Traveling With Celiac Disease

[Monive]

I am new at this and also somewhat new at being gluten free so if this has all been discussed before, plz bear with me. I just got back from a week in Scotland and altho I tried to be careful, I fell off the wagon and got sick. I about starved to death on the flight. Do airlines ahve a gluten free menu that you can request like they do for diabetics?

Also, I am not a cook and absolutely hate anything to do with the kitchen and at my age, change is probably not going to happen. So I am getting pretty tired of scrambled eggs and McDonalds french fries. I tend to eat out alot. Can any of you give me some suggestions?

Monica

monicaphx@juno.com

Phoenix, AZ

[celiac3270]

For traveling-- contact the airline you are going to fly ahead of time to see if they can accomodate with a gluten-free meal. Many airlines will, but you can't leave it till the last minute or until you are on the flight.

If you are traveling in the United States, it's much easier to eat out, since you can print off menus from chains such as Outback, McDonalds, etc. Also, if you are driving, you can keep a cooler in the trunk with some gluten-free products you couldn't just pick up at any grocery storea long the way.

If you really want to avoid eating out, you can bring something, such as a George Foreman grill, and make meat, etc. in a hotel room....other helpful appliances include a hotplate and a toaster oven. It might be difficult to bring a toaster oven on an airplane, but again, if you're driving and staying at hotels, it is very helpful (provided that you don't want to risk eating out at restaurants).

Do you have any specific questions? Such as what restaurants you could get gluten-free menus for in the US? Food to bring? If you provide some more specific questions, we can be even more helpful

[Guest PastorDave]

I do know that some airlines have gluten free menus (unlike most hospitals, weird huh?)

As far as travel, it was my understanding that you should have an easier time in Europe than the US to find gluten-free food. Celiac awareness is higher there. Someone on this board even mentioned a restaurant in Italy that had a gluten-free menu. Real italilan food that is Gluten Free...my mouth is watering...

Anyhow, when travelling, you just have to be willing to ask lots of questions. I have even had success finding food at amusement parks, just by asking questions.

As far as being home, there are pre-prepared (sounds redundant) gluten-free foods that you can buy, but it's expensive Some are good...some leave A LOT to be desired...just like everything else.

Take care.

[Carriefaith]

I actually take food with me on my carry-on bag and eat it whenever I get hungrey. You could easily pack some things like gluten free bread, rice cakes, and gluten free bagels.

[once and again]

Just returned from a week trip to San Antonio & Corpus Christi, Texas. Checked the internet for suggestions on restaurants from Celiacs in those places. Ate at a fabulous Mexican restaurant in San Antonio. Also ate at chains where I know they have gluten-free menus - Outback, P. F. Chang. In other restaurants I selected a few entrees that sounded as if they could be made gluten free. (since I do cook a lot it is fairly easy to figure out how something was prepared.) I would then tell the server what I was interested in, gave them my gluten-free dining card, emphasized cross contamination and asked for recommendations from the chef. I did not get sick the entire trip! Some meals were somewhat bland - I think the chef got scared - but others were very tasty.