As any Celiac or gluten free foodie knows, travel can be a huge challenge when it comes to getting gluten free food on the go. Unexpected layovers, missed connections, and airport terminals with nothing but a Burger King tend to be a big problem when you find yourself suddenly starving. I remember being stuck at LAX for six hours once due to a delayed flight, and there was literally nothing I could safely eat — even the Hudson News nuts were made in a facility that processed wheat. I definitely learned my lesson to never travel unprepared and on an empty stomach ever again. While some airlines are getting better at having at least a few labeled gluten free snacks on board (shout-out to Delta and Westjet), I never bank on being able to snack in the air. Now when I travel, I make sure I'm prepared.
Here are my gluten free travel tips to keep you feeling full and nourished on your next journey:
• Depending on what time you are departing, eat a meal before you go — I often pack something to go and eat at the gate. This solution isn't fool proof if you have a 6am flight though — when that is the case, I rely on the snacks I pack.
• Pack a few snacks — In theory this sounds easy, but I am almost always scrambling to get out of town and rarely have time to pack the snacks that I would ideally want. So, instead I make sure I have a KIND bar or a Larabar (I always keep a few in my kitchen at home for running-out-the-door emergencies). These bars have enough protein to tide me over in a pinch.
• If you're flying cross country or transcontinental, let your airline know ahead of time you have a gluten allergy — Most airlines who serve a meal will accommodate a dietary restriction with enough warning. Delta did a great job of handling this for me when I flew to Europe last year (I had a totally gluten free meal ready for me on-board), and I have had the same experience with Cathay Pacific who provides meals for their Vancouver - New York - Hong Kong route.
• Have a destination meal plan — I do my best to plan my schedule for when I land, and figure out when my next opportunity to eat will be. If I am going somewhere and heading straight into meetings, or know I have a long car or train ride ahead of me, I make sure I overestimate my need for packed snacks. When I'm preparing the food for my journey I am usually at home, and not starving. Many times I have underestimated how much food I will need. One KIND bar in my purse is NOT going to cut it when I have an 8 hour travel day ahead of me (I also always forget how long it takes to get a rental car), so I now double up on snacks.
• Eat clean before you travel — Because traveling as a Celiac and looking for something to eat can sometimes feel like an episode of Survivor, I try to travel feeling the best I can. Pre celiac disease days I used to indulge at the airport and eat the honey roasted peanuts and snack on that bag of chips, but no more. Now when I travel I make sure I haven't eaten a bunch of sugar (don't need a hypoglycemic fit), I am well hydrated, and I have loaded up on veggies and lean protein before hand.
• No alcohol — Say it with me friends, 'I will not drink on-board'. I like a glass of red at 30,000 feet as much as the next person, but every time I have had a drink in the sky I have regretted it .... every, single, time. Not only is it majorly dehydrating, but my meal of Larabars just doesn't seem to sustain my appetite once I have some cabernet in me.
Happy travels!
— The Healthy Celiac
Here are my gluten free travel tips to keep you feeling full and nourished on your next journey:
• Depending on what time you are departing, eat a meal before you go — I often pack something to go and eat at the gate. This solution isn't fool proof if you have a 6am flight though — when that is the case, I rely on the snacks I pack.
• Pack a few snacks — In theory this sounds easy, but I am almost always scrambling to get out of town and rarely have time to pack the snacks that I would ideally want. So, instead I make sure I have a KIND bar or a Larabar (I always keep a few in my kitchen at home for running-out-the-door emergencies). These bars have enough protein to tide me over in a pinch.
• If you're flying cross country or transcontinental, let your airline know ahead of time you have a gluten allergy — Most airlines who serve a meal will accommodate a dietary restriction with enough warning. Delta did a great job of handling this for me when I flew to Europe last year (I had a totally gluten free meal ready for me on-board), and I have had the same experience with Cathay Pacific who provides meals for their Vancouver - New York - Hong Kong route.
• Have a destination meal plan — I do my best to plan my schedule for when I land, and figure out when my next opportunity to eat will be. If I am going somewhere and heading straight into meetings, or know I have a long car or train ride ahead of me, I make sure I overestimate my need for packed snacks. When I'm preparing the food for my journey I am usually at home, and not starving. Many times I have underestimated how much food I will need. One KIND bar in my purse is NOT going to cut it when I have an 8 hour travel day ahead of me (I also always forget how long it takes to get a rental car), so I now double up on snacks.
• Eat clean before you travel — Because traveling as a Celiac and looking for something to eat can sometimes feel like an episode of Survivor, I try to travel feeling the best I can. Pre celiac disease days I used to indulge at the airport and eat the honey roasted peanuts and snack on that bag of chips, but no more. Now when I travel I make sure I haven't eaten a bunch of sugar (don't need a hypoglycemic fit), I am well hydrated, and I have loaded up on veggies and lean protein before hand.
• No alcohol — Say it with me friends, 'I will not drink on-board'. I like a glass of red at 30,000 feet as much as the next person, but every time I have had a drink in the sky I have regretted it .... every, single, time. Not only is it majorly dehydrating, but my meal of Larabars just doesn't seem to sustain my appetite once I have some cabernet in me.
Happy travels!
— The Healthy Celiac
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