Wheat & Wisdom: Diary of an Everyday Celiac: Surviving Irene

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Thursday, September 1st, 2011 at 8:00 am

Like everyone else in the area, as soon as I heard that a potentially devastating hurricane was on its way, I ran through the checklists to prepare.

However, one checklist was missing for me.

Food preparation for a hurricane. (pic | great-hikes.com)

Irene was my first major storm since my Celiac diagnosis two years ago. As if preparing for a possible disaster is not nerve-wracking enough, trying to find non-perishable gluten-free, allergy-friendly food is enough to make me panic despite the knowledge I have collected since my diagnosis. My concern was that the three day rule most preparation lists suggest per person would not be enough for someone with food allergies. My goal was six days of non-perishable items to give myself a cushion. Isabelle had left me without power for over two weeks, but this time fast food was not an option for me.

One good thing about shopping for gluten free foods is that there is not a big run for most of it. However, I did not stock up on gluten-free baked goods because most require refrigeration to stay edible for more than a day or two. It’s good to know that if I decided to go that route, I would find the supplies readily available.

I decided to go as mainstream as possible buying non-perishable foods that happened to be gluten free rather than finding products targeted at people on a gluten free diet. I purchased fresh fruit, Kind bars, cans of Busch’s beans, tuna, rice crackers and precooked rice packages. I also made sure I was stocked up on all medical supplies I may need such as Benadryl, epi-pens, ect.

Check out Pasha Mezze’s special 3-year anniversary menu!

Proper preparation for someone with food allergies must be above and beyond what anyone without them would need to do. You must ensure that you not only have proper food, but also whomever accompanying you during the event understands your food requirements and is prepared to handle any reaction you may have. If in doubt, find a shelter or ask the local first aid squad if you can help out around their building during the storm in exchange for having access to first responders if something goes wrong.

Luckily for me, Irene turned out to be a drop in the bucket compared to what I went through with Isabelle. Power was only off for a day, and I was in good company with my friend, K, who also has severe food allergies. All of the people with us that weekend were determined to make the best of the situation. What could have been a disaster ended with little more than some minor inconveniences.

Below is a list of items I routinely have on hand. Nothing puts me in a foul mood faster than being tired and hungry but not having easy items on hand to throw together. I hope you find it helpful.

My pantry list of non-perishables:
(These are the mainstream products I use. Mainstream usually means less money and sometimes coupon usage.)
  • Cocoa Pebbles (great for Krispie Treats)
  • Fruitty Pebbles
  • Honey Nut Chex
  • Chocolate Chex
  • Nature Valley Almond Crunch Bars
  • Nut Thins
  • Canned Tuna (I’m cheap. I buy what ever is cheapest)
  • Canned Chicken
  • Vacuum Packed Pre-Cooked Rice
  • UTZ Honey BBQ Potato Chips (UTZ has a wide range of chips that are clearly labeled GF)
  • Coke Products (Pepsi will not guarantee that their products are gluten free.)
  • Busch’s Beans and Chili Starter (All GF now!!!)
  • Peanut Butter (Great on NutThins)
  • Marshmallow Fluff (Need I say more?)
  • Vacuum Sealed Indian Food (Nothing to write home about but it’s ok)
  • Manwich (Hey at least I didn’t say SPAM! I mix this with beef and elbow noodles for a tasty chili mac!)
  • A Variety of Progresso Soups
  • Classico Sauces
  • Stubb’s BBQ Sauces
Specialty Products I Could Not Live Without:
(not all are non-perishable)
  • Kind Bars
  • Udi’s (Well, anything they make Multi-grain Bread, Pizza Crust, Granola and Bagles!)
  • Against The Grain Baguettes
  • Corn Pasta (I HATE rice pasta!! But if it has a little corn in it I find the texture perfect!)
  • Pamela’s Baking & Pancake Mix (makes awesome crepes…which make awesome Manicotti!)
  • Pamela’s Ginger Snaps and Chocolate Snaps (Makes great cookie crusts!)

Check out Shannon’s blog at everydayceliac.com.

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ABOUT THE WRITER
Shannon Brucker is a foodie, marketing consultant and mother of two. In 2011, she debuted Everyday Celiac, a blog designed to share her observations on safely, inexpensively, and enjoyably navigating a gluten-free, allergy-friendly lifestyle. A long time resident of Hampton Roads, Shannon recently began consulting with local businesses and doctors to provide educational services to patients and families with newly diagnosed food allergies or Celiac.
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