Hi guys! I’m writing this as the sun is shining so I’m feeling in full holiday mode as I start my latest blog series: A Balanced Belly Travels! Some of you who have read my blog forever, might now that this originally started off as a bit of a travel blog; since the past few years were spent jetting everywhere from China to Bali to Thailand and beyond and enjoyed blogging about my healthy living discoveries along the way (you can checkout my blogs on Shanghai, Hong Kong, Chiang Mai, Bali and Thailand about how I stayed healthy and what I ate (gluten/dairy free) along the way!)
Therefore, I do feel a bit of an expert on all things free-from while globetrotting. I won’t be jetting anywhere so glamorous this year but I am planning to have a few minibreaks in the UK to checkout some of the best gluten-free friendly hotels on home soil (which I’ll share on the blog too- fun fact the photo at the top of the blog was actually taken in Weymouth!)
Therefore I thought I’d kick of the series by sharing my top tips for traveling gluten and dairy free.
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If going abroad, always take translation information/cards with you. You can buy translation cards online (allergy uk being the most reputable seller) but in my experience, you may also find that the concept of gluten in particular does not translate well if traveling further afield.
In the case of South Asia, locals were often not aware that gluten was in soy sauce. Therefore another tip is to get friendly with some of the regulars on your destinations trip advisor forum; who can offer advice and even quickly translate some additional key phrases for you to precisely match your dietary requirements. (e.g. ‘do not cook any dishes in soy sauce.’)
Always Pack Travel Snacks.
Wherever I go, I always make sure I pack a travel bag (in fact I think travel snacking is my favourite kind of snacking!) I try to have things that travel well; don’t need much refrigeration and are reasonably filling! Here’s my favourite travel snacks that I plan to take with my when we travel around the UK next week. They work really well- whether you’re carrying them as hand luggage or just keeping them handing in your car boot should you have a restaurant disaster.
From Left- Right (clockwise): Delicious Alchemy Porridge Pots, Pip and Nut Nut Butters, Nothing But (Dried Fruit/Veg Snacks), Nutribombz, Gluten Free Oat Cakes, Well and Truly Tortilla Chips, Liv’s Kitchen Raw Millionaire Bites, Urban Fruit Mango, Rice Dream Mini Cartons, Nakd Bars, Mighty Bee Coconut Jerky and of course Gluten Free HobNobs (for your first cup of tea on arrival!)
Consider Self-Catered.
Since going gluten and dairy free, I am much happier in self-catered accommodation and thanks to sites like Air BnB it’s easier than ever before! It’s the little things- being able to grab a safe breakfast before heading out (Breakfast has always been my biggest nightmare when on holiday because it’s difficult to find safe foods, other than fruit). For many free-frommers, going self-catered can also help with anxiety about finding suitable places to eat out (and gives you a bit more breathing space if you do end up being glutened) Darwin Escapes Managing Director Lindsay Bamford, agrees: ‘we’ve seen a huge increase in the number of those with allergies going self-catered across our 16 UK holiday parks.It means they can control exactly what they eat without harming the enjoyment of their holiday. We’ve also started to make sure that our restaurants are a lot more aware of allergens so they can accommodate them should they want to eat out’.
Talk to the Hotel in Advance (even if you’re room only)
If self-catering isn’t an option for you, try emailing the hotel you’re staying at in advance instead. I did this recently and found they were really helpful. Useful questions include:
- Is there a fridge to store things like dairy free milk? (If not, they should offer to store it in their own fridges for you)
- Are there any local restaurants that could cater for your dietary needs? (Hotel owners often befriend local restaurant owners so this may prove more fruitful than a google search)
- What adaptations can be made at the hotel restaurant?
Take an emergency self-care pack.
Even if you’re only traveling an hour down the road, holidays definitely make it more likely to experience a set back with a gluten/dairy free diet: you’re relying on new restaurants, sometimes facing a language barrier and sometimes being a new climate means we can let out guard down a little. Therefore, I always make sure I pack my essentials should disaster strike!
I always pack a hot water bottle to help with cramps. I’ve been eying up a Yuyu one for ages as they seem really luxurious and being sideaways means they can fit all around your stomach. Unfortunately the cashemere ones a bit out of my price range so I’ll stick to my regular hot water bottle for now! Teapigs Herbal tea is amazing for soothing a stomach (I find teapigs the best) and Digestive Enzymes may be useful to give your digestive system a helping hand. I didn’t find Enterosgel had much impact on me but I have crohn’s disease; I know some people have found it useful when they’ve eaten something they didn’t realise contain an allergen.
I hope these tips help you if you are off on holiday this month! Look out for more tips as part of my A Balanced Belly Travels and checkout all my gluten free posts here. I’d love to hear all of your tips about traveling with allergies, intolerances and coeliac disease below.
I’ve discovered a small portable induction hob and now take it everywhere with me .
Great for travelling.