Travelling as a Celiac

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Travelling as a Celiac
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Introduction

• Born in Nova Scotia
• Played Hockey to Junior A Level in Ontario
• Graduate of Guelph University
• Spent time working in the food industry
• 1996 Emigrated to England
• Joined the Hi Tech Industry
• Married with two children
• A Celiac
• Travel internationally on business

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Interests Away From Work

• Sailing Internationally
• Family Activities
• Keeping Fit and Eating Healthily

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Diagnosis

• First family member to be diagnosed was in March
  of 2002
• My diagnosis took place in December 2004
• Princess Margaret Hospital Windsor
• One Year of Full Investigations

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Path to Recovery

• Diagnosed through blood test and immediate
  Endoscopy
• Still Had Aches and Pains
• 3 Month Blood Results Still Tested Positive
• Second Endoscopy Six Months In
• Twelve Months In Additional Procedures
• Blood Results Finally Normal

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The Early Days of Gluten Free

• Already understood the diet
• Had experience around food preparation and
  restaurants
• Get a good lunch boxin fact, get plenty!
• Wasnt firing on all cylinders
• Body went through immense changes
• Body weight went from 62Kg up to 74Kg

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Flying With Celiac Disease

• Employed by Ciscos Global Accounts Program
• Fly approximately 120,000 air miles per year

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Flying During the Early Days

• Intestinal discomfort
• Aches and Pains on Trans Atlantics
• Concerned about getting sick while abroad
• Decipher if the meal is gluten free
• Reading labels in foreign countries

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Flying Is Now Routine

• Most airlines will provide a good experience
• Cooperate with them
• Carry Food
• The Business Traveller Game Carry on As Much As
  You Can!
• Short flights under 4 hours not a concern

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Business Trips

• Plan carefully what needs to be packed
• Maximise carry on allowance
• Try to visit local Celiac sites
• Explain your condition to business colleagues
• Confirm, confirm and confirm again with airline

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Business Dinners

• Call the restaurant in advance
• Review menu (often available via web)
• When first arriving at the restaurant, have a
  conversation with the restaurant team away from
  business colleagues. Order at this point.
• Be careful with alcohol consumption!
• People will ask about your condition. Tell them.
• What to do if they get it wrong Keep The
  Plate
• People will tell you all kind of symptoms they
  experience basically medical confessions!

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Office Environments

• Carry a lunch box if it is convenient
• Stay clear of salad bars
• Avoid coffee machines with white powder
• If hosting clients, make a big deal about other
  peoples diets
• Typically, events arent geared to cater for
  gluten free

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Business Conferences

• Buffet Food Now that is a challenge!
• Speak with Chef to organise a separate plate
• Source food from a grocery/convenience store
• Order in advance from the web

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Friendly Destinations Business and Pleasure

• All major countries can be Friendly
  Destinations
• Requires Educating
• Politeness
• Know when to walk

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Ireland

• The Heartland of Celiac Disease!
• Widely understood to exist and tolerated
• OConnells Restaurant
• Celiac friendly restaurant
• Direct Assistance from Ms Kearney, Co Author of
• Healthy Gluten Free Eating

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United Kingdom

• Large awareness campaign taking place
• Educating the restaurateurs is required
• Several locations with gluten-free menus
• Please check www.coeliac.co.uk

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United Kingdom

• Coeliac Disease is becoming more widely
  understood in the UK
• Still requires close assessment of each
  restaurant prior to eating
• Coeliac UK provides a list of friendly
  restaurants
• Good selection of GF Foods at Grocery Stores
• Great Ciders available

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United KingdomPrescription 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

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The Lobster Pot
Celiac Friendly Restaurant in Surrey
England Chefs daughter is a Celiac Staff
meticulously trained on serving Celiacs Staff
have worked at Michelin Star Establishments Great
Menu
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Italy

• Wide screening program used across the population
• Government provides 160 euros per month
• High incidence of Celiac Disease
• Celiachia Association is innovative!
• Fantastic experience of eating gluten free

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Italy

• La Rosa dei Venti
• Matteo (owner) is a Celiac
• Will provide you with GF
• Breads, Pasta and Desserts!
• Next stop Brothers that Make
• GF Pizza! Outside of Milan

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Greece

• Greek diet is great for a Celiac
• Grilled Fish and Meat
• Greek Salads!
• Eat out in most Tavernas

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France

• Experience is primarily with Paris
• The home to Gastronomy!
• Good experiences in Paris
• Office cafeterias can be a challenge
• Sorbet ice creams great to have for dessert
• Crème Brulee
• Call in advance

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Germany

• Good experience of Gluten Frei
• Munich Bavarian radishes as a starter!
• Eat Sauer Kraut while visiting
• Meat dishes normally a safe bet
• Communications with the restaurant staff are key!

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United 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

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Canada

• Gluten free selection is great in the
• Atlantic Superstore! Check it out.
• Great experience in Toronto
• SwissChalet GF Menu
• On the East Coast Eat Lobster!
• Great Gluten Free Beer La Messagere

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Other Countries..

• Czech Republic successful experience
• talk about Hockey!
• Spain Good awareness
• Netherlands Gluten Frei Widely understood
• Caribbean a lot of North American menus
• Finland Supposed to be great for Gluten Free

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Challenging Zones

• Countries where little English is spoken
• Where Fast Food is Prevalent.
• Processed Foods
• Prepared foods i.e. bulk items
• Establishments that dont like going plain
• Busy establishments..Especially Rush Hour

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My Best Gluten Free Experiences

• Rosies Gluten Free Gourmet Food Restaurant
• Riverview Dieppe NB
• La Rosa De Venti Italy
• OConnels Dublin Ireland
• Lobster Pot United Kingdom
• Four Seasons Toronto

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Summary

• Need to experience life to the full
• Role model for my Celiac daughter
• Travelling is challenging but has rewards
• Education is a responsibility we all own
• Gluten Free Awareness is Getting Better All The
  Time

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Now Enjoy The East Coast Diet!

• Lobster and Wine..

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• Q A
• Session