celiac food

Travel Gluten Free Podcast

Season 09 Episode 13

Can You Take Gluten Free Food Outside of the Country?

Ready to travel overseas? Is this your first overseas trip having Celiac disease or as a gluten free traveler? No worries! You can safely navigate food overseas when you know what to do, including using the European Codex, my gluten free traveler. Find out how to pack your bags, get through TSA with food, product ingredients overseas, and how to use Equal Eats cards when traveling.

Eating Out Safely with Equal Eats Cards

With his mission to empower people living with dietary restrictions to enjoy food everywhere by providing an accurate, accessible, and seamless technology solution to help communicate their dietary restrictions effectively, accurately, and conveniently - wherever their life takes them with Equal Eats Cards. Kyle takes great effort to give each individual a customizable option for their card. For example, you can add Celiac, vegan, vegetarian, food allergies, and food intolerances so your wait staff knows all the foods you can’t eat. There are dozens of food allergy and intolerance options and dietary choices you can order on Equal Eats. This comes in very handy when you’re ordering food when you’re in a country in which you don’t understand the language.

Food Shopping Overseas

Even when you ask all the right questions, you can still end up getting food you can’t eat. Make sure to take Equal Eats cards with you to the supermarket and ask the store clerk if you can eat the food that is packaged. 

Packing Your Food in Your Checked or Carry-On Bag

Find out how to pack your food, and make sure you weigh your checked bag to make sure it’s within the weight limit of the airline you are traveling to your destination. Typically, the weight limit for checked bags is 60 pounds and I’ve never come close to that weight on a checked bag, even after adding food.

Make sure that you’re following the 3-1-1 TSA rule for liquids if you’re packing liquids in your carry-on. I recently got stuck throwing out shampoo and conditioner because I had too many liquids with my medicine. Now, however, I carry a medical bag so my medicine that’s considered a liquid doesn’t count towards my 3-1-1 (see medical bag link below) . 

Podcast Resources

Journey safely with The Guide to Traveling Gluten Free which walks you through planning your next gluten-free travel adventure!

Get the best tool for traveling gluten free with Equal Eats Cards

Get the PracMedic Travel Medicine Bag. I just picked one up from Amazon, and I’m excited to travel with this handy medical bag.

Looking for a warm getaway this year? Find your next vacation on Airbnb! Get Your Travel Gluten Free discount with a $40 credit towards your stay!

Follow me on Social Media via Facebook, Youtube, Pinterest, or Instagram

Spread the love of Travel Gluten Free podcast and share this episode with a friend

Travel Gluten Free Podcast

Season 09 Episode 12

How to Eat Gluten Free at Your Vacation Rental

Are you scared to eat out at restaurants? If you’re new to having Celiac disease, this is a real fear! You don’t want to be anxious on vacation, so what do you do? My friend, you can find an Air b’n’b or VRBO at the location you’re taking your vacation and make your own food. Always call ahead and speak to restaurant managers directly at hotels, don’t rely on the front desk staff to ask if the food is safe at the hotel restaurant. You’ll also want to call ahead and find out what appliances and the size of the fridge and microwave so you understand what you have to cook with when you’re on vacation. Make sure to follow these tips when you’re eating out or making your own food when traveling gluten free.

Find Out About the Kitchen

Since there are no standards for what appliances come in a mini-kitchen, studio, or full kitchen apartment or vacation rental, you’ll want to call ahead and find out what appliances are available to use. Which appliances are safe? You may not want to use the blender, and other appliances which food can get easily cross-contaminated such as the toaster.

Make sure to clean your utensils well, use toaster sleeves, and wash any plates you may need during your stay. Look for crumbs in the cabinets and avoid using anything that has come in contact with leftover food. You can easily purchase paper plates to use while you are on vacation to give yourself an extra level of protection and create a less stressed travel vacation.

These Food Rules for Gluten Free also Apply to Food Allergies

Whether you have food allergies or you’re gluten free for health reasons, you can apply these practices to keep your food safe! Never assume that any product doesn’t have gluten or a food allergen unless you have thoroughly read the label. This can be time consuming, but it’s the only way to ensure that the food you are eating is safe. Gluten can hide in many different places including: scrambled eggs at restaurants, tea, salad dressing and sauces, sausages and other meats, as well as alcohol. 

If you can’t find a local place to buy safe food, you can always order food from Amazon and have it shipped to your vacation rental! Please be safe and read all ingredients and ask the right questions when you’re traveling gluten free or with food allergies!

Podcast Resources

Journey safely with The Guide to Traveling Gluten Free which walks you through planning your next gluten-free travel adventure!

Get the best tool for traveling gluten free with Equal Eats Cards

Get the PracMedic Travel Medicine Bag. I just picked one up from Amazon, and I’m excited to travel with this handy medical bag.

Looking for a warm getaway this year? Find your next vacation on Airbnb! Get Your Travel Gluten Free discount with a $40 credit towards your stay!

Follow me on Social Media via Facebook, Youtube, Pinterest, or Instagram

Spread the love of Travel Gluten Free podcast and share this episode with a friend*