Traveling with Celiac

If you're curious why there's been such a gap in the postings, it's because this GFCF mom has had an extended break from thinking about, planning, and living the gluten-free life. Princess Becca went on a week-long trip to Florida with her grandmother and great-grandparents. I used her vacation as a mini vacation for myself.

The amount of planning that went into the trip was extensive, and deserves some mention. Eating gluten free and dairy free while away from the home environment is complicated. Not only do you not have your pantry of supplies available, but you also may have limited knowledge about the stores and restaurants in the area. I'm providing the travel plans we made to ensure that PB was safe during her trip and came home without incident.

1) Research the natural grocers and health food stores at your destination, and along the route if traveling by car
2) Pack plenty of gluten free/dairy free snacks in carry-on luggage. Take a refillable water bottle.
3) Pack gluten-free cosmetics and lotions (like sunblock) in your checked luggage.
4) For an extended stay, have family do a "preview" shopping trip to see if they can find your favorite staple items
5) Educate everyone at your destination about the dietary restrictions, and make sure they know not to offer foods to your GFCF child

****OPTIONAL****
Ship a box of gluten free/dairy free meal and snack items ahead by USPS or other delivery company. This worked really well for us, as we did not have to send grandma shopping immediately after landing at the airport.

We are very happy to report that PB did not have any exposures or symptoms due to grandma's careful planning! We hope other families can experience similar success.