With all of the challenges involved in sticking to a gluten free diet at home, you might think it would be just impossible to do while traveling. It doesn’t have to be that way though. Just like in other areas of your live, making the transition to gluten free traveling involves some adjustments. But it is very doable. You don’t have to give up the vacations or weekend getaways you’ve always enjoyed. You just have to plan ahead a little bit.
Check Out the Area
Particularly if you’re going someplace you’ve never been before, it’s a good idea to find out what kinds of grocery stores and restaurants there are in the area where you’ll be staying. Searching online is certainly the easiest and quickest way to do this, but you should also call some stores and restaurants to see if they can accommodate you. Not every place that serves gluten free food advertises it so it’s always a good idea to ask.
Also, don’t forget that more and more national chain restaurants are starting to include gluten free menu items. If there’s an Uno’s Chicago Grill, Appleby’s, Outback Steakhouse or Olive Garden in the area you’ll be visiting then you’ll know you at least have that option.
Accommodating Accommodations
If you are able to find some suitable restaurants, you may want to look for a hotel or other accommodations in the same area. If you don’t mind traveling a little bit, though, you can be a bit pickier about the place that you stay and what kinds of amenities they offer. Particularly if you don’t want to eat out for every meal, you’ll want to make sure your hotel room is equipped with certain things.
Many hotel rooms, but certainly not all, have mini refrigerators in them. While it’s not vital to your vacation survival, it’s really very handy to have one of these. You shouldn’t have trouble finding a hotel room with one as long as you ask. Similarly, a microwave is a huge plus. These two appliances will increase your meal options exponentially, and they’re pretty common in hotel rooms.
If nothing else, you’ll probably have access to a common microwave in the lobby or lounge. It’s more convenient to just have your own, and that way you won’t have to worry about cross contamination either. There are even some hotel chains like Extended Stay America that offer actual kitchenettes with a stovetop, sink, flatware and cookware.
To Cook or Not To Cook
Of course, you may not feel like you should have to cook on your vacation, but it’s certainly good to have the option of storing and preparing your own gluten free food when you’re on the road. At the very least, having a refrigerator or kitchenette will allow you to store a wider variety of snacks and sandwich supplies for breakfasts and lunches. Eating out can also get expensive quickly, especially because a lot of gluten free restaurant offerings are more expensive than their gluten containing counterparts.