Celiac Spotlight Matt Hansen

When were you diagnosed with Celiac Disease and how long have you been Gluten Free?

I was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2008, after a long series of new doctors, misdiagnoses, and confusion. I was first diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis, which is a separate autoimmune condition. Then, in the process of diagnosing that, the doctors broke the news that I also had celiac disease.

What has been the best part of being Gluten Free? What has been most challenging? 

Here I am 10+ years after my diagnosis and I have truly never been healthier. When I was diagnosed with celiac disease, there were barely any gluten free options at the grocery store. Now, you’ll find all sorts of gluten free options at most grocery stores! The number of gluten free options for those of us who both love food and have celiac disease is accelerating, from fantastic baked goods to 100% gluten free beer, and I couldn’t be more excited about it.

The biggest challenge is still the social implications of having celiac disease. I go out to eat far less often than before, and always go to places that I know can accomodate me. On the plus side, that means that I’ve become a pretty good cook.

The hardest things are events that are largely out of my control – like weddings or work events. In those cases, I don’t hesitate to bring my own food. I literally packed a sandwich in my suit pocket at a wedding recently.

Luckily, I have a group of supportive friends who go out of their way to accommodate me, and will even eat 100% gluten free with me on occasion just to make me feel included. Whether it’s camping trips, dinner parties, or just a casual dinner, it always starts with “where can Matt eat?” I’m thankful for that, otherwise it would be even harder.

What has been the best part of traveling as a Celiac? What has been the most challenging part of traveling as a Celiac?

The best part about traveling as a Celiac has been realizing that you can eat gluten free almost anywhere in the world. In some cases, it’s easier than here in the US. It’s very empowering, and I’m on a mission to help other Celiacs have those experiences.

One of my formative travel experiences was in 2012, when I went to London, Paris, and Rome. Traveling gluten free in Rome in particular was one of the most eye-opening experiences I’ve had as a celiac. You would think that the world capitol of pizza and pasta would be hard to navigate as a Celiac, but it’s actually incredibly easy!

 There are two things that stood out to me in Rome.

First, they are very inclusive to people with Celiac Disease. You’re not going to get a plate of boiled chicken and veggies. They’re going to try and make you feel included. You’ll get your choice of pizzas, pastas, and antipasti, all gluten free and made in a separate part of the kitchen (in the better places, anyway).

Second, they GET it.

One experience in particular that stood out to me is when I asked a server at a pizza restaurant in Rome if the gluten free pizza was prepared and cooked on the same surfaces as the regular pizza, and he replied (something close to) “Of course not! It wouldn’t be gluten free then, would it?”

I’ve had numerous experiences like that around the world.

99% of the time, if you’ve done some research and found places that are known to cater to Celiacs, they’ll be more than willing to help you find something great to eat.

On the challenging front, there are still experiences that I’ve had where I have been to places that simply don’t have a good understanding of what gluten is. In those cases, my solution is to always have a kitchen in the places that I’m staying in. In grocery stores around the world you’ll find naturally gluten free foods –  meats, rice, veggies, fruits – that you can buy and cook for yourself. It will be cheaper, and more importantly, less stressful. 

What are some of your favorite places that you have been & why?

I have three places to recommend.

First, New Zealand for the landscapes. I spent three weeks on a road trip exploring the South Island earlier this year, and I’ve never seen such a diverse set of landscapes in such a small area. It also happens to be easy to be gluten free in New Zealand. There is no language barrier, and they have relatively strict and clear gluten free labeling laws. The highlights were kayaking at sunrise in Milford Sound, hiking Isthmus Peak in Wanaka, and eating at The Big Fig in Queenstown. Australia was also amazing, particularly for traveling with celiac disease.

Next, Mexico City is the best city I’ve been to in the past two years. Since the second I left, I’ve wanted to get back, and I’m heading back this Christmas. Pujol, Enrique Olvera’s outpost in Mexico City, is hands down the best food experience I’ve ever had. Most of the food you’ll find in CDMX is naturally gluten free, as they use corn tortillas. However, you still have to be careful, particularly with shared fryers, and I’d recommend traveling with a gluten free translation card to help you communicate if you don’t speak Spanish. Here are my recommendations for gluten free foodies:

• Eat at Pujol. Get your reservations well in advance.
• Go to a mezcal bar, like La Clandestina or Bósforo Mezcalería, to dive deep into the world of agave-based (and therefore gluten free!) mezcal. I never knew Mezcal could be fruity or floral!
• Get cocktails at Baltra Bar, a cocktail bar with a Darwin theme. Get the daiquiri.
• Eat some street food! We took a guided street food tour with Club Tengo Hambre, which helped me because the guide spoke fluent Spanish and could help me navigate what I could and couldn’t eat.

Finally, Chile holds a special place in my heart. It was the first trip I took outside of Europe and represents a big step outside of my comfort zone. Torres del Paine National Park is a must-visit for nature lovers. It rivals New Zealand in terms of sheer natural beauty. We did the W trek, which is essentially backpacking along a well established route, which I highly recommend even if you’re not an avid backpacker. We also loved Valparaiso, which is a coastal city up North near Santiago. The people we met in Chile were so warm and friendly, from locals to expats, and I have seriously considered moving there. A little bit harder to navigate gluten free than most places I’ve traveled, but if you cook for yourself most of the time, you’ll have no issues.

What is some advice you would give to people who are interested in traveling while being Gluten Free?

I have three main tips for traveling gluten free, all around the same theme. That theme is – when you’re taking steps outside of your comfort zone, big or small, build a safety net that makes you feel comfortable.

First, always bring snacks. When I go on an international trip, it feels like half of my bag is full of snacks. Crackers. A loaf of gluten free bread. Some protein bars. I bring snacks just in case I can’t immediately find gluten free food when I get to my destination. It makes me feel comfortable even though it’s probably not 100% necessary.

Second, always book a place with a kitchen. It’s great to know that you have a fallback option if you can’t find a safe gluten free restaurant. Plus, it’s cheaper. You’ll save money AND stress by cooking for yourself. If it’s a longer stay, buy a pot, pan, and spatula when you arrive. I spent three weeks in New Zealand, and 90% of the time I cooked for myself. On the first day, I went to a department store and picked up a pot, a frying pan, a spatula, and dishware to use on the trip in shared kitchens, which saved me a lot of stress. I mostly stay in Airbnbs when I travel.

Last, if there’s a language barrier, travel with a translation card that explains that you have celiac disease and need to eat 100% gluten free. There’s a bunch of options out there ranging from a couple of sentences to a full in-depth explanation. Pick the option that feels right for you, print it out, and bring a physical copy on your trip with you.

PS: Most international airlines will serve you a safe gluten free meal, prepared separate from the rest of the meals, if you request it 48 hours in advance. It’s still plane food, but it’s something. I usually bring my own food and snacks, but it’s nice to know that it’s an option.

How did you come to start the Wheatless Wanderlust and how long have you been creating travel content?

I’m passionate about food, traveling, and all things gluten free – from food, to beer and cider. Wheatless Wanderlust really sits at the intersection of those three things.

I started Wheatless Wanderlust almost exactly one year ago, but it really began well before that.

I’m a planner. I love planning travel. So when I go on a trip, I build these huge spreadsheets and Google Maps with everything I want to eat, drink, see, and do on the trip. I have spreadsheets from WAY back that I had used to plan my trips, and notes from what I liked and didn’t like while I was traveling.

People hanging out around me figure out pretty quickly that I have Celiac Disease, like when I don’t eat the pizza in the break room at work and seven people ask me “Why not? it’s free pizza! Don’t you like pizza?!” YES SAM, I LOVE PIZZA. JUST NOT THE GLUTEN KIND OF PIZZA.

Anyway, People who need to eat gluten free started to come to me for tips, tricks, and recommendations for cities they were visiting. I started distilling those big ugly spreadsheets into emails for people, starting with places like Seattle and San Francisco, where I’ve spent a lot of time.

One day someone said “you should put these online for people.” And here we are, one year later. I’ve learned a ton in that one year, and I’m excited for what the next year and more will bring.

For people who might just be starting out traveling while Gluten Free, do you have any specific cities or countries that you would recommend?

I’ve got three recommendations for new gluten free travelers.

First, start small. If you live in the US, do a weekend trip to somewhere like New York City, Seattle, Portland, or San Francisco. All of those cities have a great selection of safe gluten free eats, and you don’t have to contend with a language barrier, which can be stressful. I also happen to have guides for all of those cities on my site with the best places to find celiac-safe gluten free eats. If I had to pick, I’d recommend either gluten free New York City for the sheer number of options, or gluten free Portland, because it’s basically paradise for celiacs. 

Next, take a step outside your comfort zone and do somewhere in Europe like Italy, where they know how to handle and cater to celiacs, or maybe Australia/New Zealand, where there’s no language barrier. Those places are relatively easy to travel with Celiac Disease. Rinse and repeat as many times as you want.

Last, now that you have experience traveling gluten free, know what to watch out for and how to navigate tricky situations, you can go anywhere! Armed with my tips above – snacks, kitchen, and translation card – you can explore anywhere in the world. You might not be able to eat out for every meal, and your food options might be somewhat limited in certain places. Maybe that trip isn’t about the food, but about exploring a new culture or seeing something that’s been on your bucket list for years.

With those three tips and experience traveling gluten free, you can travel the world, start crossing things off your bucket list, and create unforgettable travel experiences.   

What is one thing you wished people knew about Celiacs and Celiac Disease?

For newly diagnosed Celiacs: this is just the beginning. It gets better. As you start to feel better, you’ll realize that being diagnosed with Celiac Disease is what you make of it.

For people without Celiac Disease: Little things like cross-contamination matter. Please don’t be offended if you bake me, or another Celiac, something that is “gluten free” and we turn it down.

You probably used the same mixing bowl as the regular muffins you made last week, baked it on the same baking sheet as the cookies from last month, and used the same measuring cups for wheat flour. Those little things can turn my otherwise great week into a few days (or more) of agony, and it just isn’t worth the risk. I appreciate the effort though!