Gluten Free Food

[jmz44]

Do any of the Airventure food booths have gluten free food?

[dbarnes612]

Finding something as exotic as decaf coffee ;-) is difficult on the show grounds, so I doubt that there are any gluten-free options that are offered specifically because they're gluten free. (There probably are some gluten free foods that just happen to be gluten free.)

If you're camping, the closest source of a decent variety of foods is the supermarket (Pick 'n' Save, I think) that's a few blocks north of the North 40 airplane camping area. The North 40 is on the Airventure internal bus route.

[Bill Greenwood]

I never heard of gluten free foods when I was young, never heard of anyone who could not eat bread or any restuarant that had such food. Is this a new thing like "restless leg syndrome?
When did this condition become prevalent?
Just my guess, but doubt if there is too much gluten free food at EAA.

[Eric Page]

Neither are "new things." Both are legitimate and recognized ailments. Their notariety in recent years is simply a result of advancements in medical science leading to better understanding of patient conditions. That leads inevitably to more frequent diagnoses, and thankfully, to development of effective lifestyle changes and pharmaceutical treatments.

See: Celiac Disease (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coeliac_disease) -and- Gluten-free Diet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gluten-free_diet)

Also: Restless Legs Syndrome (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restless_legs_syndrome)

[Bill Berson]

I was recently diagnosed with Celiac and must eliminate gluten. That makes camping at Oshkosh a challenge.
Does anyone know if the Subway at Airventure stocks gluten free bread? (some do)
Does anyone know if A&W or others have fries that are cooked only in oil vats not contaminated from onion rings? (gluten wheat coated).
Any other gluten free ideas other than ice cream?

[CHICAGORANDY]

I haven't checked all the food vendors yet, but the first two I clicked on DO show several gluten free (GF) options listed on their menu:

https://www.eaa.org/airventure/place/Cedar%20Creek?id=ae99cc54b2e940cbae804219b80a705a
(https://www.eaa.org/airventure/place/Cedar%20Creek?id=ae99cc54b2e940cbae804219b80a705a)
https://www.eaa.org/en/airventure/place/Benvenutos%20-%20Fightertown%20Cafe?id=03d69922a00c4dfead349ca04 9fb324f
(https://www.eaa.org/en/airventure/place/Benvenutos%20-%20Fightertown%20Cafe?id=03d69922a00c4dfead349ca04 9fb324f)
You can check out each food vendor's menu at the Airventure website. On Pg 2 several places show many gluten-free choices. Including offering gluten-free buns for their various foods.

https://www.eaa.org/airventure/plan-your-eaa-airventure-trip/food-and-concessions

My daughter-in-law has severe Celiac so I have empathy for folks struggling to find safe, convenient eats at this type event.

[Bill Berson]

That's great links Randy, thanks.
Hope to ride your tram again this year!

[CHICAGORANDY]

Good lord willin' and the creek don't rise, I shall again spend 9 glorious days at the mike.. say Hi if you can.

[Bill Berson]

Cedar Creek has several GF options. I checked the other menus and didn't find much gluten free options with filling calories. (salad and fruit doesn't count much for people fuel)
Warbirds has gluten free pasta for $11.50 or $15 with chicken
IAC has gluten free fries for $6.00

Cedar Creek at Homebuilts has GF hamburgers and veggieburgers and hotdogs and chicken sandwich. All about $5. That's my choice to go!

[Sam Oleson]

Parker John's features an entire Gluten-free menu as well -- there will be two locations on the AirVenture grounds this summer. Here is last year's Visitors & Campers Guide, which includes the dining options on page 24: https://issuu.com/eaahq/docs/avvcg_18?e=1940647/62813470

[skyfixer8]

Subway does not have gluten free. Getting a salad sort of gets around it, Jimmy Johns subs does an "Unwich" which is gluten free. Most vendors last year had gluten free choices, just have to read menu. My wife has had celiac disease for many years, she gets sick if she goes off the diet. It destroys lining in intestine. We got into habit of bringing gluten free foods, also Pick and Save has a good variety.

[skyfixer8]

Watch for buss in campground labeled "Shopping". It goes to Target and Pick n Save

[CHICAGORANDY]

FWIW, all last year I heard nothing but rave reviews of Parker John's BBQ offerings. Knowing they have a full GF menu enhances the eating options in convenient locations.

[rwanttaja]

I never heard of gluten free foods when I was young, never heard of anyone who could not eat bread or any restuarant that had such food. Is this a new thing like "restless leg syndrome?
The *connection* of certain symptoms to gluten is relatively recent. The condition itself has probably always existed. It's just that the medical community attributed the afflicted's suffering to other causes, from food poisoning to simple allergies, or hypochondria, or just gave it a fancy-schmancy name in latin that meant, "Hey, this guy is sick" but didn't really explain why.

Ron "It's either dyspepsia, billiousness, ague, or catarrh" Wanttaja

(hey, BINGO!)

[Bill Berson]

Parker John's features an entire Gluten-free menu as well -- there will be two locations on the AirVenture grounds this summer. Here is last year's Visitors & Campers Guide, which includes the dining options on page 24: https://issuu.com/eaahq/docs/avvcg_18?e=1940647/62813470

Thanks.
The current 2019 website food list has a page 2 that includes Parker John's, that I didn't see till now. Here:https://www.eaa.org/airventure/plan-your-eaa-airventure-trip/food-and-concessions
scroll down to bottom for page 2.

[martymayes]

A recent article in USA Today said ~1/3 of all food labeled "gluten free" contains gluten. The worst offenders are pizza and pasta.

Subway HQ says that all of their bread, wraps and muffins contain gluten.

[martymayes]

I never heard of gluten free foods when I was young, never heard of anyone who could not eat bread or any restuarant that had such food. Is this a new thing
Not "new" but certainly rising in popularity. Only ~1% of the global population has Celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder which requires one to avoid gluten so it would be statistically unusual to "know" someone that has Celiac disease. However, in the US, nearly 1 in 10 avoid gluten due to gluten sensitivity issues. That number tripled between 2009 and 2014, making it a more recent phenomena. The gluten sensitivity mechanism is unknown but 'possibly' related to long term consumption of pesticides used to treat crops.

[Bill Berson]

Yes, many are not celiac positive but they do need to avoid gluten. But their gluten intolerance is still a serious intolerance to the gluten protein itself. Another large group might just avoid gluten as a "fad" perhaps.
Gluten is a complex protein and can cause all sorts of symptoms in some people, like any protein allergen.
Mayo Clinic has a book that covers these issues and much more than I can post here.

I checked Subway.com and some do offer gluten free bread. But not any that I have seen yet, nor does the one at Airventure from what I see on the EAA menu. For legal purposes, most restaurants will not claim absolute gluten free. I tested the gluten free options at Taco Bell and found them ok for me. Someone with worse celiac might not tolerate what I can at this time.

[FlyingRon]

Watch for buss in campground labeled "Shopping". It goes to Target and Pick n Save
Despite the misspelling that the EAA has had on their traffic signs for as long as I have been going, BUS and BUSES are not spelled with double S's.

[martymayes]

Despite the misspelling that the EAA has had on their traffic signs for as long as I have been going, BUS and BUSES are not spelled with double S's.

lol, the electrical kind doesn't have 2 "esses" either!!

[rwanttaja]

Despite the misspelling that the EAA has had on their traffic signs for as long as I have been going, BUS and BUSES are not spelled with double S's.lol, the electrical kind doesn't have 2 "esses" either!!
Maybe that designates the kissing zone? You know those Wisconsiners like to be organized.....

Ron "Muchas Smoochas" Wanttaja