Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Pinterest Twitter Instagram RSS Facebook
    Buy GO DAIRY FREE and EAT DAIRY FREE today!
    Go Dairy Free
    • Need to Know
      • Newbies Start Here!
      • Take the Challenge!
      • Dairy-Free FAQs
      • Latest News
      • Milk Allergies
      • Lactose Intolerance
      • Other Health Issues
      • Testimonials
      • Calcium Guide
      • Holidays & More
      • Best Books
      • The Community
    • Recipes
      • Recipes by Category
        • Alisa’s Recipes
        • Sarah’s Recipes
        • Appetizers
        • Beverages
        • Bread
        • Breakfast
        • Cheese Substitutes
        • Condiments & Dressings
        • Cream Substitutes
        • Desserts
        • Entrees
        • Kids Can Cook
        • Milk Substitutes
        • Pasta
        • Salad
        • Sandwiches
        • Sauces
        • Sides
        • Snacks
        • Soup
      • Full Dairy-Free Recipe Index
      • Gluten-Free Recipe Index
      • Vegan Recipe Index
    • Reviews
      • Dairy Substitutes
        • Butter
        • Cheese
        • Cream
        • Creamer
        • Dessert Toppings
        • Ice Cream
        • Ice Cream Novelties
        • Milk
        • Yogurt
        • More Kitchen Essentials
      • Sweets & Snacks
        • Protein Shakes
        • More Creamy Beverages
        • Snack & Protein Bars
        • More Snacks
        • Chocolate
        • Cookie Dough
        • Cookies & Brownies
        • Pies & Cakes
        • Pudding & Mousse
        • More Sweet Treats
      • Meal Makers
        • Baking Mixes
        • Bread Products
        • Breakfast Pastries
        • Cereal & Granola
        • Cheesy Pasta & Rice
        • Frozen Pizza
        • More Entrees
        • Dip and Spreads
        • Salad Dressing
        • Sauces
      • All Product Reviews
        • New Product Reviews!
        • Browse by Product Type
        • Full Review Index
        • Gluten-Free Review Index
        • Vegan Review Index
    • Grocery Guide
      • Alisa’s Dairy-Free Kitchen
      • Brands We Love
      • Dairy Substitutes
      • Dairy Ingredient List
      • Understanding Food Labels
      • No Dairy Product Lists
      • Ordering Specialty Foods
      • Best Grocery Stores
    • Eating Out
      • Fast Food Listings
      • Recommended Restaurants
    • My Books!
      • Go Dairy Free 2nd Edition (best seller!)
      • Eat Dairy Free 1st Edition (full color!)
      • eBooks & Printables
      • Book Supplements & Resources
    • About Us
      • Meet Us
      • Contact Us
      • Join Us
      • Work With Us
    Go Dairy Free
    You are at:Home»News»In The News»Enjoying Food, Travel and Culture with Food Allergies

    Enjoying Food, Travel and Culture with Food Allergies

    0
    By Alisa Fleming on May 6, 2008 In The News

    Loretta Jay, Foods Matter ~ Before food restrictions became part of Loretta Jay’s family’s life, she researched vacation destinations and planned daytrips. Now much of her pre-travel homework consists of learning the types of food and mode of cooking indigenous to a region. Even though she and her family don’t eat in restaurants, she still wants her family to experience the culture of the land they are visiting – including the food. She explains how she does it …

    After several trips, both abroad and domestic, I’ve found that the trick to successful holidaying on a restricted diet is all in the planning. It does require a little extra work but with foresight and flexibility, food restrictions need not interfere with one’s experiences.

    In my family of four, three of us have coeliac disease and both kids have extensive food allergies. As a result, we stay at hotels whose rooms have kitchens. For a weekend trip, particularly one that is within driving distance, I have made do with a microwave and our portable fridge. But for longer trips, or those that involve flying, a kitchen becomes essential.

    Packing

    Before leaving home I ship a box of food ahead to the hotel, for emergencies. We learned this lesson the hard way, when during one trip the only piece of luggage that was lost was the one that held the food! In the box I include a two or three day supply of non- perishable must haves that cannot be made or easily purchased when traveling: brand-specific mayonnaise, several cans of casein and soy-free tuna, plantain chips, pasta, homemade graham crackers and cookies, sunflower seed butter and a corn-free jar of jelly.

    Additional tuna, chips, cookies, pancake mix and pasta go into the ‘food suitcase’, along with some quinoa, trail mix and semi-sweet chocolate chunks. For those with egg allergies, bring ground flaxseed meal or egg replacer from home. A gluten intolerance? Bring your own wheat-free soy sauce. I also pack plastic storage containers and zip-close bags to carry food for picnics.

    The last thing I do before leaving the house is fill the suitcase with the perishables. I use a large, insulated bag to contain all the frozen and chilled items: a loaf of bread, bagels, butter substitute and six pounds of tahini-free hummus (a favorite). On one trip I even packed a frozen birthday cake for my son Mickey, who turned five while we were away. A few ice packs help keep the temperature down.

    The insulated bag goes into a hard-sided suitcase (extra protection from the inevitable banging around) along with a copy of a letter from our pediatrician explaining the kids’ allergies to answer any questions the inspectors may have, if the bag is selected for scrutiny.

    Travel

    One of the biggest anxiety builders for people with food allergies is air travel. Though my family has had some challenging trips, one particular trip to the Caribbean tested my planning abilities as never before.

    We left home at 4.30am to catch a 7.00am flight. With only a one-hour layover before the four-hour connecting flight and we planned to land by 2.00pm. But the plane was delayed by seven hours! Instead of settling into our hotel in time to fit in a swim before dinner, we pulled into the hotel’s parking lot at 11.45pm, the kids fast asleep in the rental car.

    Fortunately I had packed breakfast, lunch, snacks, drinks – and yes, extra food for dinner. A little non-perishable food for the next day is good to carry as well, in case the flight is rerouted to another city or canceled altogether. Trying to find safe food, while navigating modified travel arrangements, is no fun.

    Shopping

    Most regions of the world provide some basic foods: potatoes, rice, onions, legumes, salt, olive oil, eggs. Roadside vendors and local markets are wonderful places to find native food, and offer opportunities to meet the people of the land – in a manner that most travelers will not experience.

    Strike up a conversation and ask about favorite recipes. I learned about tostados (smashed and fried green plantains) from a woman while selecting baby bananas in a Puerto Rican market. Spanish saffron, locally grown, to make authentic paella is a must when travelling in this region. (If rice is an allergen, try substituting quinoa.) A fishmonger in Greece would love to share his favorite recipe for kalamarakia yemista (baked stuffed squid). When I travelled to Paris I befriended a local wine seller: each evening a different and well-recommended bottle of local wine accompanied our homemade fare.

    If a particular food is forgotten, with some searching one can find processed products to satisfy most restricted diets in many regions of the world. Europe is eons ahead when it comes to gluten and allergen free products. Food is well marked and usually readily available. Most cities and larger towns in the US will also have markets with foods for special diets. A supermarket in the Bahamas had gluten-free cereals and soy milk, but the only special foods I found in Puerto Rico were sugar-free products for diabetic or yeast-free diets. I’d rather spend vacation time exploring posadas in Spain or relaxing on a beach instead of looking for allergen-free pasta – but it is good to know that when travelling around the globe some items are there in a pinch.

    Meals

    Travelers typically want to embrace the culture of the lands they visit. For those of us with food restrictions, enjoying the food of a culture may seem unattainable. Not so. Before leaving home, research recipes indigenous to the region, either on line or in a local library. If travelling to France, make and freeze some crepes at home. By the time you unpack your suitcase they will still be cold and can remain fresh in the refrigerator. Voilá! An instant Parisian breakfast or base for a dessert.

    Pancakes are my family’s favorite breakfast when travelling. If tree nuts are not an allergen, one can use coconut milk for the liquid and this gives them a little Caribbean twist. I once fried some very ripe (black) plantains and served these as an accompaniment and it seemed like we were dining at an ethnic café.

    Lunches are designed for convenience, and resemble meals that the kids take to school in their lunchboxes: hummus or tuna with chips, cookies and juice or water. The soft-sided cooler bag that carries our air travel food doubles as a picnic basket, and the ice elements keep lunch fresh. What we pack depends on where we are. If traveling in Spain, bring along your own tapas, and order a drink while sitting in a café on the Zocolo.

    Dinners offer the greatest opportunity to experience the cuisine: Caribbean Codfish (see Loretta’s Caribbean codfish recipe below) or beef and papaya stew, a Spanish tortilla, Mediterranean red snapper.

    In order to limit time in the kitchen, create simple side dishes to supplement the meals: rice and peas or native vegetables. Desserts can also be simple, and still satisfying. We melted the chocolate brought from home and dipped native fruit into it for a fondue-like dessert. Yum!

    The most important thing to remember is that food allergies are not who we are, just something that we have. Finding ways to manage our diets while we enjoy and embrace other cultures lets us experience all the world has to offer.

    AIRPORT SECURITY AND CONTROL

    Airport security is of course stringent, but accommodations are available for those with disabilities – and food allergies are considered a hidden disability.

    Seventy nations comply with the current international rules for air travel with liquids: each passenger may carry liquid in 100ml containers, enclosed in a one-liter zip-close bag. The same rule applies for liquid foods: peanut butter, applesauce, and yogurt. Exceptions to this rule will be made for those with dietary restrictions if the items are declared to security.

    Liquids such as milk substitutes, juices or elemental formula will be allowed in ‘reasonable’ amounts. Travelers with restricted diets are asked to limit quantities to the amount needed to complete their travel. If more than 100ml is needed, then multiple containers of 100ml each may be packed. The containers should be put into the litre-size zipclose bag.

    Those with food restrictions will be permitted to have more than one zip-close bag each – as long as the restricted items are declared to the security personnel. Non-liquid food items are permitted through security, but pack them in plastic wrap or plastic bags. Avoid aluminum foil.

    If there is a problem at security, there are always supervisors on site, usually behind a desk area. A customer service manager is also available, but not always on location.

    International customs is another challenge for those with food restrictions. Each country has their own customs and border protection department that enforces the laws prohibiting food items, which may ‘injure community health, children or plant and animal life.’ Agents are concerned with diseases that may infect crop or livestock; food allergies are not their thing. Know the restrictions before getting to your destination. The list of forbidden foods may seem harmless, but there are reasons for the restrictions, and, if the rules are enforced you may be asked to consume the product or throw it away.

     

    Loretta Jay, M.A., is a community planner and the President of Parasol, a consulting organization that specializes in the management of food allergies and celiac disease. Visit www.parasolservices.com for more information.

     

    LORETTA’S CARIBBEAN CODFISH
    Wheat, gluten, corn, soya, dairy, egg & nut free

    Whether you are travelling in the Caribbean or not, if you can get some saltfish this will certainly make for a great West Indian dinner. Salt cod is a dehydrated fish, which is common in the Caribbean, and is preserved with salt so easily stored without refrigeration. However, salt cod is also quite widely eaten in northern Europe, Spain and Portugal so, if you do not have a Caribbean store locally, it should not be too difficult to find.

    Loretta's Caribbean CodfishIngredients:

    11/4 lb salt cod or saltfish
    3 tbsp olive oil
    3 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
    1 onion, peeled and chopped
    2 tomatoes, chopped
    11/4 lb rice or quinoa
    1 tsp dried or 1 tbsp fresh coriander
    approx 4 cups water

    Directions:

    Soak the fish in enough water to cover for at least three hours. Pour out water and rinse the fish one additional time.

    In large sauté pan or saucepan, sauté onions, tomatoes and garlic in oil until onions are soft – this should take about five minutes.

    Add the fish, cut up into 2.5cm pieces and cook for 5 minutes more.

    Add rice or quinoa, dried coriander and water. Stir gently so that the contents are evenly distributed.

    Reduce heat to low and cover the pan.

    Cook for about 20 minutes or until liquid is absorbed – add extra if you need to.

    Adjust the seasoning to taste and, if you are using fresh coriander, chop it and stir it in before serving.

    SERVES 6 – PER PORTION
    484cals – 35g protein
    7g total fat – 0.8g sat / 4g mono / 0.5g poly
    69g carbohydrate of which 2g sugar
    0.6g fibre – 786mg sodium / 2g salt
    139mg calcium
    GOOD SOURCE OF: Vitamin B12

    Alisa Fleming
    • Website

    Alisa is the founder of GoDairyFree.org, Food Editor for Allergic Living magazine, and author of the best-selling dairy-free book, Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance, and Casein-Free Living, and the new cookbook, Eat Dairy Free: Your Essential Cookbook for Everyday Meals, Snacks, and Sweets. Alisa is also a professional recipe creator and product ambassador for the natural food industry.

    Related Posts

    The Best Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin and Allergies - dairy-free, gluten-free, plant-based, with vegan options

    The Best Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin and Allergies

    The Best Dairy-Free Protein Bars Taste Test - Top Choices for every dietary need and craving

    The Best Dairy-Free Protein Bars Taste Test

    Enjoy Life Easter Chocolate Minis - Dark, Ricemilk, Ricemilk Crunch - dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free, gluten-free, free from 14 top allergens

    Hop to the Store, Enjoy Life Easter Chocolates are Here!

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Go Dairy Free - The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance and Casein-Free Living
    So Delicious Dairy Free Simply Yogurt Reviews and Info - Added Sugar Free, Plant Based, Allergy Friendly, All Natural

    So Delicious Dairy Free Simply Yogurt is Sweetened with Fruit, Not Sugar

    Caribou Coffee Dairy-Free Menu Guide - food and drink, menu and custom orders, with vegan options and allergen notes

    Caribou Coffee Reins in this Menu of Dairy-Free Options

    Enjoy Life FoodsFames Chocolates. From Brooklyn with loveEat dairy free bookChocolate Emporium
    Go Dairy Free is the leading website for information on the dairy-free diet. We share dairy-free recipes, product reviews, news, recommendations and health guides to aide those with milk allergies, lactose intolerance or a general need or desire to live without dairy. Dairy-free does include milk-free, lactose-free, casein-free and whey-free, too! We also offer ample resources for gluten-free, soy-free, food allergy, vegan and paleo diets. Please note that ingredients, processes and products are subject to change by a manufacturer at any time. All foods and products should be considered at risk for cross-contamination with milk and other allergens. Always contact the manufacturer prior to consumption. Disclaimer - All Rights Reserved - Privacy Policy Go Dairy Free © 2005-2022 Fleming Marrs Inc.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.