Tips for Maintaining a Gluten-Free Diet while Traveling

Note: This post was originally published on Mayo Clinic's Advancing the Science blog on August 22, 2013

Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist and celiac disease expert Joseph Murray, M.D., and Jacalyn See, a clinical dietician at Mayo Clinic discuss tips to help people with celiac disease maintain a gluten-free diet while traveling. Among a few of the tips mentioned are:

• Before leaving, contact a celiac disease support group in that area to which you are traveling. They can provide you with firsthand information about places to eat and shop in that location.
• When traveling abroad to countries speaking foreign languages, bring a pre-printed card, translated to that country's language, that informs the food service personnel about the need for gluten-free items.
• For longer trips, booking a hotel room that has a refrigerator or kitchen facilities. That way, you can prepare some of the meals in your room.
• Do some online searching to see what airlines offer gluten-free meals.

For more information on celiac disease, visit: mayoclinic.org/celiac-disease