Recently, traveling for both business and leisure has started to resume. In response to ever-evolving travel habits, travel agencies and airlines have introduced a more flexible rebooking policy, The Economist reports. A thriving tourism industry relies heavily on the availability of a wide range of services. From lodging to attractions, activities, events, and quality services. As well as its capacity to cater to travelers with strict dietary needs brought about by allergies or religious practices. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 17.1% of adults in the United States aged 20 and over were on some form of dietary restriction between 2015-2018. It’s quite common, really. Traveling with dietary restrictions can be tricky, but it doesn’t have to be tough on you. In this article, we will take you through several tips to help make sure your dietary needs are taken into consideration while not entirely pulling the focus out of your trip.
Read about the local cuisine
The first step to ensuring your dietary needs can be accommodated. So, read up on the local cuisine of the country you are visiting.
Ideally, this should take place before you even book a ticket to your next travel destination so you can properly assess. If traveling to a certain country is something you would be comfortable with. If you’re traveling for business, reading ahead would give you an insight into how much preparation you need to undertake before your flight. A quick Google search of your dietary restriction + your location (like “gluten-free Madrid”) would lead you to most travel blogs dedicated to your destination. If you fancy a more analog experience, you can pick up any of the Lonely Planet books and start leafing through the pages. Speaking of doing research, our article “How to Plan a Trip in 2021?” gives you the low down to make sure your travel goes as smoothly as possible.
Determine your dining options
Traveling with dietary restrictions requires a lot of planning ahead. You can’t simply wander around an area and step into a hole-in-the-wall restaurant and take it from there. Once you know the area you will be staying at. Use your preferred map app to find possible restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, and even grocery stores that serve food that is safe for you. This doesn’t have to limit your activities, though. You can think of it as your personal gastronomic map. Pick out a handful of restaurants and cafés, then build your trip around them. Make it a habit to double-check the menu (even triple-check for caution).
If you’re traveling internationally, make sure to bring translation cards that communicate your dietary information to the restaurant staff or the chef. This will be a handy tool to avoid miscommunication as most restaurants are busy and might not have enough time to have a chat with you as much as they want to. Make a list of phrases like the following:
- “I have a/an ___ allergy.”
- “we/I don’t eat food with ___.”
- “I don’t eat ___.”
- “Does this have ___?”
- “I require Halal food. Please change all utensils and cooking materials used to prepare my food.”
Bring a personalized meal plan
If you can, bring your own food. This is perhaps the most crucial tip we can give for traveling with dietary restrictions. Bringing your own food becomes even more so critical during travel days. As airports and planes (especially domestic ones) might not have enough safe food options for you. WeightWatchers explains that tailored weight loss programs should be developed by registered dieticians specifically with your restrictions in mind. Having one on hand will make traveling more convenient and meal times easier for you. Tailored meal plans take the risk out of the equation And provide a balanced diet that is aligned with your personal preferences and needs. This way, you can eat the food you want and avoid the things you need to.
Learn about relevant medical aid
If you take any prescriptions linked to your dietary restrictions or carry a rescue medication such as an Epi-Pen, make sure to include them all in your carry-on bag. Having it in your carry-on bag ensures that you always have access to your medication should the need arise. Sometimes emergencies like this happen despite your best preparations because of the blatant disregard of some passengers traveling with you.
If your food restrictions are related to a medical condition. It is best to look for hospitals near your accommodation in your destination. Also, take note of your destination’s local allergy specialists and emergency numbers and keep them within reach.
If you have a rare ailment that requires stringent dietary restrictions, it’s a good idea to bring some paperwork and documents from your doctor that outlines your circumstances and gives clear instructions on how to handle a medical emergency. As always, have a translated copy of your documents on hand when you’re traveling internationally. You might ask your local hospital or institution whether somebody can translate your paperwork into the language you require. You might also contact a hospital or university in your destination to see if they have somebody who can accomplish this for you.
In The Nutshell
Traveling with dietary restrictions should not ruin your travel plans. With a little bit of foresight and some research, you can still have peace of mind and make sure your trip is an enjoyable one.
If you want to know how you can make the most out of your travels, make sure you visit Travel Foxx and read our destination guides and travel tips!
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