Travel Advice

[GINAHOLLY]

Hi, I am a newly diagnosed Australian Coeliac travelling in the Reno, Tahoe and Vail regions and would appreciate some advice regarding eating out in America. Living out of hotels it is impossible to prepare my own food and am getting very frustrated. Can you consider the following questions please:

1. Is bacon gluten-free or only certain brands?

2. Is Sara lee ham 'no fillers' gluten-free?

3. What about caramel colouring here?

4. Is Baileys gluten-free?

5. Has anyone travelled in Hong Kong or Italy on a gluten-free diet and coped?

6. Tips for eating away from home

I am an asymptomatic Coeliac except for hayfever, allergy and depression, fatigue type symptoms when I accidentally ingest gluten and this is all new and very frustrating. My elderly mother has been hospitalised in the last 2yrs with peripheral neuropathy, paranoia, depression, anxiety and acopia(previously an independent and intelligent woman now weighing 42kgs), she was diagnosed after a nursing aid with coeliac suggested the disease. My reading suggests all her problems are most likely attributable to coeliac disease. She was positive so I had the blood test, and endoscopy which proved positive, I would never have known otherwise. I am therefore strongly compliant with the gluten-free diet but not coping well with the accidental slip ups by restaurants and my amateur status re gluten-free. Please help.

[Wonka]

5. Has anyone travelled in Hong Kong or Italy on a gluten-free diet and coped?

I haven't been to Hong Kong or Italy but I was in Malta (just below Italy) in September. We rented an apartment, so I was able to make my own breakfast (lots of fresh fruit, amazingly good yogurt and gluten free bread found in a little grocery store). I stuck to ordering fresh seafood (the squid was amazing) and salads. I only found one restaurant that even knew what celiac was though, so order carefully. I suspect that Hong Kong might be challenging as the use of soy sauce is pretty big.

[GINAHOLLY]

Many thanks for the info. I thought I had this gluten-free diet all sorted until I started travelling!

5. Has anyone travelled in Hong Kong or Italy on a gluten-free diet and coped?

I haven't been to Hong Kong or Italy but I was in Malta (just below Italy) in September. We rented an apartment, so I was able to make my own breakfast (lots of fresh fruit, amazingly good yogurt and gluten free bread found in a little grocery store). I stuck to ordering fresh seafood (the squid was amazing) and salads. I only found one restaurant that even knew what celiac was though, so order carefully. I suspect that Hong Kong might be challenging as the use of soy sauce is pretty big.