We Found SO MANY New Gluten Free Foods at the Nourished Festival

Over the summer, we began traveling again. We booked airline tickets and jumped on the plane to visit Washington, DC and then Atlanta, GA (which is one of our favorite locations). We LOVE public transportation and we absolutely love the fact that you can jump on the Metro (from the airport) to almost every location in Atlanta.

While traveling during COVID19, we learned that our FAVORITE hotel feature, the lounges, were not typically open during breakfast and dinner. We rely on this for a reliable hot meal (with eggs and other proteins) and we had to pack a few items for our packable pantry. Why do we have a packable pantry you ask? Well, I am gluten free, my husband relies on protein rich meals, and my daughter...well, she likes snacks! 

I began our packable pantry journey when I began traveling for business years ago and I became gluten free. I had to pack everything - from breakfast to lunch to dinner (and snacks). I started to rely on shelf stable (and low sodium meals) and this approach SAVED me so many times.

So, this week, I was invited to attend the Nourished Festival - "The Gluten-Free Expo" in a virtual format and I was EXCITED to do so. Usually, I attended this expo in Dallas and my daughter referred to it as "snack world". She sampled EVERYONE and we had the opportunity to try many different foods from companies we met at expo. 

This year included the following brands and I cannot wait to interact with them (and to try their products). I have a work trip coming up and it would be great to sample these on-to-go. Also, Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming up soon and it would be great to try these products before purchasing them for Thanksgiving. Also, many of these companies offer the opportunity to order the items and to have them shipped to your door. This is GREAT for rural, gluten free individuals and families. 

• Allergic Traveler
• Bare Life
• BEAM Minerals
• Bedrock Bakers, Inc.
• BFree Foods - I actually eat their tortillas with sunbutter. AMAZING travel treat!

• Blue Dinosaur
• Bread SRSLY
• Camino Spice
• Camp Zeke
• Celestial Cocoa Company
• Celiac Disease Foundation
• Chomps - My husband loves these! Remember's he's the carnivore. 

• COCINA 54 - I cannot WAIT to try these. Gluten free empanadas! VERY exciting!

• Diet Cheesecakes
• Drs. Nutrition Bar
• Eban's Bakehouse
• Epicure - She is Gutsy
• EpiLynx LLC
• Etalia Foods
• Fusion Jerky
• Gluten Intolerance Group
• Great Gluten Escape Summer Camp
• Homefree, LLC
• Honestly Cranberry
• Jack's Paleo Kitchen
• Juice Plus/Tower Garden
• Kalifornia Keto
• Keli's Hawaiian Sauces
• Lorraine's Gluten Free
• Lovely Day Bars
• Mama Stoen's Gluten Free
• Mom's Place Gluten Free
• Mor's Nutrition and More
• Namaste Foods
• Nantucket Pasta Goddess
• Nomato by Norine
• Odd Bagel
• Parma!
• Schar Gluten Free - I absolutely LOVE Schar Gluten Free foods! If I could find these in a rural area, I would DEFINITELY purchase these more often! They've been at the expo for years!

• Supernola
• The Cloud Bread Company
• The Good Crisp Company
• Vana's Meal Options
• Vegetarian Traveler, LLC
• Yumbana Gluten Free

I cannot wait to check out these companies! Join me in connecting with these amazing Nourished Festival Vendors.

Discovering Ready-to-Go Gluten Free and Allergen Friendly Meal Ideas in Dallas at the #GFAFExpo in Dallas!

When you find a free weekend away from work that will TEACH you something new, you have to SEIZE the opportunity! We seized the opportunity to learn about healthy food in a fun atmosphere, we decided to visit the Gluten Free and Allergen Free Expo at the Dallas Market Center in Dallas, Texas.

It was a neat experience to learn about the newest gluten free products while sampling and talking to the company representatives and owners. It was absolutely perfect.

Brazi Bites

Monster Meli's Cookies!

Kinnikinnick Foods

Partake Foods

Check out our last blog post!
https://www.weekendscount.com/2018/10/glutenfreetravel.html 

For our traveling family on our 24 Hour Family Travel Adventures, we try to seize opportunities to cook while we travel. So, we travel with a water kettle from Bodum that fits in my suitcase and we also plan to travel with a small lunch crockpot. This leaves our family with many oatmeal breakfasts, rice filled lunches, and soup filled dinners. Despite the predictability of our meals, we always plan ahead and pack the items that we need in advance (in gallon-sized plastic bags).

Have a great week and plan for the weekend!

Sincerely,

The @WeekendsCount Family!

About Weekends Count - Weekends Count is a Millennial Family Travel, Fun, Food and Activities blog based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in Texas. We review hotels, travel and household items, and millennial family experiences!

Authors - Jennifer and Tony Edwards

Here's a link to our press kit/media kit - http://www.weekendscount.com/p/our-media-kit.html

Contact Information:
1030 East Highway 377 Suite 110
Box #145
Granbury TX 76048
817-382-8475
Send us an Email! We are PR friendly! - weekendscount@gmail.com

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Remember to Purchase or Download Our Family Travel Book on Amazon! - Family Travel Hacks and Tips for Any Budget!

Which Wich - One of the Best Texas Sandwich Chains for Travelers

I learned about Which Wich from one of my students at Sam Houston State University. This business student was enamored with the different options that were available to customers and the fact that the sandwiches could be warmed and PLUS he loved the shakes available to customers.

Now, I am enamored with Which Wich as well. The customizable sandwich options are AMAZING! You have 10+ types of sandwiches at this fast casual restaurant and you can customize almost anything.

Which Wich also has one of my favorite features that is not present in any other restaurant. That's right, newspapers that are available on metal clips! I decided that I would adopt this concept when I built my business because it is a great way to get people engaged and to keep millennials informed of what is happening around them.

My favorite Which Wich restaurant is in The Woodlands in Texas, which is walking distance of the Woodlands Waterway Marriott by Conroe, Texas. This restaurant has an amazing team, a very clean restaurant, and access to your local sports! Also, it is located by the Woodlands Trolley Stop and you can grab and sandwich on your way to a concert at the Woodlands Pavilion.

Have a great week and plan for the weekend!

About Weekends Count - Weekends Count is a Millennial Family Travel, Fun, Food and Activities blog based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in Texas. We review hotels, travel and household items, and millennial family experiences! Our mission at Weekends Count is to provide fun weekend activities for busy frugal families, kids' learning activities for busy parents, parenting tips for busy parents, communication tips for busy couples, money saving tips for frugal families, work/life balance tips for busy working parents, frugal family vacation ideas for millennial couples, and home organizing tips for busy families.

Authors - Jennifer and Tony Edwards

Here's a link to our press kit/media kit - http://www.weekendscount.com/p/our-media-kit.html

Mailing Address: 1030 East Highway 377 Suite 110; Box #145; Granbury TX 76048
Phone Number - 817-382-8475

Send us an Email! We are PR friendly! - weekendscount@gmail.com
Watch Our Videos on YouTube! - http://www.youtube.com/weekendscount/
Become a fan of Facebook! - http://www.facebook.com/weekendscount/
Follow Us on Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/weekendscount/
Look for Us on Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/weekendscount/
Discover the Weekends Count Blog - http://www.weekendscount.com

Marriott M Club Lounge is the Best Restaurant in New Orleans for Millennial Travelers

At Marriott Hotels and Resorts (and most Hilton, Sheraton, Omni, and other hotels), there is a hidden feature that most individuals have no idea about. These are the lounges located on the top floors and bottom floors of most full service hotels. These lounges usually provide patrons with complimentary breakfast, lunchtime snacks, nightlight snacks (or actual dinner), desserts, and drinks!

Also, if you are attending a blogging (or other) conference or working from your hotel, you can print for free, have free coffee without standing in line downstairs without the other coffee drinkers who are paying $6 per cup downstairs, and. It is a great networking opportunity for millennials, moms, professionals, and others who want to exchange business information with others!

Usually, the conference speakers are present in the lounges, the CEO and planners are in the lounges, and other busy professionals who just want to relax away from the busy nature of downstairs.

The Marriott M Club Lounge at the New Orleans Marriott is a hidden gem. I discovered it by mistake when I attempted to travel to my regular lounge upstairs in my favorite hotel in New Orieans and I was informed that there was a M Club Lounge downstairs. This was my first time visiting an M Club Lounge and it was amazing! You can order lunch and dinner, there is a sparking water machine, amazing spaces to work on....WORK, and the dinner is AMAZING!

This video focuses on breakfast time in the M Club Lounge in New Orleans. The hotel had great vegetarian options, amazing gluten free options, fresh fruit, bread pudding (yum), made to order omelets, and you actual get to select items from the actual New Orleans Marriott breakfast buffet! Yes, this includes beignets! Also, anyone can have made to order beignets in the lobby! Plus, there is a bonus video at the end of this video focused on "How Make Beignets" from a baker or chef at the New Orleans Marriott.

This is one of my favorite Marriott Hotels in the United States for Millennials!

Have a great week and plan for the weekend!

About Weekends Count - Weekends Count is a Millennial Family Travel, Fun, Food and Activities blog based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in Texas. We review hotels, travel and household items, and millennial family experiences!

Authors - Jennifer and Tony Edwards

Here's a link to our press kit/media kit - http://www.weekendscount.com/p/our-media-kit.html

Mailing Address: 1030 East Highway 377 Suite 110; Box #145; Granbury TX 76048

Phone Number - 817-382-8475

Send us an Email! We are PR friendly! - weekendscount@gmail.commailto:weekendscount@gmail.com
Watch Our Videos on YouTube! - http://www.youtube.com/weekendscount/
Become a fan of Facebook! - http://www.facebook.com/weekendscount/
Follow Us on Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/weekendscount/
Look for Us on Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/weekendscount/
Discover the Weekends Count Blog - http://www.weekendscount.com

Seven Ways to Make Allergen and Gluten Free Living Easier by Attending the Gluten Free and Allergen Free Expo

Each fall, we look forward to attending the Gluten and Allergen Free Expo in Dallas, Texas. This expo is a great way for you and your family new products for the fall (especially if you have gluten or allergen free needs).

Our family has various food allergies and this expo is the BEST thing that has happened to our family. Through this expo, we are able to discover new brands and get our questions answered! Plus, it is a great way to spend a Saturday or Sunday!

This post contains affiliate links to help you build your shopping list and travel list for your family. We are passionate about the product and the experiences listed in this post, but we also wanted to provide easy links you can click to purchase products for your busy lifestyle.

Here are Seven Ways to Make Allergen and Gluten Free Living Easier
1 - Get Your Gluten and Allergen Free Questions Answered By a Company Representative.

2 - Compare Similar Gluten and Allergen Free Products

3 - Try/Taste the Products Before Purchasing

4 - Connect with Other Individuals at the Booths

5 - Discover New Gluten and Allergen Free Products

6 - Learn MORE about Living a Gluten and Allergen Free Lifestyle

7 - Discover New Gluten & Allergen Free Recipes

Where is the Gluten Free and Allergen Free Expo? When is it?
This year's expo will take place on Saturday, September 10th and Sunday, August 11th from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Dallas Market Hall (North Hall). Here's the best thing...parking is free!

How much are the tickets? Is there a special code?
The normal price for adults is $15.00 a day, but use the code ADVANCE (until September 9th) to experience 20% off the list price! Amazing deal for you and your family! Use our special code (ADVANCE) at this link:
http://www.eventbrite.com/e/dallas-tx-gluten-free-allergen-friendly-expo-sept-10-11-10am-4pm-daily-tickets-19810250994?aff=TXAFFILIATE&afu=127908645563

Interested in FREE TICKETS for the expo? Leave a comment in the space below this post and make a Twitter video telling us WHY you are interested in attending the expo and include @gfafexpo and @weekendscount in your post.
*We will randomly choose THREE individuals to receive FREE tickets for the expo. The MORE you participate, the GREATER your chances!

Discover MORE information about the #GFAF Expo here:

https://www.facebook.com/gfafexpo
https://twitter.com/gfafexpo
https://instagram.com/gfafexpo/

Please let us know if you have ANY questions about this event! It is one of our favorite events in Texas and we love the atmosphere! Watch our video from last year to find out why!

Have a great week and plan for the weekend!

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Subscribe to our newsletter! - http://www.weekendscount.com/p/email-newsletter-signup-form/ 

Can You Fall MORE in Love with Food? Millennial Families Need to Try It!

We hope you are having a great week!


This post contains affiliate links to help you build your shopping list and travel list for your family. We are passionate about the product and the experiences listed in this post, but we also wanted to provide easy links you can click to purchase products for your busy lifestyle.

As a millennial, I love good food that is very portable. Anytime you see me traveling for leisure or work, you will see products from the Love with Food company in my travel bag.

Through our subscription with the Love with Food company, we have learned about many new products and vitamins that our family can use to keep ourselves healthy (especially during colder seasons). Companies with products like Smarty Pants are especially welcome in our household, because our little one loves vitamins.

Through the Love with Food company, you can select a Tasting Box (that's what we have), a Deluxe Box, or a Gluten Free box.

Follow Us! 

Instagram/Twitter/Periscope - @WeekendsCount 

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/weekendscount/ 

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Blog - http://www.weekendscount.com

Subscribe to our newsletter! - http://www.weekendscount.com/p/email-newsletter-signup-form/ 

When We Travel, We Always Take a "Love with Food" Box!

We hope you are having a great week!

This post contains affiliate links to help you build your shopping list and travel list for your family. We are passionate about the product and the experiences listed in this post, but we also wanted to provide easy links you can click to purchase products for your busy lifestyle.

As busy parents who work full-time outside of the home, we are always looking for creative ways to discover new, healthy, allergen-free products for our family. The Love with Food Company definitely helps us meet our nutritional needs as a family.

If YOU are interested in gaining a GLIMPSE into the Love with Box subscription, you can get 40% off your first Tasting Box!

Just try it and let us know your favorite products!

Follow Us! 

Instagram/Twitter/Periscope - @WeekendsCount 

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/weekendscount/ 

Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/weekendscount/ 

Blog - http://www.weekendscount.com

Subscribe to our newsletter! - http://www.weekendscount.com/p/email-newsletter-signup-form/ 

Unboxing It - "Send Me Gluten Free Mail Order Snacks for Healthy Families

Last fall, we attended the Allergen and Gluten Free Expo in Dallas! Here's our post from the event - . While attending the event, we discovered the "Send Me Gluten Free" subscription box program. We LOVE subscriptions and here's our unboxing video!

Which product did you like the most?

Thanks!

J. Edwards

Hail Merry Snacks and Your Next Family Trip! - Gluten Free and Travel Friendly!

We absolutely love Hail Merry snacks. They are vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, made with raw oils, and are paleo friendly! They are the best travel foods for our family (especially the delicious macaroons) and we love the company's story.

Gluten and Allergen Free Expo - The Top Travel Snacks for Gluten and Allergen Free Travelers

We had such a great time at the Gluten and Allergen Free Expo at the Dallas Market Center on November 15th that we decided to make a video about our experience!

The Top Gluten and Allergen Free Travel Friendly Foods - Gluten and Allergen Free Expo in Dallas. #gfafexpo

Each year, we attend the Gluten and Allergen Free Expo in Dallas. This was a great event that I discovered on Twitter.  It seemed like such a great event and the bloggers definitely covered the event well. I wanted the Weekends Count blog to be selected as one of the event bloggers and we were! I said to myself, "Gluten and Allergen Free Expo - Here we come"!  It's a great event that you should definitely consider if you like healthy snacks or someone in your family has food allergies.

Only a Few Hours Left - Join Us Tomorrow at the Gluten and Allergen Free Expo! Look at the Schedule!

The Gluten and Allergen Free Expo at the Dallas Market Center is THIS weekend (November 15-16, 2014).

The GFAF Expo Vendors:
Here is a list of all of the vendors: http://gfafexpo.com/locations/dallas-3/#vendors

I am especially excited about the following vendors: Earth Balance, Enjoy Life, Go Picnic, Hail Merry, Ians (their fish sticks are AMAZING), Kroger, Rudi's, Saffron Road, Sprouts, Sweet Tomatoes, and Udi's.
All of the companies listed are great, but the companies listed above are A+ in the eyes of the Texas Weekends Count family! 

Make Plans to Attend the Gluten and Allergen Free Expo This Weekend at the Dallas Market Center (Nov. 15th and 16th)

This weekend, our family is headed to the Gluten and Allergen Free Expo at the Dallas Market Center (November 15-16, 2014).

We are super excited about this expo because most of our family members suffer from food and environmental allergies. Yes, our allergist loves us. :)