12 Ways to Eat Gluten-Free on the Road

When her son was diagnosed with celiac disease, in which a person has trouble digesting foods that contain gluten, a protein found in products like bread and pasta, Karen Broussard quickly realized the challenges travelers have finding gluten-free options while on the road. So she started the website GlutenFreeTravelSite.com to help travelers maintain a gluten-free diet on the go.

See 12 Ways to Eat Gluten-Free on the Road Slideshow

Approximately 1 percent of the U.S. population has Celiac disease, although the majority remain undiagnosed. There's an additional 7 percent of the population estimated to be "gluten sensitive," according to Dr. Alessio Fasano of the University of Maryland's Center for Celiac Research. Therefore, a total of about 25 million people in the US are negatively affected by gluten. For these people, finding safe food options can be challenging.

"You want to take a vacation from worrying. You want to be able to take a vacation without worrying about food," said Broussard.

GlutenFreeTravelSite.com provides tips and resources for travelers and their families for gluten-free travel and dining around the world. The site, which began four-and-a-half years ago, has recently unveiled a new design, which includes a guide to chain restaurants, restaurant reviews, and trip-planning resources. Only businesses that have been reviewed by a person on a gluten-free diet are included on the site.

Slideshow: 12 Ways to Eat Gluten-Free on the Road Slideshow

Broussard emphasizes that planning ahead makes all the difference when dining out or traveling gluten-free.

"The ones who often have the best experience are those that plan ahead," said Broussard, who gave us her 12 tips for eating gluten-free on the road.

Lauren Mack is the Travel Editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @lmack.

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