Coeliacs on Holiday.
Are you, or a family member, Coeliac and planning a Summer Holiday but worrying about the gluten free aspect of your travels?
You know what I’m talking about:
- Being stuck somewhere with no gluten free options
- Airport flight delays
- Explaining your diet every time you eat in a strange food outlet
- Not knowing the foreign words for Gluten, Coeliac etc
- Being glutened and having to cope with all that that entails!
The good news is, people with Coeliac disease can enjoy virtually any type of vacation with proper planning and research so here are some ideas.
Destination considerations:
- Cities with strong gluten-free awareness like major metropolitan areas often have numerous certified gluten-free restaurants and dedicated bakeries
- Beach resorts and cruise lines increasingly offer gluten-free menus, though you’ll want to verify policies beforehand
- European destinations like Italy actually have excellent gluten-free infrastructure due to high Coeliac awareness
- Adventure and outdoor vacations can work well since you can pack your own safe foods for hiking, camping, or touring
Accommodation strategies:
- Choose hotels with kitchenettes or vacation rentals where you can prepare your own meals
- Many hotel chains now train staff on gluten-free protocols and offer certified options
- All-inclusive resorts with dedicated gluten-free kitchens are becoming more common
Preparation tips:
- Research restaurants in advance using apps like Find Me Gluten Free or GFGlee
- Pack gluten-free snacks and emergency meals, especially for flights and remote areas
- Learn key phrases in the local language about your dietary needs
- Bring a translated Coeliac card explaining your condition
- Consider travel insurance that covers dietary-related issues
Popular vacation types for Coeliacs: Wine country tours (most wines are naturally gluten-free), food tours in Coeliac-friendly cities, spa retreats with specialized menus, national park adventures where you control meal prep, and cultural city breaks in places with good gluten-free scenes.
The main limitation isn’t the type of vacation, but rather the amount of advance planning required to ensure safe dining options.
|
Are You Thinking of Your Summer Holidays?
If so, can we point you towards a couple in Ballymena, Co Antrim who are running a very helpful business for the Coeliac/Gluten Free community.
The Coeliac Travel Consultant – www.thecoeliactravelconsultant.com
|
|
|
Check them out before you book anything and here’s one of their lists you may find useful – Pre departure action needed!
|
Planning a trip to the west coast of Canada?
Vancouver Island is located off the southwestern coast of British Columbia, Canada, in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. It’s separated from the mainland by the Strait of Georgia, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and other waterways. The island is part of the Pacific Northwest region of North America.
See our link with The Celiac Scene for help and advice on where to eat and what’s available over towards Vancouver Island:
https://glutenfreeireland.com/planning-a-trip-to-canada/
|
Gluten Free Glee
We know there are now a number of apps helping Coeliacs live the GF life and the folk at Gluten Free Glee have just launched theirs – www.gfglee.com
Take a look and see what they are up to!
|
Visiting Galway?
Menlo Park Hotel, Galway, Ireland
Nestled in the heart of Ireland’s cultural capital, the award-winning Menlo Park Hotel stands as a beacon of Irish hospitality and modern comfort. This distinguished four-star, family-owned establishment has been welcoming guests since 1998, when it was lovingly opened by Paddy Francis and his son John on land that has been in their family for generations.
Perfectly positioned just 1.2 kilometres from Galway’s bustling Eyre Square, the hotel offers an ideal base for exploring the vibrant city and its stunning surroundings. Adjacent to the legendary Wild Atlantic Way and conveniently located near the N6, Menlo Park Hotel serves as the perfect gateway for adventurous travellers, business professionals, and visitors to NUIG or University Hospital Galway.
Over the years, Menlo Park Hotel has evolved into an impressive 81-bedroom property through continuous investment and expansion.
What truly sets Menlo Park Hotel apart is its unique position as a vibrant hub of the local community. Here, national and international guests seamlessly mingle with Galway locals, creating an atmosphere of genuine Irish craic and hospitality that cannot be manufactured or replicated.
Whether you’re seeking a romantic getaway along the Wild Atlantic Way, a comfortable base for business travel, or an authentic Irish experience in one of Europe’s most enchanting cities, Menlo Park Hotel offers the perfect blend of modern luxury and traditional Irish charm.
https://www.menloparkhotel.com
|
Marine Hotel Ballycastle Co Antrim
|
Discover the Marine Hotel Ballycastle, a unique coastal retreat. Unwind in 51 elegant rooms, savour sea-view dining, and host events for up to 600 guests. From short breaks to family and pet-friendly stays, weddings, and conferences, we provide warm, personalized service. Enjoy Costa Coffee on-site and book direct for exclusive Autumn rates and an unforgettable experience.
The Marine Hotel is proud to cater for guests with Coeliac Disease – our service staff and chefs are all fully trained in the needs of guests who want gluten free dishes and we have recently been accredited by Coeliac UK. Our team has also embraced the introduction of new laws covering contents of our produce, so they are best prepared to provide guidance on special dietary requirements.
https://www.marinehotelballycastle.com/home
|
At Big Pot Co, we’re passionate about creating fresh, flavourful food that brings comfort and convenience to every table. Founded in 2009, we’ve grown from humble beginnings into a leading producer of chilled soups and ready meals—crafted by hand, in small batches, using high-quality ingredients.
We pride ourselves on our commitment to quality, innovation, and authenticity. Every product in our range is thoughtfully developed to meet modern customer needs.
You can find a range of our products available across Northern Ireland (Tesco, Sainsburys, Asda, Spar, Centra, SuperValu) and Ireland (Dunnes Stores).
Note: Most but not all our products are created Gluten Free so always check the ingredients before purchase!
|
Have you ever been out all day and returned home looking for something quick to make for dinner?
That happened to us recently and I lifted a copy of the Coeliac UK magazine to take a look through the meal ideas for a quick solution to our hunger. (Not that I was going to be doing the cooking I should add! Filling and emptying the dishwasher is my level of competence in our kitchen!)
Anyway, I spotted a meal described as “Quiche with gluten free short crust pastry” with a Preparation time of 10 Minutes and 25 Minutes Cooking time – 35 minutes in all!
Perfect, I thought, and showed it to the boss lady who, with vast experience of reading recipes said, “Let’s look through the Method” ! That simple comment should have told me I was on very shaky ground but I said “Sure – no problem”.
I won’t bore you with a line by line description of the Method but, by the time we would have assembled the ingredients and made the pastry I reckon 20 minutes would have elapsed. It was then to be left to chill in the fridge for 30 minutes, while we heated oil in a pan and fried onions etc for 5 to 10 minutes and left them to cool.
By now the 10 minute Prep time was approximately 60 minutes followed by baking the pastry case for 20 minutes, filling it with the vegetables, milk, eggs and cheese and baking the assembled concoction for another 35 minutes taking us close to 2 hours and not 35 minutes as suggested earlier!
The moral of this story is – If it looks too good to be true, it usually is!
Fortunately, Tina is an expert in whipping up meals out of thin air so we didn’t starve! 🙂
|
Thank you for your continued support,
Tina, Derek, Mike, Rachel, Lucy & Benji,
The GFI Team
P.S. Do you have a query about any particular food?
Reply to this email with your query and we will try to find an answer!
|
|
