How to Stay Gluten Free When You Travel
I’m sure many of you are traveling far and wide to be with loved ones this holiday season. And if you are anything like me, you have a certain way of eating when you are home and in your daily routine. But as soon as you get around family does it go straight out the window? Being around those that do not eat like we do can make it hard to stay consistent. When you have committed to a healthier way of life, going back to how things used to be can be hard both mentally and physically. Maintaining a certain diet or avoiding certain ingredients can be especially difficult if you travel a lot.
Gluten is a particularly tough ingredient to avoid. Gluten is found in wheat, which is typically a big part of our normal diet especially in those holiday treats. However, recent studies have suggested that gluten can have many disadvantages for a wide range of people not just those with severe autoimmune disfunction. Celiac disease is the most well known. Other disorders inflammed by gluten are gut inflammation, intestinal permeability (leaky gut), and damage to the gut biome (microbiome). If you are strictly avoiding gluten, traveling to a new place with different food options can be challenging, but it is not impossible.
Here are some ways to maintain your gluten-free lifestyle while traveling…
1. The internet is a blessing; you can use it to easily find out if nearby restaurants can accommodate gluten-free meals. You can also search restaurants ahead of time so you know where you find gluten-free meals before you arrive or during your travel.
2. Ask the hotel where you are staying if they have refrigerators and microwaves in the rooms. This might enable you to do some personal food shopping and stock up on some essentials.
3. Packing dry nutritious items like healthy bars and nuts is a good idea to fill up on in case there is not a gluten-free option readily available. I also like to travel with my single serving super greens powder and bone broth.
4. You can search for groups nearby you that support gluten-free diets and ask them for suggestions or you can simply ask restaurant owners if they serve gluten-free food.
5. In airports, look for yogurt (if you tolerate dairy), salad, grilled chicken, fruit and other gluten-free standbys at the airport.
6. If you are traveling abroad, print out your gluten-free needs in the language of the foreign country that you are traveling to (or make a list on your phone). This will help convey to them the kinds of food you need and help them better understand your needs.
8. Avoid most condiments, especially soy sauce.
For people with Celiac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis, the effects of straying from a gluten-free diet might not be instant but they have delayed effects that can have long-term consequences. Slacking on your lifestyle should not be an option, so preparing gluten-free biscuits, hummus or sandwiches for a shorter trip is a great way to stay consistent.
Away from home, internet and research will be your best friend. Stick to the basics of your gluten-free diet—fresh fruit and vegetables, lean meats, unprocessed products—and you will be able to enjoy your travels to the fullest. And if your family gives you a hard time, remind them (in the nicest way possible) that the way you are choosing to eat is a reflection of your own self-respect and love and will help you be the most present for them.
If you are feeling called to take the next step, contact me to set up a clarity call. Together we will discuss your healing journey, and make an action plan to get you to your goal.
If one-on-one coaching isn’t your thing, but you are ready to make a change, I have a super easy & approachable 14-day course, that will help you create healthy habits, and rid your body of toxicity and inflammation in a safe and natural way. For the price of 1 meal at a restaurant, you can start changing your life, step-by-step at your own pace over a 2 week period. Check out the 14 Days to Vibrant Health Course here.
Namaste,
- Dr. Lara
P.S.
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