Traveling with Special Diet

Catches your eye and taste buds! I do not suggest you travel with donuts.

Many of you know me and know that I have eaten what many would call a special diet, mainly grain free for more than 30 years. With it being my norm, I don’t consider it a special diet. It used to be that traveling while on a special diet was a royal pain. Much has changed in 30 years. Then wheat-free meant you got white bread (true experience!) Gluten free was not even used as a term in the 1990s. Today, it is easy to find healthy foods in cafes or coffee shops that fit most diets. Eating across England was a breeze. I found grain-free salads in most places, some of them were better than anything I ever saw in the US! Every tea shop had gluten free cakes and pastries that were yummy, and not nearly as sweet as you find here. Nobody bats an eye if you are vegan or gluten free.

The one place I suggest you stock up is for airplane and train travel. Both are heavy on processed foods and snacks. I try to pack a big bag of nuts, meat sticks, cheese. I love hummus and will buy it if I know I am going to eat it soon vs several hours from purchase. It is perishable. Sliced up apples are a good choice with walnuts and cheese.

I always bring lots of Ziplock bags with me in various sizes so I can pick up things here and there while traveling for the journey home. Take way more on the plane with you than you think you will need. I had a 12 hour international trip home once that the airline offered us sweetened yogurt (full of sugar, gums and dyes), pretzels and raisins. I was so happy I had my stash of random protein bars, nuts, and meat sticks.