In the comfort of your own home it can be easy and stress free to cook a gluten free meal. To start with, your kitchen surface and appliances are not contaminated and of course you know where to buy your gluten free ingredients.  However if you’re travelling it can be a whole different story. I usually plan everything in advance to be shore that I don’t go hungry or get contaminated. Here are some tips:

# You can get translation cards and an app for your iPhone or Android  from this site: http://www.celiactravel.com/ So when you’re at a restaurant in a foreign country and you don’t speak the language the staff can read what you can and can’t eat .

# Pack some extra gluten free bread, crackers, muesli, gluten free energy bars and pasta in your suitcase and hand-luggage so you don’t have to search for gluten free food the minute you arrive at your destination.

# Do some on-line research about eating gluten free in the countries you’re going to visit.  You can find some good tips on where to eat out and where you can buy gluten free products. You might even  find some hotels that offer a gluten free breakfast.

# Make sure the company you’re flying with know you need a gluten free meal on the flight.  You can do that on-line by clicking the option gluten free, phoning them in advance and I always ask again at the desk when I’m checking in.  Once I nearly had to go without food for 11 hours so I’m glad I mentioned it at the desk.  Now I also take a packed lunch or some snacks with me in case something does go wrong.

# Send an e-mail  about what you can and can’t eat and how your food needs to be prepared  to organised tours who say they can cater gluten free for you.  Bring some extra gluten free food in case they make a mistake.

# If you’re going hiking/tramping this is a great site to buy gluten free, freeze dried food: http://www.expeditionfoods.com/expedition-foods/freeze-dried/gluten-free.html

And now just lay back and enjoy your holiday!