Travelling as a CeliacTravelling as a Celiac

IntroductionIntroduction

• Born in Nova ScotiaBorn in Nova Scotia

• Played Hockey to Junior “A” Level in OntarioPlayed Hockey to Junior “A” Level in Ontario

• Graduate of Guelph UniversityGraduate of Guelph University

• Spent time working in the food industrySpent time working in the food industry

• 1996 Emigrated to England1996 Emigrated to England

• Joined the Hi Tech IndustryJoined the Hi Tech Industry

• Married with two childrenMarried with two children

• A CeliacA Celiac

• Travel internationally on businessTravel internationally on business

Interests Away From WorkInterests Away From Work

• Sailing InternationallySailing Internationally

• Family ActivitiesFamily Activities

• Keeping Fit and Eating HealthilyKeeping Fit and Eating Healthily

Diagnosis Diagnosis

• First family member to be diagnosed First family member to be diagnosed

was in March of 2002was in March of 2002

• My diagnosis took place in December My diagnosis took place in December

20042004

• Princess Margaret Hospital WindsorPrincess Margaret Hospital Windsor

• One Year of “Full Investigations”One Year of “Full Investigations”

Path to RecoveryPath to Recovery

• Diagnosed through blood test and immediate EndoscopyDiagnosed through blood test and immediate Endoscopy

• Still Had Aches and PainsStill Had Aches and Pains

• 3 Month Blood Results – Still Tested Positive 3 Month Blood Results – Still Tested Positive

• Second Endoscopy Six Months InSecond Endoscopy Six Months In

• Twelve Months In – Additional ProceduresTwelve Months In – Additional Procedures

• Blood Results Finally “Normal”Blood Results Finally “Normal”

The Early Days of Gluten The Early Days of Gluten FreeFree

• Already understood the dietAlready understood the diet

• Had experience around food preparation and restaurantsHad experience around food preparation and restaurants

• Get a good lunch box…in fact, get plenty!Get a good lunch box…in fact, get plenty!

• Wasn’t “firing on all cylinders”Wasn’t “firing on all cylinders”

• Body went through immense changesBody went through immense changes

• Body weight went from 62Kg up to 74KgBody weight went from 62Kg up to 74Kg

Flying With Celiac DiseaseFlying With Celiac Disease

• Employed by Cisco’s Global Accounts ProgramEmployed by Cisco’s Global Accounts Program

• Fly approximately 120,000 + air miles per yearFly approximately 120,000 + air miles per year

Flying During the Flying During the “Early Days”“Early Days”

• Intestinal discomfortIntestinal discomfort

• Aches and Pains on Trans AtlanticsAches and Pains on Trans Atlantics

• Concerned about getting sick while abroadConcerned about getting sick while abroad

• Decipher if the meal is gluten freeDecipher if the meal is gluten free

• Reading labels in foreign countriesReading labels in foreign countries

Flying Is Now Flying Is Now RoutineRoutine

• Most airlines will provide a good experienceMost airlines will provide a good experience

• Cooperate with themCooperate with them

• Carry FoodCarry Food

• The Business Traveller Game: Carry on As Much As You Can! The Business Traveller Game: Carry on As Much As You Can!

• Short flights under 4 hours not a concernShort flights under 4 hours not a concern

Business TripsBusiness Trips

• Plan carefully what needs to be packedPlan carefully what needs to be packed

• Maximise carry on allowanceMaximise carry on allowance

• Try to visit local Celiac sitesTry to visit local Celiac sites

• Explain your condition to business colleaguesExplain your condition to business colleagues

• Confirm, confirm and confirm again with airlineConfirm, confirm and confirm again with airline

Business DinnersBusiness Dinners

• Call the restaurant in advanceCall the restaurant in advance

• Review menu (often available via web)Review menu (often available via web)

• When first arriving at the restaurant, have a When first arriving at the restaurant, have a conversation with the restaurant team away from conversation with the restaurant team away from business colleagues. Order at this point.business colleagues. Order at this point.

• Be careful with alcohol consumption!Be careful with alcohol consumption!

• People will ask about your condition. Tell them.People will ask about your condition. Tell them.

• What to do if “they get it wrong” – Keep The PlateWhat to do if “they get it wrong” – Keep The Plate

• People will tell you all kind of symptoms they People will tell you all kind of symptoms they experience – basically medical confessions!experience – basically medical confessions!

Office EnvironmentsOffice Environments

• Carry a lunch box if it is convenientCarry a lunch box if it is convenient

• Stay clear of salad barsStay clear of salad bars

• Avoid coffee machines with “white Avoid coffee machines with “white powder”powder”

• If hosting clients, make a big deal If hosting clients, make a big deal about other people’s dietsabout other people’s diets

• Typically, events aren’t geared to Typically, events aren’t geared to cater for gluten freecater for gluten free

Business Business ConferencesConferences

• Buffet Food – Now that is a challenge!Buffet Food – Now that is a challenge!

• Speak with Chef to organise a separate plateSpeak with Chef to organise a separate plate

• Source food from a grocery/convenience storeSource food from a grocery/convenience store

• Order in advance from the webOrder in advance from the web

““Friendly Destinations” Friendly Destinations” Business and PleasureBusiness and Pleasure

• All major countries can be “Friendly All major countries can be “Friendly

Destinations”Destinations”

• Requires Educating Requires Educating

• PolitenessPoliteness

• Know when to “walk”Know when to “walk”

IrelandIreland

• The Heartland of Celiac Disease!The Heartland of Celiac Disease!

• Widely understood to exist and toleratedWidely understood to exist and tolerated

• O’Connells RestaurantO’Connells Restaurant

Celiac friendly restaurant Celiac friendly restaurant

Direct Assistance from Ms Kearney, Co Author of:Direct Assistance from Ms Kearney, Co Author of:

““Healthy Gluten Free Eating” Healthy Gluten Free Eating”

United KingdomUnited Kingdom

• Large awareness campaign taking placeLarge awareness campaign taking place

• Educating the restaurateurs is requiredEducating the restaurateurs is required

• Several locations with gluten-free menusSeveral locations with gluten-free menus

• Please check www.coeliac.co.ukPlease check www.coeliac.co.uk

United KingdomUnited Kingdom

• Coeliac Disease is becoming more widely understood in the UKCoeliac Disease is becoming more widely understood in the UK

• Still requires close assessment of each restaurant prior to eatingStill requires close assessment of each restaurant prior to eating

• Coeliac UK provides a list of friendly restaurantsCoeliac UK provides a list of friendly restaurants

• Good selection of GF Foods at Grocery StoresGood selection of GF Foods at Grocery Stores

• Great Ciders availableGreat Ciders available

United KingdomUnited KingdomPrescription ServicePrescription Service

•Gluten Free food is available through the National

Health Service (NHS)

•Pay an annual subscription fee of £98.70 (child, student or senior exempt)

Provides gluten free food (bread, pasta, flour, xanthum gum, pizza bases & biscuits etc)

All other medications approved by the NHS

Chart used to determine quota

The Lobster PotThe Lobster Pot

Celiac Friendly Restaurant in Surrey England

Chef’s daughter is a Celiac

Staff meticulously trained on serving Celiacs

Staff have worked at Michelin Star Establishments

Great Menu

ItalyItaly

• Wide screening program used across the Wide screening program used across the

populationpopulation

• Government provides $160 euros per month Government provides $160 euros per month

• High incidence of Celiac DiseaseHigh incidence of Celiac Disease

• Celiachia Association is innovative!Celiachia Association is innovative!

• Fantastic experience of eating gluten freeFantastic experience of eating gluten free

ItalyItaly

• La Rosa dei VentiLa Rosa dei Venti

• Matteo (owner) is a CeliacMatteo (owner) is a Celiac

• Will provide you with GF Will provide you with GF

Breads, Pasta and Desserts!Breads, Pasta and Desserts!

• Next stop: Brothers that MakeNext stop: Brothers that Make

GF Pizza! Outside of MilanGF Pizza! Outside of Milan

GreeceGreece

• Greek diet is great for a CeliacGreek diet is great for a Celiac

• Grilled Fish and MeatGrilled Fish and Meat

• Greek Salads!Greek Salads!

• Eat out in most TavernasEat out in most Tavernas

FranceFrance

• Experience is primarily with ParisExperience is primarily with Paris

• The home to Gastronomy!The home to Gastronomy!

• Good experiences in ParisGood experiences in Paris

• Office cafeterias can be a challengeOffice cafeterias can be a challenge

• Sorbet ice creams great to have for dessertSorbet ice creams great to have for dessert

• Crème BruleeCrème Brulee

• Call in advanceCall in advance

GermanyGermany

• Good experience of “Gluten Frei”Good experience of “Gluten Frei”

• Munich – Bavarian radishes as a starter!Munich – Bavarian radishes as a starter!

• Eat Sauer Kraut while visitingEat Sauer Kraut while visiting

• Meat dishes normally a safe betMeat dishes normally a safe bet

• Communications with the restaurant staff Communications with the restaurant staff

are key!are key!

United StatesUnited States

•Good experience in most cities

•Personally Avoid Fast Food Establishments

•WholeFoods chain across the nation

•Steak Houses and Seafood Restaurants are great

•Challenge around office environments

CanadaCanada

•Gluten free selection is great in theAtlantic Superstore! Check it out.

•Great experience in Toronto

•SwissChalet GF Menu

•On the East Coast – Eat Lobster!

•Great Gluten Free Beer: La Messagere

Other Countries…..Other Countries…..

• Czech Republic: successful experienceCzech Republic: successful experience

talk about Hockey!talk about Hockey!

• Spain: Good awarenessSpain: Good awareness

• Netherlands: Gluten Frei Widely understoodNetherlands: Gluten Frei Widely understood

• Caribbean: a lot of North American menusCaribbean: a lot of North American menus

• Finland: Supposed to be great for Gluten FreeFinland: Supposed to be great for Gluten Free

Challenging ZonesChallenging Zones

• Countries where little English is spokenCountries where little English is spoken

• Where Fast Food is Prevalent…….Where Fast Food is Prevalent…….

• Processed FoodsProcessed Foods

• Prepared foods i.e. bulk itemsPrepared foods i.e. bulk items

• Establishments that don’t like going “plain”Establishments that don’t like going “plain”

• Busy establishments…..Especially “Rush Hour”Busy establishments…..Especially “Rush Hour”

My Best Gluten Free ExperiencesMy Best Gluten Free Experiences

•Rosie’s Gluten Free Gourmet Food & Restaurant

Riverview Dieppe NB

•La Rosa De Venti – Italy

•O’Connels – Dublin Ireland

•Lobster Pot – United Kingdom

•Four Season’s Toronto

SummarySummary

• Need to experience life to the fullNeed to experience life to the full

• Role model for my Celiac daughterRole model for my Celiac daughter

• Travelling is challenging but has rewardsTravelling is challenging but has rewards

• Education is a responsibility we all ownEducation is a responsibility we all own

• Gluten Free Awareness is Getting Better All The Gluten Free Awareness is Getting Better All The

TimeTime

Now Enjoy The East Coast Now Enjoy The East Coast Diet!Diet!

• Lobster and Wine..Lobster and Wine..

Q & AQ & A

SessionSession