Many of you have just returned from Christmas and New Year’s travels, and you may have been reminded of what a pain it is to fly when you are gluten-free. Gluten-free or not, with new baggage fees, we’re all trying to pack minimally. Is it possible to cram everything you’ll need for a week away into a carry on? Not if you’re packing a cooler of gluten-free food. And you’d better not even think of transporting anything that looks remotely like a gel or a powder or you won’t get past security.
We traveled barebones this Christmas, and when you’re packing Christmas gifts (unwrapped of course), that’s quite a challenge. The Husband and I managed to share one checked bag that weighed in at 48.5 pounds, just under the 50 pound limit. But thankfully we were traveling to see Gluten-Free Mom, so I didn’t have to bring the pantry.
For a quick flight, gluten-free eaters can get by with a gluten-free snack bar. But if you have multiple flights or long layovers, it gets even harder. Why? Because then you need a real meal in the gluten-free desert called The Airport Terminal. Unless you want a dry, prepackaged iceberg lettuce salad with a few carrot shavings and orange tomatoes, you’re going to arrive at your destination ravenous and cranky.
But times are changing.
I was pleasantly surprised while passing through the Atlanta Airport to find GoPicnic ready-to-eat meals in one of the convenience stores. I had first seen GoPicnic at the Allergen and Gluten-Free Expo last Spring, so I knew that some of their snacks and meals were gluten-free. Was it possible that these would be too? A gluten-free oasis? Thankfully, it was not a mirage!
We bought two, the Hummus & Crackers and Sunbutter & Crackers. They were both all natural, gluten-free, and vegan.
Each box was $5.99, but compared to other airport food prices, and considering that the Husband would no longer have to deal with a crabby wife on the next flight, this was a good investment. I did an iPhone photo shoot on my lap at the gate so I could share this great news with you.
GoPicnic meals come in small boxes that turn into a convenient snack tray. I felt like a kid opening my first McDonald’s Happy Meal! I couldn’t have cared less about the nutritional value of my cheeseburger and fries in 1979, but the packaging was ingenious. I was thrilled to find that the GoPicnic boxes contained some of my favorite high quality food brands like Enjoy Life, Crunchmaster, Endangered Species, and SunButter.
I completely enjoyed my Hummus & Crackers box.
But it didn’t just contain hummus and crackers. Look at the variety! Edamame, fruit and nuts mix, and even a square of dark chocolate for dessert.
The Husband chose the SunButter & Crackers. I love that he chooses to eat gluten-free so that we can share our meals, especially since he usually shares more than I do!
Crackers, SunButter, dried fruit, seeds and nuts, and a double chocolate cookie. (He even shared the cookie!) Now that’s much better than a dry airport salad.
GoPicnic has created four other gluten-free ready-to-eat boxed meals:
I’m thankful to have stumbled upon GoPicnic in the airport. I hope they’re in the next airport I’m traveling through. Just in case, I’ll be ordering a few to keep in my pantry. The boxes are no bigger than a novel, so it will be easy to toss one into my travel purse. You can order them online and maybe even try this GoPicnic Gluten-Free Variety Pack!
Your turn to share:
- Have you found other gluten-free gems at an airport?
- What are your gluten-free travel tips?
- Need to gripe? What’s your worst airport food experience?
- Which airports carry gluten-free food? Let’s start a list… Atlanta, Nashville…please add in the comments and I’ll update the list.
because often carob is a sad replacement for chocolate, and the almost black color turned me off. But the smell of carob upon opening the wrapper, and the delicious deep carob taste, quickly changed my mind. The Rise Protein Bars are dense and chewy with little crisps of rice.
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are sturdy enough to hold a dip and crunchy enough to satisfy the munchies.
