One of the most stressful things about travel is wondering what you are going to eat. The last thing you ever want is to be sick on vacation.

Luckily, vacation rentals (like Airbnb) have changed the way we can travel and enjoy ourselves, even with food sensitivities, allergies, and cross contamination concerns. (if you are not cross contamination sensitive, your needs may be different)

Why Consider a Vacation Rental

When you rent a private apartment or home, you have the comfort of having your own kitchen. You have a space where you can safely prepare meals. You may still want to dine out sometimes, but having your own kitchen not only saves you money, but it drastically reduces your risk of cross contamination.

If you are cross contamination sensitive to gluten (whether gluten intolerant or celiac) then every time you go out to eat can very risky. When you’re visiting a new area, are unfamiliar with the restaurants, language, or culture, this risk can increase.

What to Do First When I Get to My Rental

Scope out the kitchen! Most have basic cooking tools and utensils. Some of these may be safe to use, and some may not.

The good : Stainless Steel! From cutlery to pots, we love to see stainless steel in a rental kitchen. Stainless steel can be safely cleaned without concern for cross contamination.

The bad : anything plastic, wood, or nonstick. All of these are a no go since if they are scratched they are the perfect place for gluten to hide. Using these tools will be asking for cross contamination. Also anything cast iron or stoneware is off limits since the seasoning built probably contains gluten too.

The workable : a baking sheet. Even if a baking sheet is very well used and well seasoned, we can work with this if we have parchment paper. A microwave will also be your best friend if the cookware is lacking.

Once you know the tools that you have to work with, then you’re ready to grocery shop. You will then have an idea of the kitchen tools you have to work with, and if you might want to pick up anything additional while you are getting supplies.

Prepping Your Safe Space

Now that you have determined which tools are safe, we’re going to clean ourselves a safe place. If possible use paper towel for this, and use it liberally.

Clean:

• All of the dishes and cookware that you plan on using during your stay
• A cupboard to store all the thoroughly scrubbed dishes
• The microwave plate
• A shelf in the fridge you plan on using
• The countertops, stovetop, fridge handle, and anywhere you may touch during food prep

Once you have all this cleaned, then you have yourself a safe gluten free kitchen. It sounds like a lot of work, but since this space is pretty empty before you get going, this important step will probably take you 20-30 minutes. You only need to do it once, and then you won’t have to worry about it for the rest of your stay.

Tools You May Want

I do bring some tools with me to make sure that I have comfortable prep in the kitchen. I like to bring my own cutting board (these ones are super easy to travel with since they weigh nothing and take up no space). I also like to bring a spatula so that I know I will have something to serve up food with. You may also want to bring an oven mitt. Their fabric one is not going to be a safe option, and using a towel gets kind of awkward.

I also like to bring a couple jars of seasoning with me. Seasoning blends can sometimes contain gluten, and I don’t want to risk it. I bring a few jars that are versatile, and are my favourites. I bring : Italian, Crushed Peppercorn and Garlic, and Seasoning Salt.

You may want to bring snacks to keep in your purse. Yes these will take up room in your bag, but when you eat the food, then you can use that extra space to put your souvenirs and gifts. Thats some good forethought and planning. Gluten free snack bars or pre packaged fruit leather are great options.

If you know there is a BBQ available on location, you may want to consider bringing BBQ mats. These could be used in the oven or on a grill to protect from cross contamination. Since they are pretty low cost, you don’t have to feel bad about leaving it behind when you’re done with it.

If there is no baking sheet, or very little to work with, consider purchasing aluminum baking pans to use while you are there. You should be able to pick these up at most grocery stores.

Consider purchasing parchment paper for a sheet pan when you arrive at location if you don’t want to bring any in your luggage.

Some of My Favourite Airbnb Meals

• Sheetpan dinners made on parchment or an aluminum baking pan. Chop up veggies, potatoes, season with a home brought seasoning, and cook with a protein of choice.
• Frozen gluten free pizzas : these can me made on parchment in the oven
• Fresh fruit and veggies for snacks
• Sandwiches (if you can find gluten free bread)
• Microwave omelette (if you don’t have a ‘safe’ frying pan, mix up the ingredients in a bowl and microwave for 30 seconds at a time, mixing every now and then)
• Salad : make your own dressing (if you cannot find one suitable locally) by mixing a little oil with vinegar or lemon juice, and add some of your home brought seasonings to the mix, or fresh herbs.

Am I Going to Miss Out On Local Food

Food is a huge part of culture, and when you’re visiting somewhere new the last thing that you want is to miss out on something good. I totally understand this.

I will say that grocery shopping in different locations, and in different countries is a different exploration.

Not all culture is contained to restaurants.

When you buy your food from the grocery store or market you have the chance to purchase seasonal and local foods. Your cooking will look a little different than it does at home depending on what is available. This is an opportunity to explore different flavours.

I do try to stick to whole foods, rather than pre packaged when I am away. If it is pure enough not to need an ingredient list, its a good sign of its safety.

Have a Healthy Trip

As always, do a little research before you go somewhere. Facebook groups local to the area can be very helpful in pointing you in the right direction for gluten free foods. This may be easier in some places than others, but its worth checking out before you go.

Enjoy your trip! Food is not the main event when we’re on vacation (though it can obviously be a lot of fun to try new things) You will still have lots of things to look forward to.

Having your own kitchen can decrease stress, and keep you healthier while you are exploring a new place.

Is there anything here that you found useful? Or anything that you might like to add? Share it in the comments.