Eating Gluten Free On Vacation

Whenever you’re plagued by something like Celiac Disease, where you’re gluten intolerant, it makes it hard to travel far from home. Special dietary needs have to follow you everywhere, and the only way to go and enjoy yourself is to plan ahead.

You can still go on vacation and enjoy great meals and snacks without worrying about what you’re eating or dangerous cross-contamination. All you have to do is prepare yourself for travel so that you can enjoy your vacation and eat well at the same time.

First, arm yourself with a list of restaurant chains in the area that you’ll be visiting so that you know which ones offer gluten-free options. You can go online (before you leave for vacation) and search "gluten free restaurant chains."

Then check out specific locations and information on their gluten-free offerings since menus can vary from franchise to franchise. Many popular chains offer lots of great dishes that are gluten-free. Among them are:

Bonefish Grill
Carrabas Italian Grill
Cheeseburger in Paradise
Chilis
On the Border
Outback Steakhouse
PF Chang's China Bistro
Ted's Montana Grill

This is only a small sample, and that's good news! For a quick bite at a fast food spot, Wendy's and Chick-Fil-A have gluten-free menu items. Check their websites to see where they’re located at your destination or (if you’re driving) along the way.

Some grocery chains post wheat and gluten-free food lists. You’ll want to check out what supermarket chains are in the area you’ll be in, so that you can know where to shop when you need a few supplies for snacking or making your own meal if you won't be dining out.

Another great idea is to bring along a supply of gluten-free food bars to use as an emergency. These are a lifesaver when you’re at the airport, or stuck somewhere without a proper snack. Plus, there are several varieties and flavors to choose from. You can buy gluten free food snacks online, or at some retailers.

Armed with your list of restaurants that offer great gluten-free items, your supermarket list, snack bars, cereal and bread packets, you’ll be more than ready to take a vacation and never have to give a moment’s thought worrying about what you’re ingesting.

Instead, you can sit back and enjoy yourself, bask in the sun, or ski down a powdery hill and be secure in the knowledge that you have the eating part of the vacation handled and won’t have to worry about your nutrition.

For more information, see 02bGlutenFree.info.

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