Maintaining a certain diet or avoiding certain ingredients can be especially difficult if you travel a lot. Gluten is a particularly tough ingredient to avoid.
Gluten is found in wheat, which is typically a big part of our normal diet. However, recent studies have suggested that gluten can have many disadvantages for a wide range of people. Celiac disease is the most common disease caused by gluten. Other disorders caused by gluten are gut inflammation, intestinal permeability, and damage to the gut biome. If you are strictly avoiding gluten, traveling to a new place with different food options can be challenging, but it is not impossible. Here are some ways to maintain your gluten-free diet while traveling.
- Plan Ahead:
The internet is a blessing. You can use it to easily find out if nearby restaurants can accommodate gluten-free meals. You can also search restaurants ahead of time so you know where you can find gluten-free meals before you arrive or during your travel. - Hotels Can Accommodate:
Ask the hotel you stay in if they have refrigerators and microwaves you can use. This allows you to buy gluten-free foods in a nearby supermarket when you travel and prepare your own foods. Better yet, find a hotel with a kitchenette! - Come Prepared:
Packing dry nutritious items like energy bars and nuts is a good idea to fill up on in case there is not a gluten-free option readily available. - Pick Up Food BEFORE You Get On Board:
In airports, look for yogurt, salad, grilled chicken, plain hamburgers and other gluten-free standbys at the airport. - Traveling Abroad:
If you are traveling to a foreign country, print out your gluten-free needs in the language of the foreign country that you are traveling to. This will help convey to them the kinds of food you need, and help them better serve you. - Create Your Own Meal Off The Menu:
There are many restaurants that may not have gluten-free options on their menu but can provide something if asked. Don’t be shy, be safe. If you see options for varied proteins, but the sauce or sides might contain gluten, you can always ask for a gluten-free version mixing and matching sides and asking for simply grilled. Works every time. - Use Your Intuition:
Avoid most condiments, especially soy sauce. If unsure, always trust your gut.
For people with Celiac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis, the effects of straying from a gluten-free diet might not be instant but they have delayed effects that can have long-term consequences. Slacking on your diet should not be an option, so preparing gluten-free biscuits, hummus or sandwiches for a shorter trip is a great way to stay consistent with your diet. Away from home, internet and research will be your best friend. Stick to the basics of your gluten-free diet—fresh fruit and vegetables, lean meats, unprocessed products—and you will be able to enjoy your travels to the fullest.
Do you need support navigating your gluten-free life? Feel free to contact me.
