Doc sez no gluten

I just finished packing food for a 6 day grand canyon trip. This was difficult because i cannot eat wheat, rye, oats or barley. Is anyone else fighting this problem? I managed to find enough food but I would appreciate hearing about your experience.

Hi, MaryPhyl-

I hope your new (?) diet helps you feel much better. Some friends are dealing with no gluten and we are avoiding as many carbs as possible, so have found several items that might be of interest to you. Ground flax, ground almonds, and soy flours can make decent cakes and quick breads that are low carb and gluten-free. Corn meal and corn flours are gluten-free. I haven't tried rice flour, which should be gluten-free but will have the carbs that my diabetic husband needs to control. Another option is cocoanut flour. You can make all sorts of quick breads from muffins to pancakes with these. You should be able to make a quick bread at home, cube it, dry it, and use it like stuffing mix, adding herbs, etc., or go sweet and use it like cereal with milk.

I imagine you already know you can use rice, rice noodles, and instant potatoes. This is manageable, with effort. Google gluten-free and black bean brownies. It is amazing what is out there, now.

Good luck!

CamperMom

I am surprised Campermom didn't mention this but quinoa (she also uses quinoa) is also gluten free. I am not like you, but I have figured out that I can overdose on gluten and my joints become swollen and sore. Since I incorporated quinoa into my diet this has not happened.

But there is a lot of stuff available (at least in San Diego).

Yes, quinoa is gluten-free. I have tried and like it. It is less commonly available in stores near me and is more expensive that other grains. Some upsides are higher and more "complete" protein content and very compact. As a test, I cooked some in a Heineken keg-pot, boiling until my small stove went out and setting the can in a cozy for about 15 minutes. It is probably worthwhile to Google other grains that may be gluten-free.

CM

Most of my backpacking meals are probably pretty much gluten free. a lot of the time on the trail I'm easing stuff with rice, or dehydrated potatoes.. Yes I sometimes have oatmaeal or pasta, but I have lots of trips with none of this.