Living with celiac disease means following a strict gluten-free diet every day. Having access to reliable information, practical resources, and expert support can help answer questions, organize meals when eating out, and plan trips more safely.
It is recommended to contact the Celiac Association of Catalonia. The organization offers resources to facilitate adaptation to a gluten-free diet and its daily maintenance.
Among other services and materials, it has:
- dietary advice
- channels to solve doubts
- informative videos, activities and workshops
- fights to offset the cost of treatment through direct financial aid and tax breaks
- mobile application and search engine for establishments with gluten-free options.
You can check the updated information to become a member at Associació Celíacs de Catalunya.
It may also be helpful to consult the Federació d’Associacions de Celíacs d’Espanya (FACE) and the l’Associació de Societats Europees de Celiaquia (AOECS), specially to locate associations and resources in other territories.
When eating out, it's important to always identify yourself as a celiac when making your reservation and upon arrival at the establishment. Ask if they have gluten-free options and if they can avoid cross-contact during food preparation and service.
Whenever possible, prioritize establishments accredited or recommended by celiac associations. The search engine of the Associació Celíacs de Catalunya (Catalan Celiac Association) allows you to locate establishments and points of sale with gluten-free options.
The Celíacs Catalunya app can be useful for finding information about food and restaurants. There are also apps like Find Me Gluten Free for searching for restaurants in different countries.
Remember that an option advertised as "gluten-free" does not, by itself, guarantee that it is suitable for a person with celiac disease. It is essential that the establishment understands the need to avoid cross-contamination.
Before traveling, find details about your destination and plan your meals in advance. Consider the range of restaurants, supermarkets, and accommodations available, especially if you're traveling somewhere where you don't know the language or local resources. Staying in a vacation rental with a refrigerator and kitchen can make meal planning easier and reduce risks.
To travel around Europe, you can consult the Travelnet de Celiac Youth of Europe, where several associations share information about the situation of celiac disease in their countries.
It may also be helpful to contact the celiac association in the destination country to find out where to find gluten-free products or suitable establishments.
If you don't speak the language of your destination country, it's advisable to carry a card explaining that you have celiac disease and require a strict gluten-free diet. These cards, known as Celiac-Cards, can be found in several languages at Celiac Travel.
It may also be helpful to bring a medical report that confirms the diagnosis of celiac disease.
It's advisable to bring gluten-free food for the journey and any unforeseen circumstances. The contents will depend on the duration and type of trip, but may include:
- fruit and nuts;
- sliced bread, pasta or other gluten-free foods;
- legumes and preserves;
- oil, vinegar, salt, coffee and infusions;
- freezer bags and labels;
- rubber spatula;
- specific covers or bags for toaster, oven or barbecue.
For more information on celiac disease, gluten-free diets, and travel, you can also consult:
- Celicidad, with information, training resources, podcasts and a restaurant app.
- Gluten-Free: solutions for a gluten-free life.
- Celiac at thirty
Libraries also have informative materials about celiac disease and gluten-free diets, such as the book Illustrated Manual for the Gluten-Free Diet by Daniela Faccio Peláez.
