During my journey to better health, I had a food intolerance test done with my doctor. She went over the results with me the day before I was leaving for Austin, Texas to attend the Mom 2.0 conference. So I put together 3 quick tips for traveling with food allergies.
I can no longer eat foods containing gluten, dairy, or eggs. This meant I needed to pull together food quickly that I could pack to bring with me and have for snacks and breakfast in case I couldn’t find an allergy-friendly option.
I am traveling again this week for the Women In Travel Summit and needed to do the same thing. I went to Target and was pleasantly surprised to find that they carried a lot of allergy-free foods that will taste good and will be safe for me. They are also a lot more affordable than going to a specialty health food store.
I noticed that since eating clean foods, I am more hungry, more often because I am not as full. Since I am eating food that is good for me, my body is processing it and using it so my blood sugar is being more regulated.
3 Quick Tips For Traveling With Food Allergies
Download the Find Me Gluten Free App
I wasn’t aware of this app until I was with a tour group for a bike ride around the Maine coastline. One of the women on the tour has a gluten allergy and she shared with me the name of the app. This will be a great resource for me to find restaurants around my home and when I am away from home.
Many restaurants can accommodate for food allergies, but it is sometimes overwhelming when you have a menu in front of you with choices that are not gluten-free and your only alternative is a salad. I’d like to be able to enjoy a meal with foods that I can eat in addition to what everyone else is eating.
Pack Your Own Food
When in doubt, make sure you have your safe foods with you. I have been packing the following items in my suitcase and carry-on to have on hand in case I get hungry or can’t find an option that works for me.
Foods that I pack include:
- Bob’s Red Mill Oatmeal
- Almonds
- Apples and Bananas
- Mary’s Gone Crackers
- Popcorn
I found out that airports are difficult to find foods I can eat; especially late at night. I try to grab a California roll or some fresh sushi. But on my last trip home, I had to eat the banana my roommate gave me along with some almonds. That was my dinner. Needless to say, when I got home at 2:30 a.m. I was hungry.
Read The Labels
You must be your own advocate, so make sure you ask your servers at the restaurants and read the labels of any food you purchase. Fortunately for me, I don’t have a life-threatening food allergy; but if I eat foods on my “dirty foods” list, I will end up with discomfort.
I was pleasantly surprised at dinner at a Yosaku , our server heard my roommate and I talking about gluten-free eating and when she served us our food, she brought gluten-free soy sauce. We were so excited that she noticed our needs, and we were even more excited that we found a new gluten-free soy sauce!
This new change in my diet is going to have a large impact on me but in a positive way. I’m just learning how to navigate this new world of food. It’s a little bit of a challenge, I am hungry often, but I do feel better. My brain seems to be less foggy, I have more energy, and I feel like my mood has changed for the better. I feel less blue and more positive.
These 3 quick tips for traveling with food allergies are the start of what I am learning about having food allergies. I’ll share what I am learning and any new tips and tricks of this new lifestyle as I encounter challenges and victories!
Do you have food allergies? I’d love to know what you have found for great restaurants and food substitutions. Please share them with me in the comments!