Q & A with Equal Eats: Making Gluten-Free Travel Easier, One Card at a Time
- nwheeler01
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
I recently had the opportunity to interview Kyle Dine, the founder of Equal Eats. Kyle grew up managing multiple food allergies, and while food allergies and celiac disease are very different, the stress and planning required to travel safely are similar. Traveling with food restrictions often means hours of research, careful preparation, and constant communication. This is exactly where Equal Eats comes in.
Kyle understands these challenges firsthand. His own experiences navigating the world with food allergies are what ultimately inspired him to create Equal Eats, a tool designed to help people clearly communicate their dietary needs across languages and cultures.
Kyle lives with several food allergies, including egg, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, and mustard.
What inspired Kyle to start Equal Eats?
Kyle shared that for much of his early life, he considered himself a homebody and felt overwhelmed by the idea of traveling. While attending university, he applied for an academic exchange program. Once he was accepted and arrived overseas, he realized he was “in over his head.”
This prompted him to work on a project during his senior year to help communicate food allergy needs more clearly while traveling. That project eventually became what we now know as Equal Eats.
What helped you make the leap to travel Europe in your 20's?
Kyle explained that he simply wanted "to roam and see the world." He applied to study in England, Ireland, and Sweden, believing English-speaking countries would be easier to navigate. Sweden ended up being a last-minute choice, and the one that accepted him.
He spent six months living in Sweden, learning firsthand how challenging it could be to find safe food and communicate his needs. Those experiences deeply shaped his understanding of what travelers with food restrictions truly need.
How did you find traveling with food allergies?
“It was difficult,” Kyle shared. Even with preparation, navigating meals abroad required constant vigilance and communication. Every dining experience came with added stress and uncertainty.
Are some places easier to eat in than Canada?
“Yes, definitely,” Kyle explained. He finds that many countries in the European Union are easier to navigate. The EU has strict food labeling laws, requiring restaurants to clearly list the top 14 allergens on menus. While this doesn’t eliminate the risk of cross-contact, it does make identifying safer options much easier.
What are your top 3–4 places to travel and why?
Kyle explained that he doesn’t travel for the food, something many of us in the gluten-free and food allergy communities can relate to. Being a “foodie” is nearly impossible when food safety is always the priority.
Some of his favorite destinations include Nashville, where his love of music shines, as well as the U.K., Budapest, Vienna, and Zagreb.
What advice do you have for others with food restrictions?
Kyle’s top advice is simple but powerful: start small. Begin with trips that feel manageable and gradually expand your comfort zone as your confidence grows.
Can you tell me more about the allergy education program you did for kids?
Before COVID, Kyle spent five to six months each year touring North America, visiting more than 1,000 schools. Through music and puppet performances, he taught children about food allergies in a way that was engaging, educational, and empowering.
Final Thoughts
What stood out to me most from my conversation with Kyle was how much our experiences overlap. While food allergies and celiac disease are medically different, the daily challenges, and especially the travel concerns, are remarkably similar. So much of life revolves around food, and a diagnosis changes how you move through the world.
Like Kyle, I was also hesitant to travel after my diagnosis, constantly worried about getting sick. But eventually, just like him, my desire to explore the world became stronger than the fear. Thankfully, I had Equal Eats to support me along the way. Kyle’s company helps travelers clearly communicate food allergies and celiac disease in multiple languages — including explaining the risks of cross-contact — making travel safer and more accessible for so many of us. If you’re traveling to a country where you don’t speak the language, I highly recommend bringing an Equal Eats card with you!
Do you like this post? You may also enjoy Gluten-Free International Travel, How to Plan the Perfect Gluten-Free Vacation, Gluten-Free Getaways: Exploring the World through Gastro-Celiac Tourism, and Beyond Borders: 5 Tips to Navigate International Travel with Celiac Disease. For more gluten-free travel advice, subscribe to my blog and follow me on Instagram and Facebook for tips, restaurant finds, and real-life travel experiences.
Comments