The Purple Blend: September 2011

Hello everyone!

If you don't already know, today is National Celiac Awareness Day! It's just a day dedicated to celebrate those with Celiac Disease, as well as raising awareness about Celiac Disease and gluten intolerance in general. In celebration of the day, I thought I would talk about how to travel gluten (& dairy!) free. I know that summer is over, so it seems a little late to be addressing travel concerns, but with school functions and holiday traveling, it's still a very relevant topic. Most of you probably don't know that I just got back from a trip to NYC. I love that city more than life. (Ok maybe a slight exaggeration, but you get the point.) The first time I went to NYC I was not gluten-free. It was pre-diagnosis so I just enjoyed all of the food I wanted, including some cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery. Yum. This time things were different so I tackled the city's abundance of restaurants from a gluten-free and dairy-free standpoint. I'm happy to report that NYC is where it's at!

Let's talk preparation. I understand that it's unlikely that many of you will be traveling to NYC anytime soon, but if you are, get excited about the options that await you! Before we left, I began researching restaurants and put together a "restaurant guide." I broke the city down by neighborhoods and listed the restaurants according to location so that no matter where we were in the city, I would be able to find something nearby with suitable dining options. I printed off a copy to put in my purse and emailed it to myself so I would have it on my phone. I also looked into iPhone apps that would be useful, and I found one that works pretty well. It had a few issues, but nothing too serious. It's called "Find Me Gluten Free." It uses your location to find restaurants around you with gluten-free options. You can also enter in an address, search for chain restaurants, or choose whether you want it to search all restaurants or just those with a dedicated gluten-free menu.
Here is a link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/find-me-gluten-free/id431006818?mt=8

Have you ever been in an airport or your on the airplane and you need a snack? Well here is my suggestion to you... Pack your own snacks. Do not assume that there is going to be something safe for you to eat. What if you were to encounter travel complications and didn't have time to grab something before running on the plane? You can eat the peanuts, right? Sorry, but you can't. At least not the ones on Southwest Airlines. I checked the package and guess what was listed as an ingredient on the back of those seemingly innocent peanuts? Wheat starch. Oopsies! Here are a few of my favorite snacks (in general) that make perfect travel companions. These are all dairy-free, not to mention they are free of other allergens as well (particularly Enjoy Life).

Enjoy Life NOT Nuts Trail Mix. I really like "Beach Bash."

Glutino Gluten Free Table Crackers

Glutino Gluten-Free Pretzels

Enjoy Life Chewy Bars. I prefer Caramel Apple.

Other suggestions that I would like to add, especially if you are driving, is to take a loaf of gluten-free bread (I like Udi's) with some peanut or sun butter, fresh fruit, gluten-free chips, etc. If your hotel has a refrigerator, you can also purchase some gluten-free deli meat to make sandwiches (no cheese if DF!). This not only keeps you safe, but it saves you money as well.

Research restaurants and ask plenty of questions when you get there. Ask for a gluten-free menu and tell them of your food intolerance(s) so they can accommodate your needs. It's really not that hard to travel gluten and dairy free, especially if you are visiting large cities. There are some resorts, cruises, etc that are now going gluten-free (Disney included) so it's only getting easier!

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from my trip. Can't wait to go back!