Tips for Celiacs – Quick Tips for Foreign Travel
- When making airline reservations, request gluten-free meals on all flights. If you are buying plane tickets on the Internet, you may have to call the airline after purchasing the tickets to submit the request.
- A day or two before your departure, call the airline and ask an agent to verify that your records indicate you have requested gluten-free meals.
- Pack gluten-free foods that you can take with you on the flight. In the event that a flight is delayed or canceled, or if the meal supplied by the airline does not appear to be gluten free, you will have food with you that you know is safe.
- Suggestions for foods to tote on flights include meal replacement bars, sliced cheese, gluten-free crackers or rice cakes, peeled boiled eggs, carrot or other vegetable sticks, fresh fruit, nuts, dried fruit, and gluten-free cookies.
- It is very important to check with the customs agency of each country involved before you plan to travel with fresh foods. Some countries, including the US, have restrictions against bringing in fresh foods, and border patrols may require you to discard any fresh foods before boarding your flight. When restrictions disallow fresh foods, you may still be allowed to bring unopened packaged foods.
- When making advance reservations at a bed and breakfast, advise the host or hostess about your diet. If the host is unfamiliar with celiac disease and the gluten-free diet, mail or e-mail a celiac restaurant card in advance.
- Carry at least two celiac restaurant cards with you in case one gets lost.
- Take unopened packages of gluten-free crackers or rice cakes and cereal in your luggage. All grocery stores have cheese and fresh fruits and vegetables, but small grocery stores may not have gluten-free grain-based items.
- When shopping in grocery stores or ordering from menus in the UK, ask about foods safe for celiac diet rather than using the phrase “gluten free.”
- If you have access to a computer and the Internet while in the UK, you can find the location of the nearest Sainsbury's grocery store or Tesco grocery store online.
- If you have access to a computer and the Internet while in the UK, you can find the location of the nearest Sainsbury's grocery store at http://www.sainsbury.co.uk/storelocator/ and the location of Tesco grocery stores at http://www.tesco.com/storelocator/.
