Food for Thought

Gluten-free tips from Xterra USA Championship series athlete Jennifer Smith, who gave up gluten in 2007 and experienced a breakout season in 2008, finishing third in series points

Eat Gluten-Free Oats for Breakfast

1. For breakfast I love gluten-free oats from Bob’s Red Mill. I soak them in juice or yogurt and then add fruit and nuts.

Check Your Energy Bars for Gluten

Surprisingly, many energy and protein bars contain gluten. Hammer Bars, Larabars, and Kind Bars do not.

Try Gluten-Free Bread or Crackers

I usually travel with ­gluten-free bread or crackers. I like UDI’s gluten-free bagels and Mary’s Gone Crackers. You can always have a sandwich made in a deli and supply your own bread.

Always Carry a Gluten-Free Snack

Don’t expect that there will be options, even in restaurants. Always bring some food with you.

Get Creative With Gluten-Free Options

Meals can be adaptable: at a pasta party, I’ll eat some meat sauce and drink some fruit juice. When I get home, I’ll have some fruit, yogurt, and almonds for dessert. That’s a ton of carbs. I won a triathlon doing that the night before.