If you or someone you love has been recently diagnosed with coeliac disease, you could be eligible to receive gluten free foods on prescription. Simply select your country of residence, and, if you live in England, fill in your postcode to check if your area is prescribing.
Your country is prescribing gluten free foods*. Request your Glutafin Taster Box by clicking the button below to sign up.
* Please note: local policies are constantly updated, and issuing a prescription is at the discretion of your GP.
For many people, the whole point of a holiday is the chance to experience somewhere different. A new city or even a new country, with different sights and sounds, and different food and drink. It can be interesting and exciting, however if you have been diagnosed with coeliac disease, it can also be quite challenging.
Finding gluten free foods to enjoy on holiday might not be as easy as it is at home, but with the right planning and preparation, there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy your holiday as much as everyone else.
The easiest way to enjoy a gluten free holiday is to go self-catering in a villa, apartment or holiday home. This allows you to prepare all your own gluten free foods, using Glutafin’s tasty recipes, giving you complete confidence. All EU countries must follow the same food labelling legislation, so gluten and wheat should be clearly labelled if they’re present.
If you’re venturing further afield, then you need to check all the ingredients for yourself. Learn the key phrases in the local language for things like gluten and wheat, and if you’re not sure about any product, you should always err on the side of caution and choose something else.
If you’d rather take a break from cooking, then opt for a hotel that offers buffet-style meals. This allows you to choose gluten free foods like salads, fish and fresh meat, rice and pulses. Filling your own plate will make sticking to your gluten free diet so much simpler
To be extra sure, you should always ask how the food has been prepared and avoid dishes that are presented right next to gluten rich foods. Make sure there are separate serving spoons for each dish to avoid cross contamination. If you are not sure about any of the dishes, it’s better to give them a miss rather than take a risk.
Most hotels will be able to cater for your diet and provide gluten free foods if you let them know well in advance. You can either ask your tour operator to organise this or contact the hotel directly.
If you want to eat out and sample the local cuisine, Coeliac UK produce detailed travel guides to help you find gluten free eateries at home and abroad. You can also visit coeliactravel.com and download their handy restaurant cards in the local language. These explain that you need gluten free foods, and they can be passed to your waiter to show to the chef, so nothing is lost in translation. You can also look up the local coeliac society online and ask them for recommendations for gluten free foods at restaurants in your resort.
Wherever you’re heading, make sure you pack plenty of snacks. You never know when you’ll be able to find a safe source of gluten free foods when you’re travelling, when you’re on the beach or when you’re touring around on coach trips. Bringing your own snacks will see you through to your next gluten free meal.
Glutafin’s sister brand, Schär has a wide range of tasty gluten free snacks that you can buy in the UK before you leave. The brand is also available in many other countries worldwide, so you may also find them in your resort’s supermarket.
If you are buying gluten free snacks at home to take with you, it’s worth checking in advance if there are any restrictions on packaged food that can be brought into the country you’re visiting. The last thing you want is for your precious gluten free foods to be taken off you at the airport!
Wherever you’re headed, it’s important to maintain your gluten free diet. Don’t be tempted to ‘treat yourself’ or ‘take a break’ because you’re on holiday. Any short-lived pleasure you enjoy from food or drinks containing gluten will soon be outweighed by the discomfort of your symptoms returning.
Remember, it only takes a small amount of gluten to trigger coeliac symptoms like bloating, diarrhoea and wind. If this happens, it could end up spoiling the rest of your holiday and beyond, especially if you have a long flight home in a cramped seat. You don’t want symptoms to be the souvenir you come home with, so stay gluten free while you are away.
If you or someone you love has been recently diagnosed with coeliac disease, you could be eligible to receive gluten free foods on prescription. Simply select your country of residence, and, if you live in England, fill in your postcode to check if your area is prescribing.
Your country is prescribing gluten free foods*. Request your Glutafin Taster Box by clicking the button below to sign up.
* Please note: local policies are constantly updated, and issuing a prescription is at the discretion of your GP.