If she eats gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, malt and rye flours, she gets cramps and diarrhea that can last for about an hour -- symptoms she definitely wants to avoid on vacation. While it's challenging living with celiac disease or food allergies while you're at home, doing so when you're on vacation can cause even more stress. According to Judy Prager, registered dietitian and certified dietitian nutritionist in New Fairfield, when dining out make sure to explain your food issues to the wait staff. [...] for people with gluten intolerance, cross-contamination can occur when french fries are cooked in the same oil as chicken nuggets, which have a bread coating that's off-limits to those with gluten intolerance. If I'm in an area where I really don't want to eat the food, such as the airport or some kind of sketchy place, I will often choose something like nachos -- with corn tortilla chips, salsa and cheese. Mills says Whenever I travel, I like to bring fruit, yogurt, cashews, almonds, rice crackers, and Udi gluten-free bread. When on an airplane, if it's a long flight and meals will be served, "travelers can request special meals in advance such as kosher, vegetarian or gluten-free," Greenspun says. According to Kim Koehler, co-author of Let's Eat Out with Celiac/Coeliac & Food Allergies!: A Timeless Reference for Special Diets, everyone, no matter what kind of food issue they have, should be able to enjoy the experience of dining out safely anywhere. According to Koeller, there are three key points to remember with regard to eating out and traveling with food allergies: education, communication and preparation. "Educate yourself on the ingredients and preparation of meals that are safe for you to eat," says Koehler, who has celiac disease and over a dozen food-related allergies and intolerances including dairy, seafood, fish, pork and preservatives.