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Travelling to the least gluten-free friendly place - advice pls!

JesLin

By JesLin
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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JesLin Rookie
JesLin
Posted
(edited)

Hi guys! I'm newly diagnosed (just over a month ago) and before my diagnosis booked a trip to Nepal and Tibet - both of which are bound to be super NOT gluten free and likely not gluten aware. 

I know when travelling elsewhere it is recommended to get fresh produce etc from the grocery store and bring your own food. However, grocery store shopping will be next to impossible (in Tibet especially - I will be on a small tour driving through some very remote places!) and though Nepal may be slightly easier, I think it will be a challenge.

I am fine to bring my own staples but note this trip is backpacking style and I will have barely enough room for (non-food) necessities so I unfortunately cannot bring an extra suitcase filled with food. I also doubt I will have access to microwaves for the Tibet portion of the trip.

Can anyone offer the following advice:

- have any of you traveled to these places or somewhere similar and how did you manage?

- with limited space what would be the best staples to bring/what will stretch the farthest but take up the least space (I'm thinking a big bag of gluten-free oats? should be easy to get boiling water in most places)

- CC issue is gonna be huge but what do you think is the safest bet to eat in this part of the world? Should I just live off steamed rice for the two weeks and take lots of vitamins and hope I can survive with the lack of nutrients? I'll try and add safe fruit and veg at every chance I get obviously.. (Note: fresh veggies are very scarce in Tibet - main diet it dumplings/momos, rice and yak meat - I assume the meat has a high chance of being marinated in unsafe soy sauce)

- are there any pills/supplements/natural remedies to help me cope if I do get glutened (which is likely)? I heard of GliadinX - anyone have success with this? Also thinking maybe this would be a good time to invest in a Nima?

Thank you so much! Any advice will be really helpful! :)

(Also, please no comments on how I should cancel the trip, how getting glutened once will re-damage my intestines, how I should pack less clothes to fit more safe food etc! I know there is no beating Celiac and all the crappy consequences to eating gluten (I've been addicted to this website since getting diagnosed and have learned so much from you guys!) and that this is probably the worst vacation for a celiac lol. But this trip has been a life dream of mine and we actually booked it in lieu of having a wedding so for this reason I can't (won't) cancel it :) I know I'm taking a huge risk and many would disagree with my decision but please positive comments on how I can be best prepared and reduce the risk/reduce the symptoms will be really appreciated!)

Thanks :)

Jes

 

Edited by JesLin
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Kelloramma Rookie
Kelloramma
Posted

Hello,  I am in a job that I travel every 3rd week...It gets challenging becuase many times I am doing audits of warehouses and they dont even have a cafeteria.  I usually bring gluten-free protein bars as a back up if I have to miss a meal and then eat when I get back to the hotel.  Just a suggestion because they certainly fill me up....Have a safe trip...Kelly

 

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted
(edited)

If you can get plain rice, go for it.  Plain fish, meat, too.  Maybe beef jerky and protein bars ?  

I wouldn't bother with the Nima- it is giving a lot of false positives

Edited by kareng
RMJ Mentor
RMJ
Posted

I was in the hospital once for six days and had nothing except the glucose in the iv solution- and I survived.  Since it is only for two weeks I wouldn't worry about a balanced diet, or getting every nutrient every day.   Some celiacs react to oats, but lots of steamed rice would be good for getting calories.  If you took nuts that would add both fat and protein in a relatively small space per calorie.  Then just add a gluten free multivitamin/mineral.

Sounds like a great trip - hope you have a good and healthy time.

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

http://www.gluten-free-glutenfree.com/nepal-traveling-as-a-celiac

mark790 Newbie
mark790
Posted
On 4/27/2017 at 2:19 PM, JesLin said:

Hi guys! I'm newly diagnosed (just over a month ago) and before my diagnosis booked a trip to Nepal and Tibet - both of which are bound to be super NOT gluten free and likely not gluten aware. 

I know when travelling elsewhere it is recommended to get fresh produce etc from the grocery store and bring your own food. However, grocery store shopping will be next to impossible (in Tibet especially - I will be on a small tour driving through some very remote places!) and though Nepal may be slightly easier, I think it will be a challenge.

I am fine to bring my own staples but note this trip is backpacking style and I will have barely enough room for (non-food) necessities so I unfortunately cannot bring an extra suitcase filled with food. I also doubt I will have access to microwaves for the Tibet portion of the trip.

Can anyone offer the following advice:

- have any of you traveled to these places or somewhere similar and how did you manage?

- with limited space what would be the best staples to bring/what will stretch the farthest but take up the least space (I'm thinking a big bag of gluten-free oats? should be easy to get boiling water in most places)

- CC issue is gonna be huge but what do you think is the safest bet to eat in this part of the world? Should I just live off steamed rice for the two weeks and take lots of vitamins and hope I can survive with the lack of nutrients? I'll try and add safe fruit and veg at every chance I get obviously.. (Note: fresh veggies are very scarce in Tibet - main diet it dumplings/momos, rice and yak meat - I assume the meat has a high chance of being marinated in unsafe soy sauce)

- are there any pills/supplements/natural remedies to help me cope if I do get glutened (which is likely)? I heard of GliadinX - anyone have success with this? Also thinking maybe this would be a good time to invest in a Nima?

Thank you so much! Any advice will be really helpful! :)

(Also, please no comments on how I should cancel the trip, how getting glutened once will re-damage my intestines, how I should pack less clothes to fit more safe food etc! I know there is no beating Celiac and all the crappy consequences to eating gluten (I've been addicted to this website since getting diagnosed and have learned so much from you guys!) and that this is probably the worst vacation for a celiac lol. But this trip has been a life dream of mine and we actually booked it in lieu of having a wedding so for this reason I can't (won't) cancel it :) I know I'm taking a huge risk and many would disagree with my decision but please positive comments on how I can be best prepared and reduce the risk/reduce the symptoms will be really appreciated!)

Thanks :)

Jes

 

Talk to the tour company operator about the tour and your dietary restrictions.  They may have already encountered the issue and know how to take care of it.  See if you can get in touch with the actual tour guide via email before hand too.  It helps immensely.  Take gluten-free bars like Kind bars and don't arrive at any meal hungry.  Not being hungry makes it easier to be careful when selecting food.  

  • 2 years later...
Loreley Newbie
Loreley
Posted

Hi JesLin!

How was your trip? did you do well with the gluten free issue? I'm thinking in a trip to Nepal and Tibet also and I'm a little worry about the Tibet part. Could you please give me some advices?

Thanks!

Lorena

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