Gluten Free Snacks

[CrabbyPatty]

But you gave me pause here, I'm always looking on the DISboards for GF dining reviews. One review I read, the poster said she ate at Karamel Kuche at Epcot and was able to have the caramel popcorn. I know for a fact that Werther's (who makes the caramels) has wheat in it, it's on their website. Yet she was able to eat it so it made me wonder if she's just avoiding gluten for other reasons (like wanting to eat healthier, etc.). Food for thought!

I think there is an awareness of GF eating for several reasons. First, people are finally getting tested for gluten allergies. Lots of folks (like myself) have gone to nutritionalists who have sugguested that their symptons may be eased by a GF diet (and I can attest that it WORKS for me!). Also, many people believe that a gluten free diet has a connection with helping autism. And recently there is this whole "Lose weight by NOT eating gluten" fad, so people may be eating GF for a number of reasons, and at differing severity levels.

 

[mfd25wife]

I'm totally not trying to sound like a jerk (and I'm sorry if it comes across that way), but does your friend work for the stand at Disney? If not, I don't know if you can really say it would be safe to eat. If so, awesome news, and thanks for sharing! Actually, thanks for sharing anyhow-- I think I know what I'm making when I get home.

I assume that most people here will ask before they eat just to be safe, but I'd hate to see someone think these are OK if by some chance Disney added something different to the mix. Some commercially available egg whites and egg white substitutes aren't always able to be labeled as gluten free and do contain trace amounts of gluten. I mean, come on... they're egg whites. Should be safe, right? Sadly, not always.

I know... preaching to the choir.

Good comment. I wonder how many people interested in GF items here on DIS have been diagnosed with Celiac disease or are gluten intolerant, or just eating GF for various health reasons? I ask because I'm gluten intolerant, so I know I feel about 1000% better eating GF, but I don't necessarily watch labels to the extent that if something is packaged in a plant that also handles wheat, I would be worried about that.

HOWEVER, I know people who have Celiac can be so sensitive to wheat that if a spoon is used to stir a pot of wheat noodles, and the same spoon is used to then stir a pot of rice noodles, they will have a reaction.

They would seemingly appear GF but if something simple like the cinnamon spice that's used contains wheat or gluten, then they're not safe. I can't tell you how many times I've picked up something that you would think it gluten free only to find wheat listed on the label. I actually found a jelly that listed it.



Exactly! Thank you. It's so ridiculous the places that gluten can hide, isn't it? I was recently in the grocery store and picked up some frozen veggies that I thought were safe till I read further on the label and saw they are processed on the same lines as wheat.



I am one of the Celiacs who cannot tolerate gluten, none at all. The scenario you described with the spoon above, that would make me ill and I'd be visiting the bathroom within an hour of eating it.

But you gave me pause here, I'm always looking on the DISboards for GF dining reviews. One review I read, the poster said she ate at Karamel Kuche at Epcot and was able to have the caramel popcorn. I know for a fact that Werther's (who makes the caramels) has wheat in it, it's on their website. Yet she was able to eat it so it made me wonder if she's just avoiding gluten for other reasons (like wanting to eat healthier, etc.). Food for thought!

If I eat gluten, I'm in pain within about 20-30 minutes (originally they were ready to yank out my gallbladder but thankfully, figured out it was gluten), then the restroom issue, then the puking. I avoid it because it's really really ugly and lasts for about 2 days for me. Avoiding it also cut my migraines in half, so we were thrilled with that. The lack of stomach issues after eliminating gluten was amazing. We check labels and websites and as much as we can. The only thing I found on the glazed nuts was that they cannot guarantee that an employee didn't touch something else that had gluten as they were filling the bags but the nuts themselves do not have gluten. I don't avoid all products from factories that produce something with gluten (even Amy's does). I do avoid any product with gluten in it and any product made on the same line as one with gluten. I'm lucky. We have a gluten free store close by as well as some of the larger stores beginning to carry more gf products.

I have had people tell me oh well, if you avoid it for a while, you'll be able to eat it after a time.

 

[livndisney]

This link lists a lot of GF snacks: http://www.allergyfreemouse.com/dining/gluten-free-at-walt-disney-world-parks/

I would not go by that list. It is almost a year old and does not take into account any of the recent changes WDW has made.

 

[mince]

I would not go by that list. It is almost a year old and does not take into account any of the recent changes WDW has made.

Maybe so, but it's something to work with. Dole whips, Mickey bars and some other packaged treats have stayed the same. The OP asked about snacks and so far only a few have provided snacks for her. Instead the thread has become something completely different. Tons of these snacks are still available at WDW and until someone provides something more updated, I'll be using it this summer.

 

[PrincessRhi]

Good comment. I wonder how many people interested in GF items here on DIS have been diagnosed with Celiac disease or are gluten intolerant, or just eating GF for various health reasons? I ask because I'm gluten intolerant, so I know I feel about 1000% better eating GF, but I don't necessarily watch labels to the extent that if something is packaged in a plant that also handles wheat, I would be worried about that.

HOWEVER, I know people who have Celiac can be so sensitive to wheat that if a spoon is used to stir a pot of wheat noodles, and the same spoon is used to then stir a pot of rice noodles, they will have a reaction.

I'm not Celiac, nor do I really have to avoid gluten since my gluten allergy isn't severe enough where trace amounts will really do damage, but I still watch ingredients like a hawk and choose to stay gluten free about 99% of the time. My problem is that if the gluten allergy flares up, then my ulcerative colitis is triggered (followed by arthritis, migraines, and days off work). It's just so much easier to avoid gluten as much as possible since depending on stress levels, my "too much gluten trigger" changes.

I can have the occasional non-gf beer or gluten-filled snack, but if I unknowingly have more gluten than I've allocated for on the same day of a gluten splurge, we're talking weeks of being sick. So that's where going over the ingredients as much as possible is helpful for me.

Sometimes going to the parks, I just pack my own snacks-- baby carrots, Bumble Bars, and Glutino pretzels. But I've for the most part found that Disney does an amazing job at keeping things gluten free, and the CMs are more than willing to help you out.

 

[jmkrat]

The makers of the nuts are The Nutty Bavarian, I just sent them an email asking about the gluten status of their products. They state on their website that they do have the nut carts at Disney World. I will post as soon as I get an answer from them.

 

[jmkrat]

I received a quick short answer:


Nutty Bavarian
Sent By:
"J&BRich" <jnbrich@enter.net> On: Mar 03/09/12 12:29 PM

Janet,
Yes, our “Nutty Bavarian” nuts are gluten free. Thank you for your inquiry.
Jon

Short and sweet. No details were given.

This is their website if someone would like further verification. They said they have the nut carts at Disney World. I have not received verification from Special Diets. I actually don't feel that Special Diets is too helpful anymore. There is also no verification from Disney that this is their vendor. But it does state on Nutty Bavarian's website that they have the nut carts at Disney world.

http://www.nuttybavarianlv.com/nutrition.html

 

[SpectroMagic*o*]

We are using the Deluxe Dining plan during our trip to WDW this July. We have read a lot of reviews of gluten free food at the various restaurants. However, I'm really uninformed when it comes to snacks. I know about some of the basics like Dole whips and popcorn, but I don't want to miss out on anything really good.

I'd really appreciate a heads up on where to go for good snacks. For those of you who can't have gluten, where are your favorite places for snacks? Any places you avoid? Also, any pictures of GF snacks would be awesome!

Thank you for posting this!!! My husband has a wheat allergy and also follows a gluten free diet...we are going to Disney next month and love the advice.

Just a couple side notes that I do know of incase you are interested...there is a bakery in Downtown Disney that offers gluten free and vegan baked goods. Also you might like to know that the new Art of Animation resort is going to be offering gluten free beer in their food court when they open...AND Hollywood Brown Derby in DHS is testing an interactive special dietary menu for people with food allergies that we could see in other restaurants as well. Thats my Disney gluten free roundup for now, LOL!

 

[3prettyprincesses]

If I eat gluten, I'm in pain within about 20-30 minutes (originally they were ready to yank out my gallbladder but thankfully, figured out it was gluten), then the restroom issue, then the puking. I avoid it because it's really really ugly and lasts for about 2 days for me. Avoiding it also cut my migraines in half, so we were thrilled with that. The lack of stomach issues after eliminating gluten was amazing. We check labels and websites and as much as we can. The only thing I found on the glazed nuts was that they cannot guarantee that an employee didn't touch something else that had gluten as they were filling the bags but the nuts themselves do not have gluten. I don't avoid all products from factories that produce something with gluten (even Amy's does). I do avoid any product with gluten in it and any product made on the same line as one with gluten. I'm lucky. We have a gluten free store close by as well as some of the larger stores beginning to carry more gf products.

I have had people tell me oh well, if you avoid it for a while, you'll be able to eat it after a time.

I've had people say the exact same thing to me. I just patiently explain that this is a lifelong eating plan, not something you can outgrow.

Your symptoms sound so similar to mine and I too would get migraines when I ate gluten. Within three days of going gluten free, I had zero stomach pain and not a single headache. It was phenomenal, like night and day! I still can't believe it.

Sometimes going to the parks, I just pack my own snacks-- baby carrots, Bumble Bars, and Glutino pretzels. But I've for the most part found that Disney does an amazing job at keeping things gluten free, and the CMs are more than willing to help you out.

I'm going to bring more GF snacks into the parks too. Also, there's a Wholefoods nearby Disney that I'm planning to hit as well. Can I ask, what's a Bumble Bar?

I received a quick short answer:


Nutty Bavarian
Sent By:
"J&BRich" <jnbrich@enter.net> On: Mar 03/09/12 12:29 PM

Janet,
Yes, our “Nutty Bavarian” nuts are gluten free. Thank you for your inquiry.
Jon

Short and sweet. No details were given.

This is their website if someone would like further verification. They said they have the nut carts at Disney World. I have not received verification from Special Diets. I actually don't feel that Special Diets is too helpful anymore. There is also no verification from Disney that this is their vendor. But it does state on Nutty Bavarian's website that they have the nut carts at Disney world.

http://www.nuttybavarianlv.com/nutrition.html

Thank you posting this! I used to love those nuts from Epcot but last trip, I contacted Special Diets and they too could not confirm whether it was GF. I'm pretty sure though that those nut carts only sell nuts and drinks though, right?