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.

Traveling During COVID19: Cooking in Your Hotel Room - Shopping List

When we travel, we are extremely focused on having the BEST experience while saving money. One of the most effective ways that I've found to help us save money, save time, and (now) stay safe is to cook inside of our hotel room. 

We've been cooking inside of our hotel rooms since 2008. I used to have a lot of business travel and I discovered that I could stay in bed a bit longer if I could pack oatmeal packets in my travel bag. Now, I've transitioned from simply traveling with oatmeal packs to traveling with breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  

Despite our frugalness, we LOVE to eat a good restaurant breakfast (and lunch). In fact, it is one of our most MISSED activities during the pandemic. We love a good full restaurant buffet with french toast, sausage, bacon, pancakes, scrambled eggs, a good English Breakfast tea... oh my - I am just getting hungry just thinking about it!

Let's talk about the real reason for this post. Traveling with food and cooking in your hotel room.

We always have a grocery checklist before we travel. This checklist changes if we choose to travel by air or via car. We have a TSA friendly domestic and international travel grocery shopping list. Now, we have a neat opportunity to customize our shopping list without entering a grocery store through our weekly orders through Imperfect Foods. Check them out!

Despite our love for a good restaurant breakfast, we have not taken the leap to dine in a restaurant since February 2020. Actually, we have just started the carry out process at restaurants.

This post contains affiliate links to help you build your shopping list and travel list for your family. We provide easy links for you to click to make your busy lifestyle easier! 

Here's our typical grocery checklist:

Fruits and Vegetables:

Apples

Avocados

Grapes

Oranges

Baby Carrots

Breakfast Foods:

Bagels

Bob's Red Mill Oatmeal

Almond Butter

Clif Bars

Bob's Red Mill - Gluten Free Pancake Mix

Lunch Foods:

Bread (for Sandwiches)

Tortillas (for Wraps)

Seeds of Change - Rice

Dinner Foods:

StarKist Chicken Creations, Chicken Salad, 2.6 oz Pouch

StarKist Chunk Light Tuna in Water

Chicken of the Sea Premium Skinless & Boneless Pink Salmon,

Pasta

Bear Creek - Soup Mix

Additional Items:

Dash Griddle

Packable Kettle (for Hot Water)

Mini Crockpot (for Road Trips) OR Lunch Crock (for Airplane Travel)

Foil Sheets (Purchase these at Sam's or the Dollar Tree)

Plates

Dawn Dish Soap  (Purchase these at Sam's or the Dollar Tree)

Travel Cups

Plastic Bags  (Purchase these at Sam's or the Dollar Tree)

Olive Oil

We usually place all of these items in gallon-sized bags and place them in our North Face Backpack! Plus, it is easier to take out during the TSA security screening. 

Definitely pre-plan your meals ahead of time. Plus, if you have any questions or if you want to see a meal guide, please let us know! 

Have a great week and plan for the weekend!

Sincerely,

The @WeekendsCount Family!

About Weekends Count - Weekends Count Magazine is focused on helping people navigate travel, build their family business, and manage their money. We provide tips, printables, and easy-to-understand infographics to help people learn amazing ways to make their lives easier.

We are located in the Dallas-Fort Worth and East Texas areas. based in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas and the Shreveport Metroplex area.

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:
Weekends Count

Box 501
Beckville, TX 76048

weekendscount@gmail.com
(817) 382-8475
Send us an Email! We are PR friendly! - weekendscount@gmail.com

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

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

Our Social Media Channels:
Check Us Out 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

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

Discovering Foods at the Gluten Free and Allergen Friendly Expo in Dallas

Recently, I discovered that I have a wheat allergy. Yes, our family attends the Gluten Free and Allergen Friendly Expo each year, BUT I have always focused on the Allergen Friendly foods. 

This year, it is definitely different for our family. Since June, I've been cooking with chickpea pasta, rice noodles, rice dishes for travel, and many Schar snacks! This has truly been one of the most different personal challenges that I have ever taken. It is SO DIFFICULT to find dishes that do not have wheat. 

I've attended the expo in the past, but now I am attending the expo with a fresh outlook! A fresh, gluten free outlook! YES! Also, engage with the companies listed below on social media if you have any questions.

Seriously, EVERYTHING has wheat! From cereal and cookies to soy sauce and some restaurant foods, it is very important to read the ingredients BEFORE you consume the product.

I've also discovered the importance of connecting with Gluten Free companies on social media (Facebook and Twitter). You can discover some great deals while learning more about the gluten free goodies they offer.

Speaking of which, check out these amazing gluten free and allergen friendly products! 

Aleia's Foods (@aleiasgf) - Almond Horns, Chocolate Chip Cookies, and my daughter's favorite... Coconut Macaroons!

BFree (@BFreeFoods) - Gluten free, wheat free & vegan breads and rolls!

Biena (@BienaSnacks) - I have these on REPEAT (Amazon Subscribe and Save Repeat - that is).

Blake's Seed Based (@blakeseedbased) - YASS! These are amazing too! I cannot wait to try these! TRAVEL SNACKS!!!

Blue Diamond (@BlueDiamond) - Gluten free crackers and snacks!!

Bob's Red Mill (@BobsRedMill) - Travel-friendly OATMEAL! My travel staple!!!

Brazi Bites (@BraziBites) - Our family, especially me (the gluten free one) LOVE(S) these! They are great travel food as well!

Deliciousness

DoTerra

Bone Broth Soups

Enjoy Life - Eat Freely (I love this company as well! Plentils have been in my little one's daily lunch snack packs for WEEKS. These and hummus dip? Have MERCY!)

Explore Cuisine (@explorecuisine) - Lentil Pasta, Spaghetti!

Forno Minas (@amofornodeminas) - (These have been GREAT travel food as well!)

Freedom (Instagram - @freedomfoodsus) - From Messy Monkeys Pizza and Cheese Snacks to the most DELICIOUS cereal ever! From Cocoa Crunch and Tropico's to Maple Crunch and Pro-Teen Crunch), check these out now!

Garlic Expressions

Gem City - Fine Foods (Gluten Free)

Go Veggie - (These are available at Kroger and MOST of the time on iBotta. My FAV!)

Good Karma

Handfulls

Hannah's Gluten Free Bakery

Hello Fresh (@HelloFresh) - (Our family subscribed to Hello Fresh YEARS ago and we loved it! It actually inspired us to cook more and to spend more time together). We cannot wait to try this Thanksgiving box)!

Honey Stinger (@HoneyStinger) - (I'll admit, United Airlines made me HOOKED on Wafel crackers!)

Ka-Pop Ancient Grains

Kay's Naturals - Cereal and Pretzels

Kinnikinnick - Gluten Free (Cookies, Bread, and Cake Mix) (@KinnikinnickYEG) - Those boxed crackers and sweet treats with BREAD? Ordering these now!

Liteful (@LifefulFoods) - From breakfast, sweets, breads, pies, cakes, and SAMPLERS? Girls and guys - We have to try this! By the way, they have CARROT CAKE!!!

Lundberg Family Farms (@lundbergfarms) - (We are such fans of their rice! We eat rice 5-6 days a week and we LOVE their products!)

Manni's Foods

Monster Meli's (Instagram - @melismonstercookies) - That mix though, plus they have a Wal-Mart partnership? Of course, I am trying these cookies!

Mikey's Muffins (@MikeysMuffins) - Paleo, Keto, and Gluten Free Breads, Crusts, and Baked Goods? Have mercy!!! 

Milton's Craft Bakers

Mozaics Chips (@MozaicsChips) - Ya'll, chips made with peas! Sign me up! Plus, this is a great travel "with protein" snack!

Natural Grocers (@NaturalGrocers) - (We love Natural Grocers! Especially the one in Tyler, Texas. We want to officially THANK THEM for choosing small towns in Texas). We need access to amazing food!

Nima Sensor (@NimaSensor) - Food sensors for on-the-go and travel dining???

YamaChan Ramen

Norwex (@Norwex) - (My late mother LOVE their products and she said that I HAD to use Norwex products with my daughter). From laundry detergent and wash cloths, this company has it all. Check it out! 

Pamela's Products - (I love their products! WAFFLE Mix...YAAAS!)

Partake Foods (@PartakeFoods) - (I love the fact that this company was created by a multicultural entrepreneur! I hope to emphasize this diversity-focused fact as I introduce this company to daughter)! We talk about WHY food were created and WHERE the food came from!

Path of Life (@PathofLifeBrand) - O, Frozen Gluten Free Food that even has KALE???? Oh, goodness yess! 

San-J Tamari (@SanJTamari) (Oh, you guys.. This soy sauce is AMAZING and I love it so much. I was happy to discover it a few months ago while dining a PF Changs in Seattle). Their gluten free menu was AMAZING! 

Sauce Goddess (@SauceGoddess)

Smart Flour Foods (@SmartFlourFoods)

Sprouts Farmers Market (@SproutsFM) - (That grilled peach recipe though...)

Sunbutter (@SunButter) - (I first learned about Sunbutter in Go Picnic packs. These are DELICIOUS with bananas!!!)

Swerve

Taste Republic (@taste_republic) - GRAIN FREE and GLUTEN FREE Pasta!!!

Terra Wash - Do Laundry with No Detergent

The Good Crisp Company (@thegoodcrisp) - CHIPS!!!!

The Salad Spice Company - (I cannot wait to try this company)

The Vitamin Shoppe - (@VitaminShoppe)

Veggicopia (@Veggicopia)

Peanut Free Wow Butter (@WOWButterUK) - (I just have one word to say.. PROTEIN!)

Xochitl (@XochitlChips) - (Chips and Salsa - Oh my!!!!)

Yum Butter - (We love these too and I cannot WAIT to finally make a REAL "peanut butter" and jelly!)

Zego - Delicious Allergy Friendly Snacks

The Gluten Free and Allergen Friendly Expo (October 27-28) in Dallas is a MUST attend event for families who have children with food allergies OR who are gluten free.

Do you want to know some additional information about the GFAF Expo. Discover more here: http://www.weekendscount.com/2014/11/the-top-gluten-and-allergen-free-travel.html

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

Our Social Media Channels:
Check Us Out 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

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