The Great Gluten-Free Road Trip!
Road trips are a fun American pastime. Packing up the car and hitting the open highways in search of adventure never gets old. However, those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity know road trips can be tricky when it comes to finding food options. Thankfully, with some planning and clever tips, you can still enjoy road trip snacking and meals while maintaining your gluten-free diet.
Plan Ahead
The key to thriving on the gluten-free road is all about advance preparation. Before leaving home, make sure to pack your own snacks like fruits, veggies, gluten-free crackers, nuts, jerky, and other munchies you enjoy. Having these basics on hand prevents you from going hungry in areas where gluten-free options may be lacking.
You’ll also want to map out gluten-free friendly restaurants that are located along your route or final destinations. Many chains like Pizza Hut, Chick-fil-A, and Outback Steakhouse offer gluten-free menus these days. There are also helpful apps like FindMeGlutenFree that you can use to locate restaurants with gluten-free meals anywhere in the country.
Focus on Safe Road Trip Fare
When stopping for quick roadside bites, there are certain items that tend to be safer in regards to gluten. Hard-boiled eggs, yogurts, fruit cups, carrot sticks, sandwiches on certified gluten-free bread, and salads are usually decent bets. Be sure to check labels and ask questions about preparation methods whenever uncertain. For example, salads with croutons and sandwiches prepared on the same surfaces as wheat bread may cause issues.
Truck stops like Loves, Pilot, and Flying J will have marked gluten-free options. Their kitchen staff are trained on gluten-free protocols to avoid cross-contamination. You can feel comfortable ordering their gluten-free breakfast sandwiches, pizza, burgers, hotdogs, and deli salads.
Never Leave Home Without Dessert
One of the toughest road trip sacrifices is missing out on cookies, cupcakes, donuts, and other sweet treats. Having your own stash of packaged gluten-free dessert items ensures you don’t feel deprived or risk being glutened. Consider packing Kind bars, Enjoy Life cookies, Canyon Bakehouse muffins, or Annie’s fruit snacks to satisfy sugar cravings. Some health food markets also sell gluten-free bakery items that make tasty road trip desserts if properly sealed.
Don’t Forget the Coffee Fix
No road trip is complete without copious amounts of caffeine. Luckily most plain hot coffee or iced coffee drinks are gluten-free at chains like Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, and McDonalds. Be sure to verify milk alternatives like soy are marked gluten-free if you are avoiding dairy as well. As for flavored and specialty beverages, double-check size descriptions for problem ingredients like syrups before ordering.
Follow these tips and your next road trip can still be an epic adventure even while gluten-free. Safe travels!