Easy Gluten-Free Living: Tips for BBQs & Picnics
May 18, 2011 tagged Gluten-free 
Foil Cooking: Grilled Cabbage & Potato Packets
Thanks for checking in to see what 30 Days To Easy Gluten-Free Living is all about. It’s the brainchild of Diane Elbin of The WHOLE Gang fame. She’s a zippy lady who decided it was time to share that gluten-free living can be pretty easy. She rallied the troops—a group of some 30 GF bloggers—and asked us to help by sharing our tips on a variety of GF subjects. You’ll find blog posts on everything from how to use your garden to enhance GF living to feeding kids and teens to travel tips.
Here we are at Day 18 where I’ve chosen to talk about how to stay safe while enjoying the outdoor BBQs and picnics that come hand in hand with spring and summer weather. (Don’t forget to check out Days 1-17 and stay tuned for more Easy GF Living through the month of May.)
I had a little help with my post—a few gluten-free friends shared their tips and wow they’re really good ones! Looking forward to hearing some of your ideas, as well, so please tell us about them in the comments below.
Easy GF Living: Tips for BBQs & Picnics
BBQs are all about the grilling. But, some of us might be fearful one too many rolls have been toasted on said grill. There are a few things you can do to protect yourself and your family from grill related cross-contamination.
- Cooking in parchment wrapped aluminum foil is a great way to be sure your food is gluten-free. The options for foil cooking are plentiful. Put your individual meals together and transport them to the backyard or your best friend’s house to be popped onto their grill for safe cooking.
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Grilled Cabbage and Potato Packets—shredded cabbage and thinly sliced onions and potatoes topped with grated cheese. Mix it up a bit—how about sweet potatoes and sliced apples with shredded Brussels sprouts and onions? Some GF pre-cooked apple sausages sliced into coins will make this a full meal.
Orange Teriyaki Salmon—layer baby bok choy, thinly sliced carrots and oranges, snow peas, salmon filets, and a few tablespoons GF teriyaki sauce. Cook about 10 minutes (timing will depend on the temperature of the grill) on each side over medium low heat. Test to make sure the fish is cooked to your liking.
For the kids—check out a whole host of foil packet dinners and desserts courtesy of the Scouts that will make any kid happy. (Note that most, but not all, the recipes on the site are GF. Use your best judgment when choosing.)
Grilled Mediterranean Kabobs
- If foil cooking is not your thing you can bring GF burgers and dogs to the picnic and grill them using your own grill topper that’s never been touched by a wheat flour bun or roll. One friend brings her own tabletop portable grill—I love that idea! Or, how about using pre-soaked cedar planks which when placed on the grill will add a new (and safe dimension) to your cooked foods. Kebobs are easy to make ahead and will work with any of the safe grilling options mentioned here.
- Most GF folks I spoke with like to bring their own food and tend to make one dish dinners that serve many. Layered and roasted veggies, sprinkled with cheese makes a great, light dinner. Or for the kids you can’t go wrong with GF mac and cheese or tuna casserole.
- If possible try to have your gluten-free food on a table separate from the non-GF food. It will protect the serving utensils—and food—from being cross-contaminated. If that isn’t possible be sure to serve yourself and your family first before the other guests are served. Some folks may not understand utensils used across dishes can be hazardous to anyone who is gluten-free.
- Condiments can be a cause for concern for many celiacs and gluten sensitive folks. It’s likely the knife hanging out in that mustard just smeared the inside of a nice fluffy gluten-filled roll. To alleviate that worry bring your own GF condiments in individual serving packages. Or, if you’re hosting serve your mustard, mayonnaise and ketchup in handy squeeze bottles.
Tropical Black Bean Salad
- Munchie foods are easy to make and share. Everyone loves salsa or guacamole and GF corn chips. Hummus is another favorite. Or how about this great black bean salad?
- I personally think you can eat chili at any time—so why not at a BBQ? It’s easy to make a big pot of slow cooker chili and bring it with you. Kids will find this especially fun if you serve them Frito Pie. (Just make sure that chili isn’t too hot!)
- And, the options for desserts are endless so pick your favorite GF cake, cupcakes, cookies—or these sweet little ice cream sandwiches that can be made ahead—and pop those in your picnic cooler to bring along.
It’s true we GF folks all seem to bring a ton of food with us when invited to a summer potluck. No worries. It’s fun to hang with friends and not have to worry about getting “glutened”. Your friends will be thankful you’re with them and having a good time. And, they’re going to enjoy some of the wonderful GF food you’ve brought along to share.
The takeaway is life doesn’t stop because we’re gluten-free. It’s not that complicated if you choose to have fun with it and if you have a little help along the way. So make sure to visit the other 30 days of Easy Gluten-Free Living to get some ideas and tips from some of the best gluten-free bloggers out there—and remember to share your own tips and ideas in the comments section!
30 Days of Easy Gluten-Free Living
May 2: Diane from The WHOLE Gang—Easy Gluten Free Grocery Shopping Tips
May 3: Iris from The Daily Dietribe—How to Start a Gluten Free Diet
May 4: Heather from Gluten-Free Cat—Smoothing the GF Transition with Smoothies
May 5: Alta from Tasty Eats at Home—Make Your Own Convenience Foods
May 6: Elana from Elana’s Pantry—Quick and Easy Gluten Free Cherry Vanilla Power Bars
May 7: Cheryl from Gluten Free Goodness—Easy Meals GF Style
May 8: Megan from Food Sensitivity Journal—Gluten Free Baking Undone: Easy Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
May 9: Amy from Simply Sugar and Gluten Free—Magic Cookie Power Bars
May 10: Ricki from Diet, Dessert and Dogs—Gluten Free Baking Tips
May 11: Ellen from Gluten-Free Diva—Gluten Free Travel Tips
May 12: Kim from Cook It Allergy Free sharing Eating—Your Garden for Easy Gluten-Free Living
May 13: Melissa from Gluten Free For Good—Gluten-Free Food Rules (recipes included)
May 14: Brittany from Real Sustenance—Healthy Allergy-Free Quick Bread with easy flavor variations
May 15: Nicola from g-free Mom—Kids Lunch Boxes
May 16: Wendy from Celiacs in the House—Fast Food for Gluten Free Teens
May 17: Shirley from gluten free easily—Your Pantry is the Key to Living gfe
May 18: Nancy from the Sensitive Pantry—BBQ and Picnic Tips and Recipes ☝YOU ARE HERE!
May 19: Heidi from Adventures of a Gluten-Free Mom—Tips for getting kids to eat healthy, real-food snacks!
May 20: Silvana from Silvana’s Kitchen—Everything I’ve Learned So Far about Gluten-Free (plus a recipe!)
May 21: Maggie from She Let Them Eat Cake—Easy Gluten-Free Living With Preschoolers and a Vanilla Cupcake recipe!
May 22: Sea from Book of Yum—Gluten Free Vegetarian Burritos
May 23: Tia from Glugle Gluten-Free—The Value of Support
May 24: Alisa from Alisa Cooks and Go Dairy Free—Wrap it Up-Thinking Outside the Bun
May 25: Hallie from Daily Bites—Keys to Colorful Cooking
May 26: Carol from Simply…Gluten-Free—Tips on Entertaining
May 27: AndreaAnna from Life as a Plate—Tips on Traveling on Day Trips with Kids
May 28: Zoe from Z’s Cup of Tea—Food Packaging and Presentation for Kids
May 29: Kelly from The Spunky Coconut—Buying in Bulk, Cooking in Bulk…to save money
May 30: Rella from Penny Pinching Epicure—GF on a Budget
May 31: Naomi from Straight into Bed, Cakefree and Dried—Soaking and Fermenting Grains
Reader Comments (7)
Nancy, I love this post! It turned out absolutely wonderful. What a great guide for any of us gluten-free folk who spend their entire summer at BBQ's (like us here in AZ). I have so many new ideas now. I am going to forward this on to all of my gluten-free friends here in town! ;)
xoxo
k
PS Happy Birthday, my sweet friend!
Happy Birthday!
I love these ideas. I never thought of a lot of them. I think I was living pretty dangerously for a while, but now that I am super sensitive, I need to incorporate these ideas. Thanks!
Great roundup of ideas. I really need to look into that sweet potato, apple, and sausage foil packet idea. That sounds good!
Great post Nancy and lots of great ideas! Looking forward to safe, gluten free bbqs this summer!
Wonderful post, Nancy! I think you covered all the bases so well and I loved seeing the recipes and equipment info you shared, too. :-)
xo,
Shirley
The cabbage and potato packets and the other variations you mentioned are going to be on my grill if it ever stops raining here in Ohio. Great post with some things I hadn't thought of to get some creativity into our grilling. And happy belated birthday.
Perfect timing for a post like this! Before I say anything else, I must mention how wonderful those cabbage and potato packets look. I mix weird things together all the time, but for some reason, this combo never occurred to me. Great idea.
Loved your list and linked up recipes. Wow, what a bonanza! And lovely photos as always.
Melissa