This amazing DIY Kitchen Kit will boost your celiac travel confidence. Since it is compact, lightweight, easy to assemble, and totally airline friendly, you can literally take it with you anywhere! Keeping it packed and ready at all times allows me to eat safely for planned and spontaneous trips.
Undoubtedly, celiac travel is one of the most difficult aspects of the disease. At the very least, you'll spend loads of time on research ahead of time. You also may feel the need to change your destination, limit yourself to places that speak your language, or pack tons of snacks in case you can't find gluten free food. These were certainly my go-to strategies early on after my celiac disease diagnosis.
Related: 5 Tips for Ordering Gluten Free Across Language Barriers
At some point, I became frustrated with the limitations of celiac travel. This came to a head when I nearly turned down a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Namibia and South Africa because of my fear of not finding safe food. Putting this kitchen kit to the test, I bravely packed only this with very few emergency snacks for my trip to Africa. You can read all about my success in the related posts below!
Related: Gluten Free Guide to South Africa, Gluten Free Guide to Namibia
Celiac Travel Challenges:
If you’re new to Vibrantly g-Free, you missed previous posts on why eating in someone else’s kitchen is a challenge for celiac travelers and why I opt to cook for myself most of the time. Here are a few key points:
Related: 5 Things Everyone Should Know About Celiac Disease, Why I Cook My Own Food While Traveling
1. I get sick from very small traces of gluten. My sensitivity to gluten is similar to a severe allergy, although I do not experience the same intensity of symptoms if exposed. This requires me to bring some of my own, celiac-safe cooking gear to use in my hosts' kitchens and hotels.
2. My cooking gear and gluten free food supply are limited by luggage size, flight regulations, and customs. Previously, I described my travel hack for easy and spontaneous trips with celiac disease and food allergies. While the Packable Kitchen 101 is ideal for road trips and transport that allows a little additional luggage, it will be too large for this adventure.
3. At times, my dietary restriction has been considered rude, elitist, culturally insensitive, or just plain “crazy” by people lacking celiac disease awareness. Navigating the hospitality of a homestay can be tricky.
Fortunately, this DIY Kitchen Kit will remedy the first two challenges listed above; however, #3 will require careful communication and sensitivity. I’ll keep you posted on my success with this one and how I navigate a gluten free homestay.
Alright, let's get packing!
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Your Celiac Travel Checklist:
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Cookware
- Backpacking pot and pan
- Small "mixing bowl" for food prep
- Flexible Cutting Board
- Dish towel
Cooking Utensils
- GSI Crossover Cookset
- Swiss army knife (one with knife, can opener, wine bottle opener)*
- Packable version of a kitchen knife*
*Note: knives must be packed in your checked luggage and always double check regulations on sharp objects before you leave. I had several swiss army knives confiscated by TSA because I forgot to take them out of my backpack!
Personal and Cleaning
- Lightweight serving bowl - the top on this one is handy for saving leftovers or using as a plate
- Eating utensils (sometimes I bring a spork)
- Dish soap (this castille soap is multi-purpose for dishes, hands/body, laundry, and more)
Optional items:
- Small water boiler (this one is super compact and packable)
- Water bottle (not pictured)
Also this amazing, lightweight travel mug from GSI is my everyday, travel, and outdoor adventure favorite:
GSI Outdoors Infinity Backpacker Mug
I recommend keeping this kitchen kit packed and ready to go at all times. The best part? You can now focus on travel planning without worrying (too much) about your dietary restriction!
With love and gratitude, ❤︎ Jamie
Shan
Love this article, my daughter and I are traveling to Iceland in September. We are both GF/DF and she has a SEVERE reaction to cane sugar. We’ve been reading any of your articles on traveling. Thank you and happy travels?
Celiac Sojourness
Thank you so much for your support! Safe and happy travels to you as well ❤️ Iceland sounds amazing.
Krissy
This is a great idea! Did you carry this on or did you check your bag?
Jamie
Thank you Krissy 🙂 I've taken this set in a carry-on without problems. Just know that you can't have a knife in a carry-on. I bought a paring knife at the local grocery store when traveling with a carry-on only.