It’s that time of the year again. Lots of meals away from home, holiday parties, airplane travel, and maybe more eating out at restaurants. If you are traveling this holiday season and worried about how to eat gluten-free away from home?
One of the most complex parts of going gluten-free is figuring out what to eat when you’re not the one making food. Traveling, eating at restaurants, or even eating at someone else’s house for dinner can become a challenge if you’re not prepared.
Being Gluten-Free at Thanksgiving or anytime there is a big celebration can be challenging, so I wanted to give you a few quick tips on how to eat Gluten-Free when you’re not at home.
Here are my top tips for eating gluten-free away from home:
1. Be open about what you need and make a plan. Telling friends, family, and waitstaff about your diet needs can sometimes feel awkward, but it’s important to advocate for yourself! Many restaurants offer a gluten-free menu or have trained wait staff who know what does and doesn’t gluten. This actually took me a while to figure out, but now I ask for the gluten-freen options right away which makes dining out more enjoyable. When my family wants sushi, I always bring my coconut aminos with me. This way we can all enjoy the meal and I’ve never had a restaurant tell me I couldn’t use my own aminos.
2. When you go to other people’s houses, let them know that you’re gluten-free in advance. This allows the host to make accommodations and makes it easier for you to decline gluten-containing foods politely. This used to make me very uncomfortable, but then I started letting hosts know in advance which actually made everyone more comfortable. I generally offer to bring something gluten-free that will appeal to everyone.
3. When you’re traveling, it’s important to make a plan and bring your own food! This is something I do often. There is nothing wrong with bringing GF food and snacks with you when you know you will be eating away from home. When I fly, I always pack Gluten-Free snacks or meals depending on the length of the flight, because I know I might not have easy access to food I can eat.
4. A great app called “Find Me Gluten Free” gives gluten-free restaurant reviews and finds restaurants near you that offer gluten-free menu items. This can be really helpful when you’re away from home and aren’t well acquainted with the restaurants in the area.
Being prepared helps What are your favorite tips for eating gluten-free when you’re traveling?
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