Selena and Ellen Talk Restaurants and Travel

·38 min·3 clips

Registered dietitian Selena DeVries shares three simple strategies to eat safely at fast food places with celiac disease.

The episode begins with an excerpt highlighting the emotional challenges of celiac diagnosis and the importance of reclaiming freedom through a gluten-free lifestyle. Sue Jennett introduces guests Selena DeVries, a registered dietitian, and Ellen Baines from the celiac scene, noting their expertise in celiac and gluten-free living. The first segment focuses on restaurant dining, where Selena suggests three strategies: utilizing online allergen menus, eating during off-peak hours, and clearly communicating one's diagnosis. Ellen adds the importance of careful research and shares her online resource listing over 55 Canadian fast food chains with gluten-free allergen information. They discuss favorite fast food options like Noodle Box and Wendy's. The conversation shifts to travel, with Selena introducing the '111 strategy' for vacation planning, which involves identifying one restaurant, one grocery store, and bringing one meal or snack. Sue shares her tip for making grilled cheese sandwiches for plane trips, and they talk about snacks like gluten-free pretzels and chocolate. For resorts and cruises, they recommend contacting the venue ahead, checking TripAdvisor reviews, and building relationships with staff like chefs or maître d's to ensure safe dining. Ellen recounts a positive experience in Mexico where a maître d' assisted her daily. The final segment addresses attitude towards celiac disease, emphasizing that confidence and community support can reduce anxiety and improve experiences. Selena discusses handling risky behaviors and the need for support, while Ellen talks about the importance of a positive demeanor when dining out. They mention resources like Celiac Canada chapters for meetups and Selena's programs, including the Kickstarter Kit and Competent Celiac program. The episode concludes with mutual appreciation among the hosts and a teaser about upcoming podcast changes.

As heard by us

A practical conversation about turning gluten-free resort travel into a clearer plan.

Selena and Ellen frame travel after a celiac diagnosis as something that depends on communication, preparation, and gradually rebuilt confidence.

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Why you'd press play

You want to leave home without turning an all-inclusive resort or cruise into a gluten-free panic spiral.

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