Travel

A Gluten Free Guide - Tuscan Olive Tree

Maintaining a gluten-free diet while traveling poses some unique challenges. You most likely won't be able to grab a quick bite at the airport food vendors, local delis or eat any of the snacks offered on the plane.

I travel for work - A LOT. For the last three years I have been traveling almost every week for work. This was challenging three years ago when the only dietary restriction I had was type 1 diabetes. Now that I have been traveling for two years with Celiac I have developed a repertoire of tricks to get me from home to destination and back without starving or being 'glutened'.

Carry-on restrictions are constantly changing. That said, since eliminating food service on flights, most airlines allow customers to bring on breakfast/lunch/dinner in addition to the standard carry-on bag allowances. With the recent restriction on liquids juices and yogurts are forbidden, but solid foods are currently A-OK. I find that taking my fresh food in a grocery bag draws fewer questions from TSA and airline personnel. Get a letter from your doctor outlining your food needs just in case.

I put cold items such as hard boiled eggs, meat cold-cuts, hot dogs etc. in one of the hot/cold "TO GO" bags I get at Whole Foods with a frozen bag of edamame as my "ice pack." Cut veggies, whole fruit, salt and pepper and my plastic fork/spoon/knife packet go in the grocery bag. A few condiment packets fit in my Ziploc bag of liquids.

I take varying amounts of fresh and non-perishable food depending upon the length of my trip and when I will be able to access a grocery store in my destination city. One obvious thing that took me a long time to figure out is that there are grocery stores everywhere. I can get by for a while on what I bring and then get extra food at the grocery store. I put the non-perishables in my suitcase that I carry-on or check.

I call the hotel in advance and request a microwave and/or fridge in my room. If it's a really short trip I will take the drinks out of the minibar and use that as my fridge, putting the drinks back in the minibar before I leave to ensure I'm not charged for the items. I know that many people on the Delphi forums will order food from Amazon.com, Kinnikinnick or Gluten Free Pantry and have it delivered directly to the hotel so that it's there for them on their arrival. Think of cooking from your microwave as a fun challenge. After all, didn't Martha Stewart have to make due with a microwave when she was "away" for a few months?

Below is a list of items I have found useful - please let me know if you have any other great tips or ideas. I am always looking for new ways to make travel easier.

Please double check any ingredient lists as formulations frequently change and different flavors may not be gluten free.

Protein
  • Hard-Boiled Eggs
  • String Cheese
  • Hot Dogs
  • Beef Jerky
  • Canned Chicken
  • Tuna/Salmon Packets (beware of any extra flavors)
Fruit/Veggies
  • Pre-cut broccoli and cauliflower (good raw or heated)
  • Apples and oranges
  • Avocadoes (take them before they are ripe and will be ready to eat in a few days)
Sauces/Condiments
  • Packets of Mustard/Mayo (then make tuna or chicken salad)
  • Salad Dressing packets
  • A1 sauce , Tabasco, or BBQ Sauce packetsÐ heat chicken with sauce in microwave
  • Gluten Free Soy Sauce packets for sushi
  • Salt and Pepper packets
Non-perishables
  • Dried fruit and nuts or trail mix
  • Protein Bars - PureFit Nutrition Bars, Lara Bars, certain Zone and Balance Bar flavors etc.
  • Freeze Dried Food Packets
  • Indian Food Packets (if you don't have a microwave, submerge the packet in hot water at the hotel or eat at room temperature)
  • Rice Meals
Buy at the Grocery Store
  • Larger condiment bottles
  • Water/juice etc.
  • Fresh cut fruit
  • Salad ingredients
  • Yogurt

While in general I don't recommend relying on airport food to be gluten-free, you can check which restaurants are in the airports on your itinerary.

Happy travels!

Links:

Tips on traveling gluten- free in Italy.

More general travel tips