Glutenfree Travel
When traveling, there are two important points that you should pay special attention to: planning the trip and packing your suitcase. You should think in advance about where you want to travel and what you want to do at your destination. If possible, all travelers should eat a gluten-free diet while on vacation to avoid mishaps like cross-contamination.
We've compiled our personal vacation tips for gluten-free travel for you here. If you have another important tip, write to us - we'll be happy to expand the list!
Glutenfree Holiday Tips
INFORM
Nowadays it is easier than ever to find information about travel destinations. Hotels or restaurants almost all have their own website, about which you can get information.
The best thing is to call the hotel directly and ask, that always helps.
If you are still unsure, you can leave out breakfast or catering for the time being and possibly clarify on site and then book. Ideally, you take a small emergency kit with you consisting of fruit, durable bread, crackers and a few chocolate or granola bars.
Meanwhile, there are also numerous travel portals and travel agencies that specialize in gluten-free travel and support celiac disease sufferers or families with children affected by celiac disease in planning their vacation. (https://thehealthyholidaycompany.co.uk/gluten-free-holidays/)
AIRPLANE
When booking a trip by air, inquire about gluten-free airplane meals directly when booking your ticket. Many airlines allow gluten-free meals (possibly with an additional charge) on intercontinental flights without any problems. However, if the flight is delayed, it can become critical. Therefore, it is best to always take a gluten-free roll and fruit in your hand luggage, to be on the safe side.
DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK
In general, people in tourist areas are always very nice and helpful. There is hardly a restaurant that cannot offer a quick alternative. It is always important to simply ask and if need be, go a little further and then find the perfect restaurant that offers gluten-free food. Meanwhile, there are numerous travel blogs from celiac disease sufferers on the Internet with many tips and recommendations. For example: (https://www.celiactravel.com/stories/).
ADJUST EXPECTATIONS
It is advisable to adjust the expectations to the circumstances. So you will not be disappointed in any case and there is always room for a surprise. You can't always expect gluten-free food everywhere. Especially in foreign countries, there are sometimes other eating habits and dishes that we do not know in Western Europe. Especially when you travel to the more remote corners of the world, people are often not so familiar with gluten intolerances. Therefore, you should always ask unabashedly, even if you have already pointed it out when ordering.
CHECK + TRUST
Always stay alert, there are mistakes everywhere, people are not perfect anywhere in the world. So always check again before you bite into something to see if it really is gluten-free.
In addition to a healthy distrust, however, you should always have a certain amount of trust in people. No matter where you are, you won't always be able to see into the kitchen, especially in restaurants. Therefore, sometimes you just need to trust the cooks and the staff.
If you still don't want to rely solely on others, but want to be proactive yourself, you should definitely have GluteoStop with you on your trip and take it before every meal.
GluteoStop contains a special enzyme that can break down gluten. In this way, gluten is almost completely broken down. GluteoStop® is therefore ideal for anyone who wants to eat a gluten-free diet and prevent ingesting hidden gluten or traces of gluten.
General Information
Basically, you should follow a few simple sanitary rules during your vacation - especially if you are traveling to countries with hygiene conditions that do not meet Western standards. For people with gluten intolerance, it is particularly important to follow these rules to prevent so-called "traveler's diarrhea". This is because intestinal symptoms with diarrhea can sometimes be misinterpreted as a sudden worsening or recurrence of symptoms that existed before the diagnosis of celiac disease.
You should follow these general rules especially in countries with low hygiene standards:
- Avoid ice cubes in drinks.
- Do not consume unpasteurized dairy products.
- Peel raw fruits and vegetables before eating.
- Avoid raw or undercooked seafood or fish.
- Meat or meals in general should be well cooked and still warm.
- Beware of food from street vendors
- Drink only beverages from sealed bottles.
Take care of your personal hygiene (regular hand washing) and use only drinking water even when brushing your teeth. Boil or disinfect water if drinking water is not available. Always wash your hands before eating and after using the toilet.
Perhaps the most important tip for a gluten-free vacation is simply not to let it spoil your mood. In addition to all these precautions and tips, the main thing to look forward to is the vacation and the trip. And also to the new dishes and products that we will get to know! The motto must be to enjoy the vacation and not to be unsettled by the intolerance. Often, the best opportunities to eat gluten-free are in the countries where you least expect it. You simply have to be open to new things.