GFL Staff

On Sunday, April 6, blogger Michael Savett will join the Gluten-Free Living Conference for a two hour panel presentation, “Talking with Gluten-Free Experts.” We’d like to introduce you to him by showcasing his work.

Michael Savett has written many articles for Gluten-Free Living magazine and is an active blogger in the gluten-free space. In his spare time he is also dad, lawyer, product sleuth and gluten-free advocate.

Here is an excerpt from Michael’s Gluten-Free Philly blog where he documents the gluten-free accommodations on his family cruise vacation.

Read the entire post here!

Smooth Sailing

by Michael Savett

If you have a glass-half-full outlook, the mention of cruising ought to trigger memories of “The Love Boat” rather than, say, “Titanic.” While some things stay the same – the purser, the cruise director and the bartender are still mainstays – modern cruise vacations have evolved to the point where many guests don’t even leave the ship given the many activities on board.

After spending a few days in Orlando to kick off our summer family vacation in August, we drove to Port Canaveral, where we dropped off our rental car and shuttled to Royal Caribbean’s Enchantment of the Seas for a three-night trip to the Bahamas. The Enchantment, which sails year-round between Florida and the Bahamas, is part of an older class of ships in Royal’s fleet but was overhauled in 2005.

Eating is a big part of a cruise vacation. Meals are included in the cost – an “all inclusive resort” of sorts. Since we booked less than a week before departure, I was concerned that Royal wouldn’t have enough time to stock the galley with gluten-free foods for our older son. We brought some bread and snacks with us just in case, but it wasn’t needed.

The ship wasn’t going to depart until 4 p.m., so we ate lunch at the Windjammer Cafe, the only area open for lunch when we boarded. Knowing that the Windjammer is Royal’s signature buffet option, I found a chef who pointed out that the gluten-free items were labeled. He also mentioned several other foods, like grilled fish, that were safe if prepared separately. The chef was kind enough to prepare a fresh fish fillet since he was concerned that the ones on the buffet could have been cross-contaminated by the soy sauce nearby.

By the time we finished lunch, our staterooms were ready.

Read the rest of the post here: Smooth Sailing

The growth of gluten-free options all around the country and the world makes it easier than ever to travel on the gluten-free diet.

Still, while you can travel with relative ease, you do have to be cautious and prepared.

One of the biggest components of traveling is eating out. You’ll find great tips and resources here. Information you can access on your smart phone makes it easier than ever to find out about restaurants in an unfamiliar place.

Many supermarkets, groceries and health food stores throughout the United States and Canada carry a wide variety of gluten-free items, cutting down on the amount you have to pack to take with you.

But it’s still possible to end up in a place where the stores don’t carry a very specific item or have everything you’ll need.

Use the Internet to find out as much as possible before you leave for your destination. If you are going on vacation by car and staying in a condo or cabin, pack a box of essentials to cover breakfast, lunch and a simple dinner or two. Gluten-free cereal, bagels, waffles, bread, pasta, and energy bars are good suggestions. Consider buying toaster bags since the toaster is almost certainly cross contaminated. You can buy lots of naturally gluten-free items including meat, fruit, rice, potatoes and vegetables in any food store.

If you are traveling by plane for a distance that would require eating on board, check with the  airline at least several days in advance to see if they provide any gluten-free options. You’ll find a list of airlines policies regarding gluten-free meals here. As an emergency backup, take gluten-free energy bars, pretzels, dried fruit or other items just in case there is a problem with promised gluten-free items or you are delayed in the plane or airport. You can also usually find fresh fruit, gluten-free snacks like chips and other items in airport stores and eateries.

For expert information on new place, contact the support group there a few weeks before you leave. You’ll usually get the best tips on where to shop and dine out for members who live in the area. National support groups can direct you to the best way to find a local group.

If you are traveling abroad, a gluten-free translation card can be very helpful. You can get these from glutenfreepassport.com and Celiac Travel. Other countries also have celiac disease support groups that can provide helpful gluten-free information. Search for these online well in advance of your departure.