I'm often asked what I do when I travel. What do you eat? How do you handle eating out? I have to say that I still find it stressful to travel with celiac disease. It was so much easier before I had to go gluten-free. The freedom of just picking a place to eat or eating on a plane was something I totally took for granted. So, what do I do now. Well, I plan! There is no easy way, once you find out you have celiac disease, preplanning just becomes your life. You have to look at where you are heading to and check out all the possible gluten-free, celiac-friendly restaurants, bakeries and stores you can find. I always bring a simple meal and snack with me, so that I'm prepared if I can't find a place to eat my first day. Things such as whole fruit, cut up vegetables, gluten-free tuna and crackers, or cheese, gluten-free instant soups, gluten-free backpacking foods and so on. The above photo gives you an idea of things I bring with me. What I bring depends on my mode of transport and where I'm heading and any travel restrictions.

If I'm travelling by car then things are much easier. You can carry extra food with you in a cooler. You can bring a gluten-free dedicated pot, strainer and cutting board with you. Because yes, I do not trust that the pots and pans in a hotel kitchenette are free of gluten. I also bring a dish cloth and soap and wash everything down where I stay. If unsure I will use my own utensils and plates. I carry a picnic case with all I need in it when driving.

If I'm flying then the number of items I can bring are limited. I like to travel without checked in baggage as much as possible, so I need to be aware of what I can and cannot bring in my carry on luggage. Of course, you can pack more items if you have a checked in bag. I like to bring fruit such as an apple, banana or orange, along with prepackaged cheese and crackers. I do like to have some small packets of peanut or nut butter, but I don't eat them on the plane in case one of my fellow passengers has a peanut allergy, they are for later. I sometimes bring a sandwich and raw vegetables to eat on the plane if it is a long flight. I do pack a gluten-free protein bar for emergencies too. Since I try to just have carry on luggage I will often buy a small knife and cutting board when I arrive and use them throughout my holiday. I will either throw them away on my return, or if I now have checked in luggage because I did a lot of shopping, they will be packed in with all my souvenirs.

Now if I'm staying at a hotel I do prefer one with a kitchenette. If I can't have that a microwave is good. Usually I'm able to find gluten-free frozen meals and gluten-free instant soups at grocery stores where I'm staying. On my last trip I only had a kettle. It definitely limited my options, but hot water is great for rehydrating instant gluten-free rice noodles and gluten-free backpacking foods. I often pack instant gluten-free rice noodles in a ziplock bag along with a teaspoon of gluten-free chicken broth which makes a quick, tasty and hot meal. I just add the noodles and powdered broth to a cup, fill with boiling water and wait about 2 to 3 minutes, stirring now and then.

What do you bring with you to eat when you travel?

Note: These are my personal experiences and opinions. Always seek out a medical opinion for medical concerns.