Seldom do I leave the house without having at least a few snacks with me. Celiac Disease, on top of POTS (aka I need a lot of salt to maintain healthy blood pressure), requires salty, nutritious snacks, and quite a bit of fluid to maintain a healthy blood volume. When traveling, a decent portion of space is dedicated to both my carry-on and regular suitcase just for snacks. The carry-on snacks keep me moving, in case there is no food to meet my dietary restrictions in the airport, and/or on the plane. The snacks in my suitcase are useful, especially if I don’t know what the food will be like where I am going. These also serve as a great backup option in case I need to get my calories in or simply have a craving for one of these delicious snacks:

It is 8:30 PM, our last night in Japan. The air was cool and after a nice stroll we were spending it enjoying eating our hearts out...well, actually, a chicken heart on a stick at this amazing yakitori restaurant down the street from our hotel in the Asakusa neighbourhood. All of the sudden, it felt super smoky in the restaurant. I went outside to get some fresh air. But when I walked back in, I didn’t feel any better, and that’s when my partner noticed the hives all over my face and neck...dun dun dun Anaphylaxis!

Traveling with food allergies is something that can be anxiety provoking. However, with the right tools and resources, it is not only doable, but extremely enjoyable. Here's how... 

I fell in love with Mammoth and its surrounding hot springs. What I didn't fall in love with was the fact that it was incredibly difficult to navigate to, until I found this treasure map...