Planning a road trip? Roadside stores are notoriously full of processed baked goods and potentially cross-contaminated snacks. So break out the cooler and build a travel-friendly cache of safe, nutritious eats such as gluten-free trail mix, plain yogurt, fresh veggies, and fruit. Also try the following strategies for staying gluten-free on the go.
At your destination, Dennis suggests renting an apartment or staying at a hotel with kitchenette so you can prepare more of your own meals. Although you might pay more up front, in the end, this can be a big money saver, says Dennis.
Get in touch with the gluten-free community in the city you plan to visit to get the lowdown on friendly restaurants, hotels, and supermarkets. Check out glutenfreerestaurants.org, glutenfreeonthego.com, and glutenfreetravelsite.com, where you can find listings and user reviews of restaurants and hotels catering to the gluten-free crowd.
Some domestic and global airlines now offer gluten-free meals and snacks when given 24 to 96 hours of advance notice. But pack some security-friendly backup options—nuts, dried fruit, or gluten-free bars—in your carry-on just in case.