Going on holiday shouldn’t feel like a chore just because of coeliac disease, we all deserve a holiday. There are a few ways in which you can prepare to travel gluten free. Firstly, take advantage of some amazing gluten free products to take with you on your journey.Ensure that you have fully researched your destination to maximise the fun and enjoyment by finding out the best spots for gluten free meals. Living gluten free doesn’t have to be hard any longer, there is plenty of support and guidance out there for you.
Research your destination
Once you have decided where you want to go on holiday, include your gluten free requirements in the planning stage. Ideally, you want to go on holiday to a destination and accommodation that can cater for your dietary requirements. Look at forums, blogs, websites, and other places where you can find out more about your destination and the different options for gluten free food there. By researching at this stage, it will help you stay safe and gluten free on holiday.
Learn basic language and communication
If you are travelling to a foreign country, you should always learn a few basic words and phrases to get you by. If anything, it is just polite, and local people will always appreciate a tourist trying to speak a few words. This becomes more important if you are gluten free, as it means you can learn important words and phrases that explain you are gluten free and that you have specific dietary needs. This is most helpful when eating out at a restaurant, or making sure the hotel staff understand your concerns when heading for the hotel breakfast buffet.
Pack some gluten free items for travel
No matter how you are travelling to your destination, packing some gluten free products will give you peace of mind that you have control over your diet for the journey itself. If you are travelling by car, train, or boat, then you can pack some snacks and lunch no problem. Travelling by air might be trickier, as not all airlines offer gluten free meals, so check ahead when buying your ticket. There are some simple gluten free snacks and smaller meals that you can pack prior to travelling, including:
- Nuts and seeds – bring a combination of nuts, seeds, and dried fruit, giving you that protein-rich, energising boost that we all need when travelling.
- Gluten free granola bars – you can easily find gluten free granola bars, created with grains, natural sugars, and nuts, that fill you up and keep you going.
- Fresh fruit – a punnet of strawberries, grapes, apples, and bananas, whatever your favourite fruit of choice, this gives you a quick and healthy snack when on the road.
- Rice cakes – rice cakes and crackers, with some hummus or gluten-free dip of choice offers you an alternative, fun, crispy snack to nibble on.
Travelling gluten free is easier than it once was. With attitudes around the world changing in recent times and the availability of gluten free ingredients and products, it is much easier to travel, as long as you are prepared to do a bit of research. If you are going abroad, learn some of the language to help you communicate your needs in a restaurant (alongside the pleasantries such as please and thank you of course!), find where the best gluten free restaurants are located, and pack some gluten free snacks and meals for your journey to and from the holiday destination if possible. If you are conscious of gluten free ingredients when flying you’ll find that there are options for you with most airlines.