I am just coming back from Disney, so I thought I could give you some tips on how to eat gluten-free while traveling when you do not choose where you eat. I have done a post on how to stay SANE in Disney, but this year was slightly different. It was my third time going to Disney with my bosses and the kids, so I pretty much knew what to expect, but there is always things that happens unexpectedly.
As always, I packed some things before leaving Houston such as: sardines, seaweed snacks, QuestBars, Kit’s Organic bars, nuts, whey protein, green powder, instant coffee single packs, salad dressing, homemade beef jerky, homemade beef liver jerky, and stevia. I also brought a vegetable peeler, a knife, a fork, a spoon, a shaker bottle, and ziploc bags which came pretty handy during my trip. I have learned after traveling to Disney a couple of times that peeling and cutting a cucumber with a plastic knife was not very practical.
In the airplane, I only had some pancakes that I made a couple days before that I wrapped up in some foil to eat when I would get hungry because we left around 6 am. I ordered a coffee at Starbucks with some water before getting in the plane. When we landed, we went to Cici’s Pizza which was not the best place for me to eat, but they had a buffet with salad which is what I got. I filled up two plates with salad, and I had a protein bar when we got out.
We usually go to Walmart after getting set up at the hotel which we did this year too. I bought almond milk, baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, radishes, cucumbers, and Greek yogurt. I used to buy lettuce, but every time it gets frozen in the hotel fridge, so I did not buy any this year. When we came back to the hotel, my bosses ordered some pizza for them and the kids, so I ate a cucumber with a can of sardines I brought.
For breakfast, I was eating some Greek yogurt mixed with green powder, and I would get instant coffee mixed in almond milk with whey protein, and some stevia in my shaker bottle. Every day for lunch I packed jerkys (a mix of beef liver jerky, and beef jerky), seaweed snacks, baby carrots, and cherry tomatoes. I was packing some nuts and a Kit’s Organic bar just in case we would stay longer, and I would get hungry before going back to the hotel. I also got iced coffee with half and half at Starbucks while we were in the park.
Every night we went out to eat, but I did not choose the place, so I will give you the list of the restaurant we went to, and what I ordered.
Cookes of Dublin: it is pretty difficult to get something gluten free in there since they serve fish and chips, but I got a grilled chicken burger without the bun, and fries. I would advise you to ask the server before ordering if you have Celiac because I have no idea how they cook their food. I did not order, so I ended up having to take off the bun before eating which would not be something someone with Celiac disease would be able to do. The burger was awesome!
Fuddrucker’s: I was able to order a burger because they make gluten free bun. They also have a buffet where you can add lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles to your burger. I order The Works burger in which I added extra lettuce, and tomatoes. It was pretty good. We went there twice, and the second time I ordered a plain burger in which I added lettuce, pickles, and tomatoes. I put extra tomato slices on the side with onions, and I put some olive oil to make a salad.
T-Rex Cafe: I really did not think I would find something to eat there, but surprisingly they had a gluten-free menu. I ordered the 44 Farms Burger (yes, again!) with a gluten-free bun. Their fries are not gluten-free, so I ordered mashed potatoes I wished I ordered some vegetables instead, but the mashed potatoes were SO good!
Rainforest Cafe: Once again, I was surprised to be able to eat there. They do not have a gluten-free menu, but the Chef came to talk to me, and told me that he could make anything gluten-free because they have gluten-free pasta, and gluten-free buns. I ordered the same thing as I did at T-Rex Cafe with green beans this time.
I brought my own lunch at the beginning of the trip, but on the third day all my veggies were frozen, so there was nothing for me to bring except beef jerkys, nuts, and a Kit’s Organic bar. There are more and more gluten-free options available in Disney, so don’t be afraid to ask before ordering. I was able to order a salad at Pinocchio Village Haus in Magic Kingdom, and at Pizzafari at Animal Kingdom.
We went back to Walmart the night before we leave, so I bought a kale salad, some QuestBars for the trip back home, Greek yogurt for breakfast, and some gluten-free cookies as a treat.
I did not eat as healthy as I usually do during my trip in Disney because it is hard to eat as many vegetables as I usually do while traveling, but I think I did pretty good regarding the circumstances. I think that the more prepared you are the easier it is. Staying healthy does not have to be complicated when you travel, but it is better if you get prepared, and you know where to look for healthy options. I used the Disney World app, and this website places, and options to eat in Disney parks.
I hope that will be useful to you if you travel to Disney, and you have diet restrictions like I do. I tend to bring as much as I can since I do not have control on where we go shopping or where we go eat, but if you do it will be easier for you.
