Traveling the world with a portable gluten tester

​Elisa is an experienced gluten-free traveler that always brings a very curious item with her: a little device that can test if there’s gluten in the food you are about to eat. 

​I met Elisa through her Instagram account Gluten-free trips and I immediately fell for all her gluten-free foodie adventures around the globe. (Does the topic sound familiar ;)? )
Her honesty felt refreshing as well. She will bluntly tell you whether she liked the food or if she felt it was safe to eat there or not. Such honesty seems to be a bit rare nowadays, so that level of transparency is really appreciated. After all, that’s also been my motive to create this space, to share honest and real opinions. I feel reflected in her approach of making reviews. 

There is a little device featured in her pictures that immediately caught my attention. 
 

Photo: Gluten-free trips

​She always travels with a portable gluten tester called Nima. I had previously heard about this gluten sensor —mainly from other gluten-free bloggers from the States— and I was very curious to find out more about this new item that seems to help coeliac people in their trips, home and abroad. So, what better way to find out more about this portable gluten tester than from a gluten-free world traveler that has being using it in all her travels around the world? 
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What is Nima Gluten Sensor

Nima is a portable gluten tester that allows you to test meals for gluten. It is optimized to detect 20ppm — it detects if gluten is present at more than 20ppm or if the levels are below 20ppm. 
 
By introducing a little piece of the food you are about to eat into the test capsule, it will notify you, in just a couple of minutes, whether the food is gluten-free (it detected a level of gluten below 20ppm) or if gluten has been found (if there is more than 20ppm). 

Smiley face: it's less than 20ppm and Nima approved

So far, the Nima sensor is only available in the U.S and Canada and costs $229. There’s also an App where you can share and upload your findings. 

Additional information — Nima’s scientific research report.

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Traveling the World with a
​Portable Gluten tester

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Elisa comes from the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo and finds pleasure in food and traveling. She is also a big Disney fan. She had to cut gluten from her life due to a medical diagnosis, but she didn’t let that stop her from traveling. (Aren’t we soulmates?) 

Now she combines her holiday adventures with business trips due to her work, so doing a research to find out where she can eat safely helps her a lot to plan her stay.

***Also, she’s going to Miami in August, so if you have any tips for here, like your favorite places to eat gluten-free in Miami, you can leave it in the comments section. ****
 
She documents all her travels in her own Instagram account, called Gluten-Free Trips, where you can find useful information on what places offer gluten-free food and whether they are Nima approved—having tested less than 20ppm— and considered gluten-free. 
 
Elisa loves Italian food and some of her favorite places in the world are London and Disney World (Orlando) because it’s very accommodating towards coeliac people But she doesn’t forget about Sao Paulo, where it is quite easy to find gluten-free options (there are at least 15 dedicated gluten-free restaurants and there is awareness about cross-contamination. 

While the beginnings where a bit challenging and overwhelming (it was at a time when there was still not much information about coeliac disease) she know feels very comfortable traveling and eating out. 
 

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Interview to Elisa, from
​Gluten-Free Trips Instagram account
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​Question: For how long have you known that you are coeliac? 
Answer: In the end of 2009 I started having a lot of symptoms, especially diarrhoea. After going to a lot of doctors, I found out there were a lot of polyps in my intestines, which got me really worried. They were all benign, but a doctor at the time told me to cut gluten to see if my stomach aches and diarrhoea would get better. They did, and after a few years, all my polyps are gone (I test every 2 years to see if everything is ok). The only bummer is, since he told me to cut off gluten without testing for coeliac disease, I was never properly diagnosed, but he explained about cross contamination, so I live my life as an undiagnosed coeliac!

Q: How did you receive the news? Did it impact you?
A: Honestly, I cried a lot. It was the beginning of 2010 when I was told I had to cut gluten completely out of my life. There wasn't much information at the time, and I was really lost and sad, and in Brazil we had no good options for bread and pizza and stuff. I cried a lot. I would stay away from gluten for 2 weeks, feel better, then eat gluten "just to see", get sick, and cry. I think that was a cycle for me for a few months. Until I got tired of getting sick and really stopped eating gluten.

Q: How was the change transitioning to a gluten-free life? Was there anything that you found particularly challenging?  How did you adapt to this new life? 
A: It was long, and it wasn't easy. It took me a while to realize that cross contamination was a real thing. I got sick so many times without knowing what it was because I didn't really know all the details about cross contamination. I was lucky that I moved to the US in the same year to get my master's degree and when I found out about Whole Foods supermarkets and all their gluten free options, I was so grateful lol. Not long after that, gluten-free diets became a trend and it was even easier going out to eat.
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Q: What impact has had being coeliac in your live? Did you have to change many things of your daily routine? 
A: I live in a gluten-free house now, to avoid cross contamination at home. I also always loved going out to eat, so it was challenging going to places that I used to go to with friends but now I had to just watch. But I got used to explaining the situation and suggesting a place that I could actually eat in.

Q: How did your friends and family react?  
A: Nowadays all my friends know and understand, and luckily, they enjoy going to places that are gluten-free! When I first started they really didn't know where to take me or what to do, but now it's easy. My family always supported me as well.
 
Q: How’s the gluten-free scenery in Brazil? (is it easy to find gluten-free places? Are people aware of coeliac disease?)
A:I live in São Paulo, which is the biggest city in Brazil and nowadays it's really easy to eat gluten free! We have at least 15 dedicated gluten free places to eat at, and a lot of restaurants are now aware of what is celiac disease and cross contamination, so it's easier to eat out. 

{São Paulo} Hoje foi dia de jantar no @natturestaurante! O cardápio deles é todo marcado pra falar o que tem glúten, lactose ou é vegetariano. Achei bacana, e fiquei mais feliz ainda quando os testes vieram ok! Comi o gnocchi de batata roxa, e de sobremesa o merengue de morango (passe pra próxima foto pra ver!). Lembrando que o risco de contaminação sempre existe em restaurantes com cozinha compartilhada, mas fiquei bem segura com essas opções e deu certo! ❤️ Estava tudo uma delícia, e gluten free pelo #Nima! #nimatested #semgluten #glutenfreesp #saopaulosemgluten

Una publicación compartida de Elisa - São Paulo and beyond (@glutenfreetrips) el 9 May, 2018 a las 6:31 PDT

{Austin, Texas} Eu sabia que minha sorte ia mudaaaar! Tava meio frustrada com Austin na parte de comida (só com a comida, pq a cidade é incrível) mas ontem e hoje encontrei lugares muito bons! Na ordem das fotos, vamos lá: a primeira e a segunda são da @wildwoodbakehouse, uma padaria 100% Gluten Free. Pedi um ovo mexido com pãozinho Sourdough que eu esqueci de tirar foto, e voltaria muito pelo pãozinho que amei! Os waffles e French toast (rabanada né gente!), estavam bons tb! A terceira foto é do @24dineratx, um restaurante bem estilo diner americano que fica aberto 24 horas. Eles têm um menu gluten free e manjam de contaminação cruzada - meu frango com purê de batatas ganhou um sorrisinho do Nima! As duas últimas fotos são do @flowerchild e gente, que restaurante delicioso! Amei o mac’n’cheese sem glúten com frango, e o cookie tb estava uma delícia. Enfim, 3 lugares que super recomendo aqui em Austin! ❤️□□ #nimatested #glutenfreeatx #glutenfreeaustin #glutenfreesxsw #sxswglutenfree #glutenfreetexas

Una publicación compartida de Elisa - São Paulo and beyond (@glutenfreetrips) el 15 Mar, 2018 a las 7:20 PDT

Q: On your Instagram we can see that you are a world traveller. Did you travel as much prior your diagnose?
A: I always have loved to travel, I travelled a lot before finding out about coeliac disease (and it's funny to remember all of the times I felt sick on my trips and thought I had eaten something rotten)! But only about 3 years ago I have started doing it more for work. So, I travel for work and also for pleasure! 

Q: Has coeliac disease changed the way you travel, or impacted you in any way? 
A: It has. I always bring snacks with me when I travel (because I am afraid the airline will forget my special meal, lol) and always go to the supermarket where I am to see if they have any different gluten-free products, and also to buy snacks. I try to choose hotels based on if they have gluten-free breakfast, or at least are close to gluten-free places. I also look up a lot of gluten-free restaurants close to the attractions or places I am going so I can plan ahead where I am going to eat.

Q: Are there any major differences between traveling for business purposes or for leisure? 
A: There are. When I'm traveling for work, I don't really have time to go to the supermarket, or I can't really choose a gluten free place because either I'm with a large group, or I'm late and have to eat fast. So I eat a lot more snacks when I travel for work, and I use my Nima device a lot more when I got to the places that are not known for being gluten free.

#TBT Acordei com saudades dos cafés da manhã da Disney □ Então o #tbt de hoje tá cheio de gluten free Mickey Waffles! A primeira foto é de um café no Crystal Palace (Magic Kingdom), a segunda no hotel Port Orleans French Quarter e a terceira no Tusker House (Animal Kingdom)! Eu acho que meu preferido foi o Crystal Palace. E vcs, já tomaram café da manhã nos restaurantes da Disney? Algum preferido? Me contem! ❤️ #glutenfreedisney #disneysemgluten #glutenfreeorlando #orlandosemgluten

Una publicación compartida de Elisa - São Paulo and beyond (@glutenfreetrips) el 10 May, 2018 a las 4:56 PDT

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{São Paulo} Churros sem glúten?! Me vê 2, por favor! □ Siiim, é possível comer churros de doce de leite sem glúten aqui em SP, no @armazemvilasalute! Todo sábado eles têm pastel e churros feitos na horaaaa, passa pra próxima foto pra ver como o pastel é feito, tipo feira mesmo! Tudo muito delícia, vale a pena ir lá! Já testei com o Nima antes, e deu td certo, e como é um ambiente totalmente sem glúten, ninguém precisa se preocupar com contaminação cruzada ❤️ Agora preciso ir de quinta testar o hambúrguer □ #glutenfreechurros #churrossemgluten #pastelsemgluten #glutenfreesp #saopaulosemgluten #spsemgluten

Una publicación compartida de Elisa - São Paulo and beyond (@glutenfreetrips) el 21 Abr, 2018 a las 10:33 PDT

Q: There’s a little device featured in all your Instagram pictures. What is it?
A: Oh, Nima is my best friend when I travel! I bought it online, and it tests gluten in food. It saved me from getting sick during a trip many times now. 

Q: How does it work? 
A: I think they explain better on their website, but basically there's a capsule, I put food inside, close it, and put it in the sensor. If it has over 20ppms of gluten, the sensor will tell me "gluten found".

Q: What made you acquire the Nima sensor? 
A: I was just tired from getting sick from supposedly gluten free things when I travelled, and it made me feel more confident to eat out!

Q: Would you eat something that tested positive with gluten? 
A: No, no way!

Q: Has the Nima sensor changed the way you travel in any way? Would you recommend it? A: Yes, it gives me more freedom! I would def recommend it! But it doesn't replace the fact that you have to talk to a manager or a chef to explain your situation, so you make sure that they are making your dish with the proper care.

Q: Do you feel more secure when eating out by having this device with you? 
A: Definitely! 

{São Paulo} Faz um tempo que eu queria testar o @galpao.da.pizza! Várias pessoas aqui tinham me pedido, pq eles têm um forno separado para as pizzas sem glúten, e tb fazem a massa em local separado pra não contaminar. Mas fica a dica: esse forno separado só funciona de sexta a domingo (não sei pq, alguém sabe?)! Ah, e a pizza sem glúten só tem em tamanho individual e tem alguns recheios específicos. Resolvi pedir em casa pra não correr o risco de eu me frustrar por lá e ficar sem ter o que comer no restaurante □ Usei o @rappibrasil pra pedir - uso muito esse aplicativo pra pedir coisas sem glúten em casa que não entregam na minha área ou que não tem serviço de delivery (meu código pra ter R$100,00 em frete grátis é elisa859832). Testei as duas pizzas, separadamente, e ambas deram certo! Pedi a de calabresa e a margherita. Confesso que, por eu morar muito longe, e ainda ter que testar, a pizza esfriou e acho que isso prejudicou minha experiência, rs, mas a massa estava boa, com sabor de pizza normal! Mas, agora que já testei e vi que é seguro, fiquei feliz de ter a possibilidade de um lugar bacana pra ir comer pizza □❤️ E vcs, alguém já foi lá? O que acharam? #nimatested #glutenfreepizza #glutenfreesp #pizzasemgluten #saopaulosemgluten

Una publicación compartida de Elisa - São Paulo and beyond (@glutenfreetrips) el 5 May, 2018 a las 7:12 PDT

{São Paulo} Continuando os trabalhos de Páscoa! Dessa vez, minha escolha de ovo de chocolate foi um dos mais falados quando perguntei que ovo sem glúten vcs iam comprar esse ano! Confesso que há uns 3 anos, ganhei um ovo de marshmallow da @chocolatesbrasilcacau e fiquei muito desapontada pq quase não tinha recheio, então nunca mais quis comprar. Pra minha surpresa, dessa vez tinha muitooooooo recheioooo! □ Sério, fiquei bem feliz! Acho um ótimo custo benefício (ainda mais na loja do Itaim que eu fui, onde na compra do primeiro ovo o segundo sai com 20% off). Pra quem tem um amigo ou parente celíaco que quer dar de presente, fica a dica, os sabores sem glúten com recheio são: doce de leite, marshmallow, morango, maracujá e brigadeiro❤️ E se vc quiser comprar pra vc mesmo, não julgo □□ #NimaTested #pascoasemgluten #glutenfree #chocolatesemgluten

Una publicación compartida de Elisa - São Paulo and beyond (@glutenfreetrips) el 26 Mar, 2018 a las 5:09 PDT

Q: What do the restaurants think when you bring this item with you? Have you ever encounter a negative response from them? 
A: 90% of the restaurants find it interesting and are super nice. The other 10% are very offended, especially when I get a gluten found. There was a place in Austin that insisted that the device was wrong and that the dish was gluten-free. Oh well, thank God it's only 10% of the time!

{Austin, Texas} Gente, não tá fácil comer gluten free aqui em Austin □ A cidade tem bastante menu escrito gluten free, mas na hora da contaminação cruzada, complica! Como eu tô na correria, tb não consigo sair muito de Downtown, então não ajuda. Esse post é pra falar de alguns restaurantes que eu testei e encontrei glúten: @geraldinesatx ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ @forthrightcafe ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ @via313 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ No primeiro eu fui bem maltratada pela gerente, ainda bem que não fui jantar, só pedi uma sobremesa que estava marcada como GF no cardápio mas claramente não era! Ela não me cobrou, mas disse que não importa o que o aparelho disse, a sobremesa não tinha glúten □ No segundo (foto acima!) eles foram bem fofos, me trouxeram uma sopa que depois eu testei e deu gluten free, mas não dá pra confiar né? Depois vi que o próprio pessoal do Nima testou duas vezes lá e tb deu glúten found. Já esse último me avisou que a chance de contaminação cruzada era altíssima, então não tinha muito o que fazer. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ Não tenho tirado fotos pq tá muito corrido, mas queria deixar registrado esses lugares caso alguém venha pra cá! Ah, e no hotel Hampton Inn não dá pra comer tb no café da manhã, só fruta e iogurte, mas comprei cereal e tb pãozinho sem glúten no mercado, e desço pro café da manhã com eles, rs. Depois vou fazer um post com os restaurantes que deram glúten free pelo Nima! □ #glutenfreeaustin #glutenfreetexas #austinglutenfree #nimatested #notsoglutenfree #glutenfreesxsw #sxswglutenfree

Una publicación compartida de Elisa - São Paulo and beyond (@glutenfreetrips) el 14 Mar, 2018 a las 4:44 PDT

{São Paulo} Vc sabia que o brownie do Outback não tem glúten? □ É só pedir a tabela de alergênicos pra conferir no restaurante que vc for, eu já testei com o Nima em SP e deu certo! Corre no stories que eu tô contando tudo do novo report do Nima sobre o restaurante mais querido dos happy hours, rs □ #nimatested #browniesemgluten

Una publicación compartida de Elisa - São Paulo and beyond (@glutenfreetrips) el 11 Abr, 2018 a las 5:49 PDT

Q: Do you have any upcoming trip in the planning? Are you excited for it? 
A: Yes! I have two. I have a convention in Anaheim, so I'm really excited about going to Disneyland after it ends (and maybe a few nights for dinner!). And I'm also going to Miami in August, I have started looking for gluten-free places, but it's been kind of hard so far - if anybody has any tips, I would love them!

Q: You are quite a globetrotter. Have you noticed any differences on gluten-free eating around the world and how restaurants cope with it?
A: I think the restaurants are different even in the same city. I've had great and terrible experiences in all cities I have been to, so I don't think it has to do with the country or city, but just people and the restaurants and how they will treat you.

Q: There are still many coeliacs that feel hesitant to eat out, or that feel discouraged to travel abroad because of the gluten-free diet (even more when there’s a foreign language and cuisine involved). What would you tell them to encourage them to keep a “normal” life; to eat out and don’t feel afraid to keep traveling? - Have you felt that way before?
A:  I am still kind of afraid of going to Asia. I would love to go to Japan, but I think I would have to have a big stock of Nima capsules with me! So yes, sometimes I STILL feel that way, but I will def get over it and go to Asia eventually! Instagram helps me a lot. Because there will always be a coeliac blogger willing to help, anywhere I go. Our community is so friendly and helpful, I love it! So even if you have a Nima, my advice is: rely on our community! Look for bloggers and instagrammers from that city, or that have been there recently, I am sure they will love to share their tips with you! :)
 

Photo: Gluten free Trips

Get to know a bit more about Elisa, the gluten-free traveler behind the Instagram account Gluten-free Trips

I'm Brazilian, I am 33.  I live in São Paulo, Brazil, with my husband and our two Australian shepherds (Belle and Ariel, you can tell I love Disney, lol). I love to eat, and I love to travel, so I try to combine both things on my insta! 

• Do you travel for business or leisure - both!
• A favourite food / cuisine - Pizza and Italian food!
• A destination that you really like: I love going to Orlando in the US, it's so easy to eat Gluten free there! Disney World Parks have the best procedures to avoid cross contamination and I just feel really normal, lol
• A place you want to go back - London! Stayed there for 7 days about 2 years ago and it was definitely not enough!
• A place you are not too keen to go back - I don't think I have one, I pretty much love going to new cities!

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​Overview

I hope you enjoyed this interview (as much as I had the pleasure to talk to Elisa and learn about her experiences) and served you as an example of why you should not limit yourself by your dietary restrictions. You can still enjoy your life and keep traveling all over the world (if that’s your call).  I think Elisa is a great example of it. I really like her perseverance and positive attitude towards her new situation. There’s always a learning curve at the beginning. I’ve been there, and I can tell you that then things get better, because you get to know how to take care of yourself.  
I will add a piece of advice, and that is to always put yourself first. While I don’t travel with a Nima sensor, I always do my research, so I know in advance what places I could go to. Also, always trust your gut. If you don’t feel confident about eating in that place, it’s ok to leave, because remember, in our case, food is really our medicine. I have been there and if I perceive that the staff is not very aware of what eating gluten-free really means (right ingredients, cross-contamination) I just don’t eat there and that’s ok. 
 
Also, as Elisa said, our community is very welcoming to help each other. One of the reasons that I created this blog is precisely to help YOU. Not only I have been traveling for a long time, but I’ve also lived in many countries around the world, so I really know what it feels to start from zero in a new place you know nothing about. 
 
Luckily, being a blogger has allowed me to meet people from all over the world and connect with them and I can tell you that our community is very open and welcoming to help. 
 
Now it’s your turn! What do you think about Elisa experience? Let me know in the comments how you felt after receiving the diagnose and whether now you feel more empowered to take control of your life and perhaps travel more or just eat out. 
 
Also, if you have any experience about traveling gluten-free in Asia, or you have recommendations for Miami, let us know in the comments. 
 
Do you have an interesting story to share with us? Let me know! I wanted to create this space for our community — The Glutenacious Community— to be open to include your stories and share your learnings with us. 
 
Be Glutenacious. 

Note: This is an interview for information purpose only. Glutenacious Life has no relation with Nima.