Most people with dietary restrictions have difficulty finding places to eat while travelling. You may have an allergy, be on a diet or not consume certain food items for religious reasons, but that doesn’t mean you must cancel your travel plans. You can enjoy your holiday while maintaining your diet in numerous ways.
If you are planning a holiday to the picturesque Cotswold region, you needn’t worry because there are several ways to follow your dietary restrictions, even when travelling to this beautiful, quintessential English region. Want to know how? The following tips will allow you to travel to Cotswold without any worries, even if you have a dietary restriction.
Tip No. 1: Book a Self-Catering Cottage:
If you are travelling to Cotswold, there are numerous self-catering luxury Cotswold cottages that come with fully functional kitchen amenities, allowing you to cook your meals. Travelling with dietary restrictions doesn’t mean you have to survive on steamed rice your entire stay. Booking these accommodations is like bringing your kitchen along with you while travelling. Not only do these stays allow you to cook meals as per your restrictions, but they are also great if you have fussy eaters in your travel groups. You have complete control over the ingredients in your meals and can control your portions even when travelling.
Tip No. 2: Seek out for Allergy Friendly Restaurants:
Even after you have booked a self-catering cottage, there will be times when you will want to indulge in the local food. After all, to make your travels more enjoyable and memorable, trying out the local cuisine is a must. Therefore, after confirming your accommodation, research and find restaurants with allergy-friendly food options. For instance, if you are gluten intolerant, check for restaurants that serve gluten-free food. Moreover, if you have children with a low spice tolerance, check for their kid’s menu to get an idea about the food that they serve.
Tip No. 3: Pack Allergy-friendly Food Items:
While you can’t carry everything you need, you can pack a few non-perishable food items that will suffice in an emergency. You can pack allergy-friendly food such as rice crackers, dried soup, microwavable oatmeals and popcorn in your travel suitcase just in case you don’t find an allergy-friendly restaurant in the area you are visiting. Also, keep your favourite on-the-go snack in your backpack because you never know when the hunger kicks in.
Tip No. 4: Carry your Allergy Medicines:
No one wants to travel with a suitcase full of medicines, but it is better to be safe than sorry. For example, even if you are lactose intolerant and don’t plan to consume dairy products, you can never be sure about accidents. Therefore, it is always better to have your medicines in your travel bag. Carrying your medicines while travelling may seem like a hassle, but it will save you from unforeseen incidents. Moreover, remember that children are more susceptible to food allergies; therefore, look for allergy symptoms if they have accidentally eaten something they don’t typically consume and address them promptly.
Tip No. 5: Inform Everyone About your Allergy/ Restrictions:
If you plan to travel with friends, inform everyone beforehand about your allergies or food restrictions. Moreover, if you are travelling by flight, ensure you mention your diet restrictions while booking the tickets. Communicating your dietary restrictions takes little effort but will save you from extreme health hazards.
Tip No. 6: Opt for a Veggie-Based Diet:
A vegetable-based diet is mostly allergy-friendly, and people with dietary restrictions can enjoy it freely. While booking a self-catering cottage, keep aside enough time to explore the local market and purchase the local produce to make yourself a healthy and tasty meal.
Conclusion
If you are planning to travel with a dietary restriction, the safest choice is to book a self-catering cottage where you can cook your meals. However, travelling also means that you will indulge in the local cuisine and who wants to eat steamed vegetables in a restaurant? The tips mentioned above will allow you to travel without fear or worry while ensuring you are not putting yourself in a health hazard.