Gluten-Free Summer time Journey – Nationwide Celiac Affiliation

by Teen Advisory Committee member, Hunter

Celiac illness doesn’t imply lacking out on every thing enjoyable, particularly meals. My household is tremendous supportive, and this summer time we went on trip to Italy and Turkey. I got here again with tales, pictures, and proof that you may be celiac and nonetheless journey the world.

Traveling with celiac is certainly all about planning. Before we left, my household and I hung out Googling eating places and memorizing “gluten-free” in Italian and Turkish. My plan was to eat in addition to attainable and have enjoyable and never stress about what I couldn’t have.  We had been to Italy earlier than and they’re nice about celiac however we had no thought what to anticipate in Istanbul, and that was a bit trickier.

Starting in Italy, Florence and Amalfi coast

Italy is thought for its pizza, pasta, and bread, however mockingly, Italy is taken into account a world chief in celiac consciousness and analysis. I’ve by no means as soon as needed to clarify to a waiter what celiac illness is in Italy.  On our first practice experience they provided me a gluten free snack… sure there are gluten free choices ON A TRAIN.  Italy is the bomb and Amalfi Coast was unreal with lovely sunsets and insane meals.

Everywhere I went there was a gluten free pasta on the menu. My typical dishes had been pasta and caprese salad.  I didn’t become bored with it in any respect!  If fortunate, eating places would have a gluten free bread choice too. The tricker factor to eat was pizza due to cross-contamination within the pizza ovens, however there was at all times one thing scrumptious on the menu. Not to say, there’s gelato on each road and most are celiac protected. Gluten free consuming in Italy is a dream except you don’t like pasta!.  My most memorable meal in Italy was at a seashore membership the place everybody danced and celebrated in between their programs.  Sharing just a few favorites beneath:

On to Turkey

Landing in Istanbul was like entering into a completely new world. The mosques and name to prayers had been mind-blowing.  In the bazaars there have been meals stalls all over the place, however I didn’t threat it. At first I fearful as a result of Turkey has plenty of bread: pita, baklava, pastries, you identify it. But then I noticed Turkish meals has gluten-free choices too, if you understand how to look.

I ate these dolmas 4 totally different instances they had been sooooo good!

The very first thing I ate in Istanbul was a dolma, a grape leaf filled with rice (and generally minced meat). 

It ended up being my staple whereas I used to be there, it was so insanely good. 

Breakfasts had been simple since you actually can’t mess up eggs.  They additionally had phenomenal yogurt and honeycombs.  Turkey claims that it’s the founding father of what we think about at this time to be “Greek” yogurt and I used to be in a position to eat an authentic Turkish yogurt on the Asia facet of Istanbul.

Gluten-free breakfast with a facet of honeycomb and bagel.

My first time in Asia and first time consuming Turkish yogurt.

Alinazik Kebabı is scrumptious!

My go-to for lunches and dinners was kebab. I wouldn’t say there have been a ton of choices in Turkey, however there are numerous totally different kinds and methods to eat kebab, and that stored it attention-grabbing. 

The greatest by far was the Alinazik Kebabı. It’s smoky roasted eggplant with garlicky yogurt and both beef or lamb. 

The solely road meals I ate had been chestnuts.  They had been grilled over an open flame in carts they usually had been massive and chewy with a bit sweetness.  The solely different factor provided within the carts had been grilled corn, so I felt protected attempting the meals.

A memorable meal was outdoors at sundown, wanting over the Bosphorus. My plate was loaded with lamb kebabs and grilled pineapple. It was actually the one factor on the menu we felt like I may eat, and I didn’t care, as a result of it was wonderful. 

I realized a very long time in the past to take pleasure in what I can and I simply felt grateful that celiac didn’t cease me from being there.

Lamb kebab on the Bosphourus

I used to assume having celiac was all about lacking issues, however truthfully it’s only a totally different sort of journey. I obtained to attempt meals and see locations I’d by no means have discovered in any other case. My analysis at 8 modified issues, however it didn’t make my world smaller. If you’re gluten-free, don’t be scared to journey. There’s nice meals all over the place and the world is method greater (and tastier) than gluten.