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Newsletter 16

Well, the summer seems to have flown by or should I say the summer months, but we don’t seem to have had much sun in Yorkshire these past few months. With many of you travelling or about to travel I decided this month’s newsletter would be based around eating well when away from home.

We have a new addition to the family here at the farm – Abby and she is the second doggie we have rescued from Spain. She arrived one month ago and not be too impressed by the English summer, however they do seem to like the mud and their sandpit, albeit a little too much at timesJ

Enjoy the rest of the summer.

Health and Gluten Free Traveling

Eating gluten free can be challenging when traveling.  There are several factors to consider when you plan for a holiday, trip, or need to travel for work, cross contamination, uneducated staff, lack of food availability, and much more. So here are some tips that will help protect you from getting “glutened”.

 

Eating clean and gluten free while traveling:

  • Predetermine restaurants that offer organic and paleo menus (research online and call ahead) with a simple internet search.  Search terms such as organic, paleo, grain free, or grass fed meat are good to use to narrow down restaurants.  Do not fall for “gluten free” on restaurant menus or guide books because many of these contain other toxic grain based ingredients like corn, which has a high mycotoxin level.
  • Pack a food bag containing easy access snacks and food. Nuts, clean air dried fruit, meat biltong (grass fed), packaged /tinned salmon, mackerel, tuna, and or sardines which are non-perishable that are easy to pack.
  • Failing to plan is planning to fail!  Don’t get stuck in an unfamiliar place with limited of poor food options.

Reserve a hotel/accommodations near a natural grocery store

  • Buy bottled water in glass containers rather than plastic if possible.
  • Buy fresh food for light meals and snacks daily.
  • Buy fresh food to cook if you have access to a kitchen.
  • Replenish balanced healthy snacks regularly.

Reserve a room with a kitchen to prepare your own food.

  • A room with a stove top and refrigerator to help with meal preparation.
  • Air B&B is a good option for this
  • Extended stay hotels often offer better deals than hotels.

  Take your supplements with you.

  • When you are eating less on the road, supplements will give you added nutrients.  (Vitamin C, Omega-3s, Multi Nutrients)  Always keep in mind that restaurant food will not be as nutrient dense as whole organic foods you will prepare at home.
  • If you get exposed to gluten and grains by accident, there are strategies that can be used to help you recover.
      • Gluten ease /Digest spectrum – for accidental exposure or risk of gluten contamination.
      • Mega mucosa -To support immune and gut health.
  • Maintaining you bed time routine and using your support sleep supplements will help maintain a circadian rhyme when traveling especially if in different time zones. This is important to support your immune system.

Things to be aware off when eating out.

  • Always communicate clearly in a pleasant manner to the waiting staff your requirements regarding food as it is your responsibility to make the staff aware of your individual food needs, however individual staff members may not have a good understanding and often you will need to ask for the floor manager as they generally have more training and awareness regarding food sensitivities. Often the chef will come out and have a chat because they have a genuine interest in your safety and what they are cooking for you and that you will return again. Restaurants are getting considerably better in regards awareness and offering alternatives and it is much easier to eat out today even compared to just a few years ago. It is a good idea to list your food sensitivities on a piece of card that you keep in your wallet or purse. This can therefore be passed onto the kitchen staff, who will understand your requirements better. If you are traveling abroad translate the words (foods sensitivities) into that countries language before you travel and have several copies to hand over during your trip.
  • Cross contamination– Restaurant fryers can cause oil cross contamination of gluten.  Cutting boards or counters can be used to prepare grain containing foods.  Some restaurants make home-made breads, tortillas, etc.  This can lead to flour dust being thrown into the air and can lead to cross contamination with other foods. So depending on how reactive to gluten you are, this can be a problem that you need to be aware of. By communicating your needs with the staff as above, this should help reduce this risk.
  • Family pressure/coercion- Some family members will try to tell you that “a little won’t hurt you”.  Some family members will not understand the serious nature of gluten/ food sensitivity and how it can negatively affect you. Stay strong in your resolve to take care of your wellbeing.

Please do the best you can with avoidance of ANY food sensitives that you have not only gluten.

There are many recipes that are free from common reactive foods in the members section on the web site, take a look to add some variety into your daily meals when eating at home.