerant and can't eat anything smothered in cheese. Enter: the side of potatoes. Lots of pleaces will give you roasted potatoes or a baked potato on the side, so you don't have to go without carbs! Even if it's not on the menu, just ask - most places will have something.
3. Hit the nearest grocery store
If you're like me, you usually eat a bedtime snack every night. And if you can't eat gluten or dairy... well you're screwed when it comes to the complimentary hotel breakfast. What I like to do is go to the grocery store for a snack and breakfast items. Usually a small box of berries, a banana or two, a cup of instant oatmeal, and a small packet of nut butter will do it! If I can find soy or coconut milk yogurt or milk boxes... that's a huge win.
4. Plan ahead
I won't lie, having the internets on my phone was a life saver during this trip. I was able to research the restaurants in the area we were staying and make reservations ahead of time, ensuring that we ate at a place that would have options for me. If you have a smartphone, there is no need to wing it and hope for the best!
So with a little help from snacks and technology, I managed to get all the way through Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, and most of Pennsylvania! Hopefully if you've got some food intolerances, these tips will help you make any lengthy travela little less out-of-your-comfort zone. :)
What are some of your favourite snacks for long drives?
Best and/or worst restaurants you've ever stopped at during a road trip?
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