Gluten-Free Globetrotting
May 6, 2008
With summer vacations on the horizon, Loretta Jay shared her advice for traveling with food allergies with the British magazine Food Matters.
Planning ahead is the first order of business, according to Jay, a mother of two celiac children and the founder of Parasol, a consulting organization that specializes in the management of food allergies and celiac disease.
Among the helpful travel tips she offers to families:
• Stay in hotels that have kitchens in the guest rooms.
• Before your trip, ship non-perishable food items to your destination.
• Pack perishable items in a hard-sided suitcase, along with ice packs and a note from your
doctor explaining why they’re essential.
• Learn from the locals at your vacation destination what foods are available and how to
prepare them.
• It's common knowledge that you can’t pass through airport security with more than a baggie full of liquids, but did you know exceptions exist for those with dietary restrictions?
While “pre-travel homework” may be the key to easing the stress of traveling with food allergies, Jay reminds us that our restrictions need not curtail our adventures.
"The most important thing to remember is that food allergies are not who we are, just something that we have. Finding ways to manage our diets while we enjoy and embrace other cultures lets us experience all the world has to offer."
Read the full text of the article, Enjoying Food, Travel and Culture with Food Allergies, visit GoDairyFree’s web site.