Bongo Vongo/Flickr.com. Herkalion, Crete.
Whether taking a day trip to the beach or sightseeing abroad in an exotic city for the first time, traveling can quickly take you out of your comfort zone, away from restaurants and shops that carry your go-to gluten-free food staples. These five simple tips can help make eating gluten-free on-the-go safe and simple.
Olivia Dupin is the author of The Complete Guide to Naturally Gluten-Free Foods
Getting caught without anything to eat in a place you’re unfamiliar with can be frustrating. Traveling can be tiresome, so you’re going to need emergency sustenance! Prepare snacks or small meals in advance and pack them for emergencies. Nuts and dried fruit make a great snack and are easy to eat on the go.
Snack sized zipper-top bags filled with quick-cooking gluten-free oats, a little brown sugar, and some raisins make an easy breakfast when tossed into a coffee cup or bowl. Simply add hot water, which you can easily access from a hot water spigot for tea, attached to the coffee machine at most hotel breakfast buffets. Homemade baked goods or sandwiches on gluten-free bread are also great packable choices.
If you’re purchasing snacks on the road, opt for fresh fruits and vegetables and snacks such as nuts or cheese. Forego processed snacks like rice cakes or potato chips that are gluten-free, but may contain preservatives or excessive amounts of sodium that can leave you dehydrated, bloated, and bogged down. Choosing less processed foods like baby carrots, a fresh fruit cup, or some raw almonds are a better, healthier gluten-free choice that will keep you going. Many of these healthier snack options are popping up in gas stations, airports, and rest stops more and more often.
You might not always be able to plan out every stop as you explore a new city, but do your best to plan where you’ll eat so you can check out the menus in advance, or even call ahead and speak with a manager or chef about the gluten-free options available. While you might prefer to eat at local restaurants when you travel to get a glimpse into the local cuisine and culture, in a pinch, chain restaurants are a great option. Chain restaurants are typically very cognizant of allergies and dietary restrictions, and many have gluten-free menus available.
Communicating with the kitchen is an imperative part of dining out safely. Help your server out by handing him or her a dining card to give the chef that explains your gluten-restriction clearly and simply and stresses the importance of avoiding cross-contamination. You can find cards like these in the book, “The Complete Guide to Naturally Gluten-Free Foods,” or translated into a variety of languages and available for purchase through sites like TriumphDining.com.
Olivia Dupin is the author of The Complete Guide to Naturally Gluten-Free Foods
Snack sized zipper-top bags filled with quick-cooking gluten-free oats, a little brown sugar, and some raisins make an easy breakfast when tossed into a coffee cup or bowl. Simply add hot water, which you can easily access from a hot water spigot for tea, attached to the coffee machine at most hotel breakfast buffets. Homemade baked goods or sandwiches on gluten-free bread are also great packable choices.