Going to a big gluten free festival, especially for the first time, can be overwhelming. You know that feeling when you walk into a restaurant and the waitress says there’s a gluten free option that’s NOT just a salad, or when the waiter says there's gluten free dessert that’s not just ice cream, going to the Nourished Festival is like that… except A MILLION TIMES BETTER!

So, how do you stay calm, try as many new foods as possible, and have a great time surrounded by other gluten free foodies? Follow these steps to make the most of your gluten free food adventures at the Nourished Festival.

PS - if you don’t have tickets to the Nourished Festival in NJ yet, look for the giveaway info at the bottom of the blog for info on how to win free tickets to the event!

1. Plan your schedule!

Make sure you know where to go and when you can get there. I always like to get to the event towards the beginning. I try to avoid getting there too late (because some of the food may run out)... let’s be serious, this is all about the food and you don’t want them to run out on you. Check the schedule, the Nourished Festival has classes that can be helpful depending on what you’re interested in. If you’re attending the Nourished Festival in Secaucus, NJ this year - you should check out my friend Erin Smith’s class (from the Gluten Free Globetrotter) on Saturday Oct. 5 at 1:30pm on How to Plan a Gluten Free Vacation (one of my favorite topics)! You should check it out if you’re at the Secaucus event - and if you don’t have tickets yet, comment below to enter the giveaway to win a free ticket!

2. Get the lay of the land.

When you first arrive, walk in and take a moment to soak it all in (don’t forget to breathe). Take in all the delicious smells and bustle of other gluten free foodies like you. Sometimes it can feel unreal that all these people are like you and also have food restrictions. It’s nice to be surrounded by others who understand what you go through while traveling, at a restaurant, or just figuring out what to cook for dinner. Before I get started tasting all the gluten free foods, I like to do a lap around the expo hall to figure out where I want to start. It’s helpful to see what brands are at the event and what samples are being distributed (#freefood). I’m a sucker for a great gluten free dessert and am always on the hunt for the best gluten free bread, so I like to keep an eye out for those. While I’m figuring out what booths to prioritize, I always first think about what foods I definitely want to try and then figure out which has the shortest line. Once you’ve figured that out, you’re ready to jump into the craziness of the gluten free food!

3. Meet other cool foodies!

Besides being able to try so many new delicious gluten free foods, I love attending the Nourished Festival because I get to meet the people who helped create the food! I like going to booths with little or no line first because I have time to get to know the people behind each gluten free brand. Depending on the size of the company, sometimes the owners are even attending the conference so that’s exciting to hear their story of what inspired them to make delicious gluten free food. In addition to meeting with the people behind each brand, you’re also able to meet other gluten free foodies around the expo hall (which is so much fun)! There are so many awesome gluten free foodies and bloggers in the NYC/NJ area so it’s great to meet people in real life instead of just on the internet or instagram!

Follow these three steps and you’ll be prepared to have a great time (and eat lots of great food) at the Nourished Festival!

Gluten Free GIVEAWAY ALERT!

Do you want to go to the Nourished Festival, but you don’t have tickets yet? Lucky you! I’m giving away 20 FREE TICKETS to the Nourished Festival in Secaucus, NY October 5-6, 2019. Comment below with why you want to attend the Nourished Festival and you could win free tickets! (You can also enter to win by commenting on my instagram post @theglutenfreetravelers about the Nourished Festival.) The giveaway will close at midnight on 9/30/19 and I will select 20 winners on 10/1/19 who will each receive a free ticket to the Nourished Festival in Secaucus, NJ October 5-6, 2019 from instagram and blog post comments.

Do you have other tips on how to make the most of the Nourished gluten free and allergy free festival? Comment below! PS - each comment is an entry to WIN a FREE ticket to the Nourished Festival!