Traveling abroad is a very popular activity for many people all over the world. Traveling with food allergies and diet restrictions, however, can pose many challenges that can ruin the thrill and the excitement of the trip. But don't let it stop you from traveling. With many years of travel experience, the Gluten-Free Vegan Baker has prepared a simple checklist to help reduce stress for vegan travelers and allergy sufferers. Traveling doesn't have to be a problem anymore.
Remember, if you're a vegan at home, you bring your vegan diet with you. If you're have food allergies or food restrictions, you bring them with you when you travel..
Here is a simple travel checklist to remember:
1) RESEARCH.
Read about the country's healthcare including regulations about prescription medicines. If you're a vegan, read about vegan restaurants and stores and take note of them. Write everything that's important to your diet or allergy and refer to that list.. You might go to one or more of them when you need to eat. Read thoroughly. Contact restaurants or hotels by email or phone to confirm the information you've collected. Never assume anything.
2) BRING A TRANSLATION DICTIONARY OR APP.
Language barriers can be extremely problematic especially when you have food restrictions or allergies. Write down important words on a piece of paper and refer to that paper when ordering at a restaurant or food stall/truck or buying food at the supermarket. Oftentimes, that piece of paper will serve your purpose faster than a smartphone. Smartphones might not help you if you're on an isolated island or enclosed place like an elevator or basement. Use My Gluten-Free Haven Travel Phrasebook 101 for keywords that you might need when the situation calls for it.
3) BE DEFENSIVE.
Carry your medication with you at all times and bring back-up medication always. Extra medication comes in handy especially for missed flights or lost luggage. Your medication should be more important than your smartphone.
4) BRING AN IDENTIFICATION CARD.
Read about the country's healthcare including regulations about prescription medicines. If you're a vegan, read about vegan restaurants and stores and take note of them. Write everything that's important to your diet or allergy and refer to that list.. You might go to one or more of them when you need to eat. Read thoroughly. Contact restaurants or hotels by email or phone to confirm the information you've collected. Never assume anything.
2) BRING A TRANSLATION DICTIONARY OR APP.
Language barriers can be extremely problematic especially when you have food restrictions or allergies. Write down important words on a piece of paper and refer to that paper when ordering at a restaurant or food stall/truck or buying food at the supermarket. Oftentimes, that piece of paper will serve your purpose faster than a smartphone. Smartphones might not help you if you're on an isolated island or enclosed place like an elevator or basement. Use My Gluten-Free Haven Travel Phrasebook 101 for keywords that you might need when the situation calls for it.
3) BE DEFENSIVE.
Carry your medication with you at all times and bring back-up medication always. Extra medication comes in handy especially for missed flights or lost luggage. Your medication should be more important than your smartphone.
4) BRING AN IDENTIFICATION CARD.
An identification card that clearly states your allergies and allergy treatment will be very helpful especially when you begin having severe allergy attack and talking becomes nearly impossible. You can make your own card and put a translation on it. If you have allergy wristbands, always wear them.
5) INFORM AIRLINES, HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS ABOUT YOUR DIET OR ALLERGIES.
There's nothing that restaurants hate more than food being returned to the kitchen and thrown away just because you didn't give clear information. Be concise. Translate properly and clearly.
6) BRING SMALL BITES OF FOOD WITH YOU.
Snacks based on your diet become handy when waiting at airports, outside museums or bus stations. Keep them in your purse or back pack together with your medication.
7) DON'T EAT ANYTHING OFFERED TO YOU.
When you go to food tasting events or malls where food samples are offered, think twice before eating. If you don't know what the food is, you can refuse. Refuse politely, apologize and leave. You don't have to stick around and hear the locals insult you in their language.
8) BE RESPONSIBLE & TAKE EXTRA CAUTION.
Whatever travel checklist you follow, at the end of the day you're responsible for your health, not your companions. Be cautious whenever you eat. Be responsible.
5) INFORM AIRLINES, HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS ABOUT YOUR DIET OR ALLERGIES.
There's nothing that restaurants hate more than food being returned to the kitchen and thrown away just because you didn't give clear information. Be concise. Translate properly and clearly.
6) BRING SMALL BITES OF FOOD WITH YOU.
Snacks based on your diet become handy when waiting at airports, outside museums or bus stations. Keep them in your purse or back pack together with your medication.
7) DON'T EAT ANYTHING OFFERED TO YOU.
When you go to food tasting events or malls where food samples are offered, think twice before eating. If you don't know what the food is, you can refuse. Refuse politely, apologize and leave. You don't have to stick around and hear the locals insult you in their language.
8) BE RESPONSIBLE & TAKE EXTRA CAUTION.
Whatever travel checklist you follow, at the end of the day you're responsible for your health, not your companions. Be cautious whenever you eat. Be responsible.
For food ideas and everything & anything else in between:
Contact the Gluten-Free Vegan Baker @ myglutenfreeveganhaven@yahoo.com.
The Gluten-Free Vegan Baker is based in Malaysia.
