Dietary Restrictions
Eating in Europe is sightseeing for your tastebuds. Deciphering the menu is half the fun! But some travelers have special needs when it comes to food: vegan, diabetic, low-salt, gluten-sensitive, lactose-intolerant, nut and other allergies, etc. Any tips for those with special diet concerns in Europe?
- Please don't post questions here. Use our Travelers Helpline.
Gluten Free Prague, Krakow and Berlin
I just visited Prague, Krakow and Berlin on a Gluten Free diet. Again, I had little difficulty finding food to eat. Poland was quite easy lots of beans and meat and potato...I will admit that I did not venture out to eat in Prague, I stuck to grocery store finds. Rice cakes are readily available in all stores and I found that cream cheese and meat on a rice cake was a filling meal. I had a lot of fresh fruit and veggies and along with the snacks I brought from home and I was happy. Berlin was great...I love German food and find it easy to eat in Germany and stick to GF food. There is an amazing GF brand in Germany called Schar...such a treat! And available at all the health food stores (usually found in major train stations) and some products at supermarkets as well. Cheers!
Kristy
Tacoma, WA USA 11/03/2008
Vegan/Vegetarian in Italy
I just returned yesterday from Florence Italy and enjoyed the food very much. As a vegan because of food intolerance, I was concerned about finding enough places to eat - but it was easy! Tuscan soup, tomato everything and yes, even vegan pizza and fresh pasta with marinara (tomato) sauce! Enjoy. Here is one favorite outside Siena in Montalcino called Il Grappolo Blu - the owner was most accommodating!
Linda Z
Lynnwood, WA USA 10/08/2008
Vegetarian (possibly Vegan) restaurant in Prague
In Prague, Czech Republic, there is an awesome vegetarian "restaurant" (cafeteria style). If my memory serves me, I think it was vegan. Either way, the food was delicious, and I returned there everyday during my week in Prague. Later I met another American who was studying at the University, and she ate there everyday, even though she wasn't a vegetarian! I think they have 2 locations in Prague, one very close to the old town square. Here's the links:
Country Life - vegetariánská restaurace Melantrichova 15 (a street very near Old Town Square) http://www.countrylife.cz/index.php?id=120
Link on same page, describing location and hours. http://www.countrylife.cz/index.php?id=120
The Country Life company has organic health food stores, and other restaurants in Prague, and (I think) also in Brno. Review: http://www.expats.cz/prague/czech/prague-restaurants/countrylife/
Czech diet is very meat heavy, so this is a welcome and delicious alternative for those of us who don't eat meat.
Mary Ann <email>
San Antonio, TX USA 08/14/2008
Gluten Free Britain
Gluten-free Best of Britain May 2008
My 17 year-old celiac son and I found eating a delight on our tour. The meals included in the tour were at restaurants that stressed high quality fresh food and were not wheat based meals. A few substitutions made the meals gf and arrangements were handled beautifully by our guide, Roy. We found most servers knew what gf meant and were very helpful in finding out what was safe on the menu.
We found gf fish and chips in the Lake District at Windebrowe Chippy on Windebrowe Ave off Penrith Rd in a residential neighborhood about 15 min walk for our B & B. They serve gf on Tuesdays 11:45-1:30 and 4:30-8:30 and promise a website coming soon.In London on Leicester Square, the Mermaids Tail also served gf fish and chips available any time.
The Starbuck's, Costa coffee shops and the Cafe Ritazza chain all had at least one gf baked goodie available. Try the Starbuck's GF Belgian Chocolate cake we found in most Starbucks or the Summer Valencia Orange cake we had in Nottinghill.
Look for the FREE FROM aisle in the grocery stores:
Waitrose(Hexham and Bath) is the best grocery store source for gf breads and baked goods. We liked Dietary Specials Sweet Breakfast rolls and Multi-Seeded Rustic rolls. The Antoinette Savitt french rolls were also good and kept near the regular bread aisle instead of the free from shelf. We had picnic lunches using the rolls and local cheeses and salads from Marks and Spencer many days.
Tesco had good english muffins. Sainsburys in Edinburgh had a really tasty Double Chocolate cake.
Eat Natural Bars are gf fruit and nut bars for quick energy snacks. We found them in most free from aisles, at Boot's pharmacies,and the health food stores(Holland & Barrett in Victoria Station mall). For crisps(aka potato chips) Kettle Chips, Tyrell's and Piper's were all labeled for coeliacs. The Mark's and Spencers were not.
We bought a resusable shopping bag from Waitrose and carried our gf supplies with us on the bus to supplement picnic lunches, snacks and breakfasts.
Wagamama had a 7 page special diets menu that had one page all gf. We loved the Chicken Itame and ate at both the Tower location and the one near the British Museum.
Best experience was at the Fox Inn at Broadwell 30 minute walk from Stow-on-the-Wold. Carol is a celiac and has the best gf Chocolate Fudge Sponge with custard, not to mention many wonderful gf entree choices.
Another treat in the Cotswolds is the Cream Tea Room in Stow. Alison Johnson has freshly baked gf items daily in a pretty little tea room on Sheep St. There is also an organic food store across the street from the Old Stocks Hotel for snacks.
In Keswick, the West View is a very gf friendly B & B where gf bread is on hand for toast.
We found the food service people more knowledgable and the food more clearly labeled than home and the abundance of fresh salads and fruit, local cheeses and clearly marked deli meats in places like Marks and Spencer and Pret-a-manger made gf eating much easier than we are used to. The availablity of stuffed jacket potatoes also helps. Just be sure the baked beans are thickened with cornstarch(maize flour) and not wheat. We didn't find any, but were warned there are some out there. Also ask about shredded cheeses that might have wheat starch.
Being gluten free also meant we were shopping with the locals, interacting with store managers, restaurant managers, servers and finding them all interested, kind and willing to help: A great way to meet and talk to the locals. So don't stay home afraid of gf travel, get out there and eat!
Wendy <email>
Sugar Grove, Ohio USA 06/30/2008
VEGAN PIZZA
RE: Vegan in Italy. . .Cheeseless pizza is everywhere (pizza marinara) suggestion is
very intriquing. I have in recent years spent several months each year (My base is Freiburg im Breisgau and my son manages a Swiss company). No idea what marinaara is - but am checking it out.
Incidently the World Vegetarian Congress is scheduled for late July in Leipzig. Hope to be there if I can find a decent place to stay without spending a fortune. Visit http://www.ivu.org/
GERHARDT AKA GERY
Madison, WI and Freiburg im Breisgau
Gerhardt J. Steinke <email>
Madison, WI USA 05/17/2008
Vegetarian Florence, Paris
I am greatly enjoying Vegetus in Florence, via Del Leone 53/r, 055 214722. Not expensive, good food, and free wireless!
In Paris I found Le Portager du Marais, 22 rue Rambueau (near Pompidou). More of a nice place to have dinner than a cafe to hang out in though.
M. Richardson
las Cruces, NM USA 05/13/2008
Gluten Free Italy
I found that eating gluten free was easy in Italy, I did not get sick once in 10 days! There is good awareness of gluten in Italy so all I had to do was tell the wait staff that I would get sick and they helped me out. I also found that just about every place had some kind of roasted chicken and potato meal on the menu so I knew I couldn't go wrong with that! On a side note, there are gluten free restaurant cards in many languages available at http://www.celiactravel.com/restaurant-cards.html for free! I printed them and had them laminated and they have helped in all the languages I have printed them in!
Kristy
Tacoma, WA USA 05/07/2008
West London - A Veggie Delight!
A few pointers for meat-free travellers heading to London:
- MacDonald's in the UK usually sell veggie burgers as part of their standard menu
- The west London suburbs of Southall, Hounslow and Wembley (all easily accessible by train/metro/local bus) contain a wealth of pure vegetarian or veg-friendly Indian eateries with very reasonable prices
- Brick Lane in East London is known as 'Curry Mile'. A number of its establishments will cater for veggies
- Don't miss the all-day buffet (£6) at Govinda's restaurant at 9 Soho Street, just off Oxford St!
- Sikh temples all over the UK usually offer (ALL) visitors a hot vegetarian meal for free or for a very small donation. No preaching or attempts to convert you either! Cool!!
Happy dining:)
Surjit
London, England 04/23/2008
Re: Vegetarian/Vegan in Paris
Spent Thanksgiving 2007 in Paris with my wife. I highly recommend Happycow.com for finding veggie restaurants abroad, especially bigger cities. Paris can be extremely tough if you don't plan ahead, particularly with the heavy reliance on ham and cheese.
I can't say enough about the restaurant Le Potager du Marais in Paris. Wonderful food, great atmosphere, you will love it. We had our Thanksgiving meal at Le Grenier de Notre Dame which was also very nice.
Something I've started doing as a veggie/vegan traveller whenever possible is to base our hotel near veggie restaurants. Happycow lists the addresses, and you can just google that along with possible hotel addresses to get an idea of how close they are. Looking back, I would have done this in Paris instead of walking 45 minutes to any of the veggie restaurants or having to take 2 trains.
Kevin
Baltimore, MD USA 04/02/2008
Vego/Vegan in London & Berlin
I was just in London and read in a "Veggie & Organic London" book before I left about a chain of vegan Asian buffet restaurants run by Buddhists of some sort. Not only does this sound awesome, but it was! It was so, so wonderful to go to a restaurant and be able to eat every single thing they had to offer. The restaurants go by different names, and to be perfectly honest, I don't remember the name of the one I went to (it was on Oxford St. almost directly south of the British Museum). But they all have a sandwich-board advertising vegan Thai & Chinese food outside. I also grabbed snacks at Alara Wholefoods on Marchmont St. a few times because it was near my hostel.
Additionally, I thought I'd throw in that it is very easy to eat vegetarian (and probably vegan) here in Berlin! Berlin is home to many, many more East Asian and Turkish restaurants than German. So please don't let thoughts of wurst scare you. Can't speak for the rest of Germany, though.
Rosemary <email>
Berlin, 03/29/2008
Vegetarian food in Paris
It's very difficult to find vegetarian meals in Paris. Plan on eating a lot of salads, cheese and bread in restaurants--and dessert, of course.
Mary
New York, NY USA 03/23/2008
How much for a decent veggie meal?
How much does a decent vegetarian meal for two cost in Rome, Florence, Venice, Interlaken, Paris, Amsterdam and London?
Please include the currency you are talking about.
Brandon
San Diego, CA USA 02/17/2008
vegetarian & vegan option in Rome
delicious innovative vegetarian & vegan choices can be found at Il Margutta, close to the Spanish Steps, check out www.ilmargutta.it (I would definitely go back!)
Melissa
Annapolis, MD USA 12/05/2007
Indian Restaurants in Old Nice
If you are vegetarian and traveling in Nice, France...and perhaps are feeling secretly tired of cheese omelettes, salads, and crepes...maybe craving lentils?...there are two Indian restaurants in Old Nice that are both excellent, with many vegetarian options. Incidently, the waitstaff also were very friendly and spoke perfect English, making us feel a little sheepish as we stuggled with the French. Sorry to say we don't remember the names of the restaurants, but they were both very close to the Fennochio's Gelato in Old Town Nice...!
DCA
Seattle, WA USA 10/04/2007
Vegan in Slovakia
Vegan food is making inroads into carnivore country-Eastern Europe. The Hotel Secon in Humenne, Slovakia had vegan (soy based) foods available on the menu!
Jeff Komar <email>
Bothell, WA USA 09/27/2007
celiac restaurants in Ireland
I am taking a tour of Ireland this coming summer, and contacted the coeliac society of Ireland for a list of gluten-free restaurants. They were very accomodating, sent me an extensive list of restaurants and places to find gluten-free groceries. They can be contacted at:info@coeliac.ie
Mary LaRock <email>
West Lafayette, In. USA 09/13/2007
Gluten free Italy
I found it's quite easy to get GREAT gluten free food in Italy. Just visit the website of A.I.C. Associazione Italiana Celiachia, the Italian celiac association.
http://www.celiachia.it/
They have a list of restaurants that went through special training for making gluten free food. I only ate at these restaurants and never had any troubles. It was a real a pleasure eating in Italy - I had gluten free bread, gluten free pasta, even gluten free pie. It was simply awesome.
Celiac traveller
Washington, DC USA 07/16/2007
soya milk in Italy
Soya mik is easy to find now in Italy - I don't understand why the previous poster was unable to source it. I was in Italy last summer and found it not only in natural-food shops but also in supermarkets, especially the Co-op supermarkets that are very well stocked. I was mostly in Perugia this past time, but have also found it in Rome and elsewhere. It tastes fine, and is the same colour as soya milk elsewhere in Europe and North America.
I'm not vegan, but I'm lactose-intolerant, and was pleased to find that some geletarias now make soya, rice or other non dairy-based gelati.
lagatta
Montréal , Québec 06/08/2007
Vegan in Italy
I just returned from a fabulous 3 week holiday in Italy. Cheeseless pizza is everywhere (pizza marinara, though one place I requested it replied "We only have REAL pizza, with cheese", but what did they know? They were Pakistani. Suffice it to say, we didn't eat there because they were facecious (and their pizza was swimming with cheese). Anyway, so I ate alot of Pizza Marinara. The best pizza I had was the first night in Rome at a place called Pianetta Pizza. The pizza on my last full day in Rome last week was also pretty tasty because they used a wood burning oven. It was located sort of by the Vatican.
It is next to impossible to find tofu, soy sauce & soy milk. A friend of mine who lived in Italy for 3 years said that Italians tend to not like integrating food from other cultures into the mix, and this might explain why it is so hard to find these things. We saw only two chinese restaurants the whole time we were there.
I know soy milk exists there, because our veg B&B had it in Rome (as well as soy yogurt), but when we were in Tuscany, the grocery store (Ipercoop in Montevarchi) had some weird granulated soy lecithin-type stuff that claimed could be used as soy milk, but I could never get it to work for me. It tasted OK, but it was brown and had a funky texture to it so I just gave up after a couple of unsuccessful attempts. There is a cute little natural market in Lucca that had some breaded tofu patties and lots of organic fruits & veggies. The patties were OK, but given the opportunity to make my own from scratch, they probably would have tasted much better than the stuff from the freezer section.
If you have a villa or apartment and it is equipped with a blender (neither of the two we stayed in were), you can make your own dairy-free milk from water and either blanched (plain) almonds or raw cashews. I had orange juice on my corn flakes one morning, but it was kind of disgusting, so I gave up on cereal. It would have been nice if I could find something like Cream Of Wheat or Oatmeal since I never eat those with milk (just natural sugar or agave nectar), but the closest I came was polenta. I had that for breakfast on a couple of occasions, as well as a lot of potatoes, prepared in various ways (but not baked or broiled-our apartments didn't have ovens either)
If you are going to utilize grocery stores, be advised that they are always closed on Sundays and most of them close before 9 pm the rest of the week. We arrived late on Saturday night in Montevarchi on our way up to our villa in Montefianali and if we hadn't done some grocery shopping then, we would have had to survive on coffee with salt, pepper, basil, & hot pepper flakes for two days, as the Monday following Easter was also a holiday and practically everything was closed, including the grocery store. Some restaurants/cafes were open, but not many.
Some places, like Blue Gelateria near Trevi Fountain in Rome and a place I didn't get the name of in Sorrento offer soy & rice gelato. Sorbetti is available in some places, but it isn't always vegan, so you may want to ask. The typical sorbetto flavor is lemon, but some places also offer other fruit flavors such as strawberry, pineapple, & melon.
In Manarola in the Cinque Terre, there is a cute little place called Siamo Alla Frutta that offers fresh juices, fruit smoothies, and almond milk. They are only open between 9 am - 1 pm though and closed on Tuesdays. We never made it there to try it though as it was closed when we discovered it and we didn't make it back to Manarola while in Cinque Terre :(
Jen
SLC, UT USA 04/25/2007
vegan in Italy
Vegan in Italy... looks fairly easy based on Happy Cow - http://www.happycow.net/europe/italy/index.html
The only semi-problem city I see is Venice. Guess that is the place you'd have to ask for the cheeseless pizza and survive off of local fruits. There are vegan and vegetarian societies in Italy. http://www.viverevegan.org/
http://www.veganitalia.com/modules/news/
http://www.vegetariani.it/vegetariani/indices/15.html
This man created vegan cat food in Italy called AMI - http://www.ghezzo.org/articles.php?&artclCat=stop
http://www.veganriot.it/
Also Italy is ahead of the US in animal protection laws. In fact it is illegal in Italy to have goldfish in bowls (must be 10 gallon or more depending on size of fish) illegal to not walk your dog at least 3 times a day, illegal to display animals (dead or alive) in shop windows, illegal to kill or hurt healthy stray animals. Etc.. etc.. Yes, these are new laws. Passed in 2005.
K. Bothe
Kearneysville, WV USA 04/16/2007
Listing of vegetarian and vegan beers
Jen from SLC, mentioned the use of isinglass in beer and wine. I was not aware of this, so thanks for making a vegetarian beer lover aware! I did some checking about the use of isinglass in beer and came across this fantastic website with a compiled listing of non-vegetarian, vegetarian and vegan beers, with documentation to back up the findings. This website and its information was compiled by Geraint Paul Bevan, a research assistant and doctoral candidate at the University of Glasgow.
Here is the link: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/geraint.bevan/Vegetarian_beers.html
Thanks to Geraint Paul Bevan for the research! I hope this informs some fellow vegetarians and beer lovers!
Cody <email>
Oklahoma City, OK USA 04/02/2007
Milk Allergy
To start off with the last couple of posts have been helpful but I'm still going to throw this out there. Am allergic to casein so anything that was made with any dairy product is out. I'm planning on backpacking for a couple months this fall in Central Europe. Germany, Holland, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Switzerland, Austria and Slovakia. I've heard that meals in this region can be heavy on the dairy, true? I'm not a complete vegan, I eat Chicken but is eating vegan going to be my safest option? I only speak and read English and French so I won't be able to read all the food labels. I'm currently living in London so I know I can get by here, but am very nervous about my trip right now. Oh what about Portugal? Am heading there for a week in 2 weeks. Thanks for any information.
Melanie
London, UK 03/26/2007
Vegan in the UK & Italy
I traveled to the UK a few years ago and found it was fairly easy to find vegan food. London was a snap, because most everywhere you go has vegetarian options and a lot of those could easily be adapted to be vegan by just leaving out the dairy. In London, we ate at a place called The Texas Embassy. Though not vegetarian,they had vegetarian options and were able to accommodate my vegan needs. It's a Mexican restaurant (probably the only Mexican place in the entire country!)-it was next to all the other real embassies, kind of by the National Museum. Most of the convenience shops had premade food on the go, many offered hummus & falafel and crisps and things like that. We spent a week in Lancaster and there was an awesome vegetarian cafe called Whale Tail. I found it on www.vegdining.com. It wasn't in the most open area, so if you didn't know about it, you wouldn't have found it-we found it accidentally when we weren't actively looking for it. I think we ate there 4 or 5 times because we knew we could get vegan food there.It is a combination health food store & restaurant, with the restaurant upstairs. There is a really fantastic health food store over by the train stop closest to Kew Gardens.We didn't get in to see the gardens (got there too late & they were closed).I don't remember what it was called, but next time we go to London, we will definitely go back. One thing that I loved about the UK is that things that aren't vegan in the US are vegan there, like Starburst & Skittles. In the US, both contain gelatin. In the UK, they don't-pectin replaces the gelatin and therefore is vegan. Because of the Mad Cow scare there, I guess they took out animal-derived ingredients and replaced them with vegetable based ones wherever they could.
We are going to Italy in a few weeks and being vegan, I was concerned because people have been telling me that vegetarianism (particularly veganism) hasn't really caught on in Italy. Vegetarianism is considered strange, but they will try to accommodate you the best they can. It is getting better though. You should also be aware that often times, Italians don't consider broths and pancetta and other cured meats to be meat, so you have to be very specific about dietary restrictions when ordering. If you are going to Rome, there is a vegetarian B&B there, http://www.bedandbreakfastbio.com/en/servizi.asp & has fairly reasonable rates (60 euro a night in March, 70 for April for a double room).They can do vegan there too. There is another vegetarian B&B about an hour east of Rome, but they charge 20% extra to make something vegan for you (so we areen't staying there-I can understand charging more to add extra stuff, but you shouldn't have to pay extra to leave something off).
I found both by doing a Google search and typing in "vegan Italy". I found there is a gelateria near Trevvi Fountain called Blu Gelato and they have soy gelato avialble. I read that many places will offer sorbets and soy gelato too.I do plan to seek out health food stores and markets while in more remote places in Italy where they are unlikely to have a good selection of vegan options (or even understand what vegan is).I have been taking italian lessons and am studying food words in particular so I can explain better about dietary restrictions and not get too frustrated.
Good luck!
Jen
SLC, UT USA 03/03/2007
Vegan awareness
Watch out for Guinness and other alcoholic beverages. Because alcoholic beverages are not required to list their ingredients, something innocent like beer or wine may throw unaware vegan traveler's into a spin. Guinness contains isinglass, derived from fish swim bladders. Isinglass is used as a clearing agent in both beer & some wine.
Organic wines are generally OK, but check with your server and/or merchant/manufacturer.
Jen
SLC, UT USA 03/03/2007
vegan in Ireland
i will be traveling to Ireland for a spring break trip scheduled during a class i am taking. most of the meals will be set up by the tour guide we are going through (EF tours) but we are on our own for lunch. here is the problem, i am vegan for moral and health reasons. is there anything special i should watch out for while in Ireland? do they try to sneak animal products into everything like in the U.S.? are there any other vegans that have been to Ireland that would like to give me some advice about eating in Ireland as a vegan?
Codie W. <email>
New Concord, OH USA 02/02/2007
Vegetarian and Dairy Free in London
London has many wonderful ethnic restaurants that serve outstanding vegetarian and dairy-free foods. I personally enjoy Indian and Pakistani cuisine. There is also a chain of noodle shops that offer outstanding meatless meals. Ethnic is your best bet as a vegetarian since many classic English dishes do feature meat or fish. Ethnic restaurants also offer good values if you are on a budget. I am also lactose-intolerant. I find it helpful to pack tablets just in case I do want to enjoy ice cream or other dairy food.
Mary Ann Rondinella
Littleton, CO USA 01/17/2007
A Vegitarian and Lactard Walk into (a London) bar
Hi there --
My niece and I are going to London this Spring. She's a vegetarian and I'm a lactard (lactose intolerant). Could anyone share a couple of restaurants and "health food" stores we can utilize? It would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Rachel <email>
TACOMA, WA USA 01/04/2007
Vegan eating on the road
As a vegan for health reasons (no more high cholesterol or high blood pressure now) and a constant traveler, I have found that there is a huge difference in the content of European foods from American foods. When I eat American dairy products, I start having hot flashes (which ended a few years ago). There are just so many hormones in our dairy products. But I have found that if I am simply open and humble, but not too apologetic, at any restaurant in the world, the cooks/chefs are more than willing to help me out. This has opened more "back doors" for me than even my great personality! (That is said tongue-in-cheek.)
Just don't let dietary restrictions stop you from traveling. There is usually a work-around for any situation. At the worst, you might return a few pounds lighter! The best tip I found is learn as much about my condition so I know just what my options are and get on-line and find the veggie restaurant sites. Restaurants the world over are listed.
I just hope you are encouraged to keep traveling!
Jo
Las Vegas, NV USA 12/01/2006
Epi-Pen
Anything with a perscription is allowed. Just make sure you have a perscription sticker on it.
Elizabeth <email>
Seattle, WA USA 11/25/2006
Carrying Epi-pen for Allergies
My son is very allergic to peanuts and we are travelling to Europe. Does anyone know if there are restrictions for carrying an epi-pen with us?
Charles
Seattle, WA USA 11/25/2006
To Sara
Europeans live a true organic lifestyle, whereas here in the US, we have every chemical & additive known to man put in our foods & body care items!! I recently began living an organic lifestyle (due to many ailments that I had), & I am happy to report they are now all gone!! I'm 99% confident that is the reason for your differences in Europe vs. here.
Be forewarned though, going "organic" is big business for companies these days (which was the problem to begin with!), so just b/c something SAYS organic doesn't mean it is. The FDA decided NOT to validate any claims that are made when it comes to health & beauty aids. They are supposed to for foods, but if you know anything about the way our gov't works, you'll know that's not very reassuring! If you need any suggestions for products, feel free to e-mail me.
Aquarius11 <email>
Yardley, PA USA 10/17/2006
food
I have high blood pressure and type 2 Diabetes. I take medications to control both and test my blood twice a day. When I was in Rome in 2003, I had no food problems- just ate normally. In Ireland this past August (2006), I ate chicken and fish- had a veal burger in Belfast at McHugh's Pub and Grill (excellent) and both were really good. Also, I walked alot and had full Irish breakfasts, very little at lunch and great dinners.
Marge <email>
Milwaukee, Wi. USA 10/13/2006
See a good allergist. You may be alergic to the antibiotics or be reacting to hormones that many American cattlemen and dairy farmers give their cows!
USA 09/03/2006
No problems with meat and diary
OMG. I found out while in Switzerland that I am not lactose intolerant.
In fact, I never got sick once while there eating everything I usually can't eat in the US. One night I had cheese fondue, cream in my tea and some whipped cream with dessert and no problem ever ! I miss it so much and I started getting sick again as soon as I returned home. I am trying to figure out the difference between here and there. If anyone knows what happened,
please let me know !!! (I also have problems with meat and there was also no problem over there and I ate every kind of meat.)
Sara <email>
USA 09/02/2006
Food Allergy Translation Cards
Food Allergy Translation Cards are a proven effective tool for traveling with food allergies or other special diets (gluten free cards, vegetarian cards etc.) Through my own first hand allergy experiences while traveling, I've realized the importance of communicating my life threatening allergies at restaurants as well as grocery stores.
Allergy Translation allows you to make your own customized credit-card sized dining card in minutes, plus you can print unlimited copies.
Take a look before your next trip at www.allergytranslation.com
Kyle Dine
Kingston, Canada 08/30/2006
Gastric bypass
Thanks Jeff and Kelly. Those were exactly what I was looking for. Now I just need to find out how to say it in French! I actually went out for Chinese food the other night, here in Seattle. I got a combination meal, only because I wanted to eat a little bit of everything that was on it, and my partner, Sherry, did not want the smae meal I did. I also knew I could take it home for my lunch the next day. I ate my soup, my 4 small pieces of bbq pork and then could only eat a small amount of my black bean chicken. When the server came back (she is also a cook), she asked if I didn't like my food, and if she could make me something else, instead. I had to explain to her about the surgery, so it even happens here in Seattle! People are very surprised, I think, to see someone my size eat so very little.Thanks for your help!
Elizabeth <email>
Seattle, WA USA 08/26/2006
Gastric Bypass - explaining it in German
Hi Elizabeth, I have Crohn's disease and have had to explain my digestive problems guite frequently since we moved to southern Germany 2.5 years ago. Germans tend to put descriptions of medical conditions into simple terms. They call a surgery an "O.P." so to explain that you can't eat much due to a recent stomach surgery you could say "Ich kann nicht viel essen weil ich ein Magen O.P. vor kurzem gehapt habe" or if you don't want to spend a long time explaining it to a stranger simply say "Ich habe ein Magen O.P. gehapt". It is true that Germans want to make sure you get enough to eat but you definitly do not have to worry about them being insulted because you do not eat much (especially if you have made an attempt to explain). Viel Spass in Deutschland!
Jeff <email>
Augsburg, Germany 08/26/2006
Gastric Bypass
Elizabeth- Would simply stating that due to a medical condition, or that under doctors orders, you're not to eat more than a certain amount at one time. Don't know if that'll help, just kicking ideas around.
Kelly
Plano, Tx USA 08/24/2006
food restrictions
we recently returned from Spain, France, Italy and Germany with our two children, ages 11 and 13. Both our children are allergic to all nuts. We presented "allergy warning" cards in every restaurant and there were many times that we could not eat a particular food. Peanut oil is commonly used to fry. we did not eat street food. the allergy cards were imperative. we tried to read labels as much as possible.
nikki kagan <email>
winnipeg, winnip canada 08/20/2006
Kelly..Thanks regarding Gastric Bypass
Hey Kelly...Thanks! I am very worried about insulting anyone by not eating much. I am of German descent, which is one of the reasons I have weight issues to begin with! It is expected that you eat a substantial meal. I had thought about the card trick, however, I just don't know how to explain gastric bypass in German or French. I can speak German, and my partner is taking a French class this fall. Thanks so much!
Elizabeth <email>
Seattle, WA USA 08/17/2006
Elizabeth - Gastric Bypass
I guess not too many people think of your situation. If your going to countries where English is widely spoken, I'd say politely explain that due to a previous surgery, you cannot eat a lot of food at once and that you'd like to share a meal. Or, have your requests written out on a card in the local language. This, I would think would be better appreciated (or at least tolerated) than ordering 2 meals and leaving quite a bit of food behind- the waitstaff may take the latter as an insult to the food. Also, beware- many hotels or B&B's with breakfast included serve a mainly carbohydrate breakfast, and if you want to add a protein source, such as eggs or meat, they'll charge you extra. At least that's been my experience.
Kelly <email>
Plano, Tx USA 08/16/2006
London vegetarian food
For vegetarian food in London my first choice is the World Food Cafe in Neal's Yard (nearest tube: Covent Garden).
Here's a description: "World Food Cafe serves Korean meals, Egyptian falafel, salads, guacamole, corn chips, maize and several vegetarian and vegan dishes. They operate a non smoking policy and despite them not serving alcohol, you are welcome to bring your own."
Andy Knoedler <email>
Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia 08/15/2006
water/vegetarianism in london
I am a vegetarian and will be spending the fall in London. Any good ideas on places to eat cheaply?
Also, does anyone know if water fountains are plentiful in the city? Is the water safe to drink?
Ashley <email>
Denver, CO USA 08/02/2006
Gastric Bypass in Europe
Well, I read the entire forum and not one person asked about Gastric Bypass and travel in Europe! Some Gastric Bypass folks can't eat sugar, but I am not one of them. I get a little bit "off" when I eat sugar, but I don't get "sick" like some others do. I can eat bread, but then I won't be able to eat anything else if I eat a piece of bread! I am going to Europe in December for the first time, and my concern is not the food itself, or what kinds of food, but being able to express to folks that I like the food, despite not being able to eat more than a couple of bites. Also I want to know if servers/restaurants will be ok with my partner and I "sharing" a meal, because it would be a waste to order 2 meals. I just had surgery in May, and still have a lot of weight to lose before the trip. Any feedback would be greatly apprectiated.
Elizabeth <email>
Seattle, WA USA 07/26/2006
Natural/Health food in rue Cler
We're going to Paris in November and we'll be staying in an apartment near the rue Cler area Does anyone know of a fabulous health food store located in this area? We'd prefer a large selection!
Laurie <email>
Seattle, WA USA 07/22/2006
As a vegetarian with food pretty low on the priority list and strapped for cash most days, I ended up eating absolutely nothing but falafal for lunch and dinner for four days in a row. I then proceeded to be violently sick for the next two days, one of which was spent on a plane. Learn from my mistake. I thought Id forego nutrition to pay the entry fee at a museum. Instead, I ended up missing all of Madrid sleeping on a park bench with a blanket wrapped around me like a homeless person
USA 07/13/2006
Kosher food in Italy
Being an Orthodox Jew poses many restrictions on what we can and cannot eat. You really need to be careful when traveling in Italy because there is no Glatt supervision. Italian jews have their own supervision. I recently found out that in Rome we could not eat the meat at any of the kosher restaurants because it did not hold up to the strictest supervisions. You could however eat the chicken, fish and pasta and if you hold by Chalav Yisroel you need to ask before assuming that the cheese on your food is exactly that. I did find a strictly kosher restaurant in Venice called Gam Gam in the Jewish ghetto where the Rabbi checks the Shochet and imports the meat from Milan. In Florence, Ruth's was a great dairy/vegitarian
restaurant. They also opened up a Kosher Mc Donalds in the jewish Ghetto of Rome. Again you can eat the chicken, fish and french fries but not the beef items.
Sari Shamah <email>
Oakhurst, NJ USA 07/04/2006
Fish allergies/Scandinavia
Responding to May 30 "Fish allergy/ Scandinavia" note. Yes, there are, not tricks, but culinary patterns in Scandinavia that include fish in many dishes: Janssons, the delicious potatoes au gratin, includes Swedish anchovies; the meatballs may contain anchovy juice, etc. Unless you eat no composite foods and stick to meat, vegetables, boiled potatoes, eggs, etc., you would do well to let the waiter or host know of your allergy.
Mai Patterson
Chatham, NJ USA 07/03/2006
Food allergies
There's a food glossary at http://www.patriciawells.com/glossary/atoz/atoz.htm
that gives detailed descriptions of French food items, which might help some with figuring out which French foods to avoid. And if you want to make your own allergy cards, go to a Google home page, click on "language tools" over to the right of the search entry bar, and type out your message, get it translated.
My problem is sea salt. I'm allergic to shellfish, and it seems that sea salt has microscopic shellfish in it (some more than others) which causes a reaction even if I avoid shellfish. And EVERYONE seems to be cooking with sea salt now, aaaargghh. So I have my cards ready, along with my appetite for some yummy French cuisine, sans sel de mer.
Karen <email>
Austin, TX USA 06/01/2006
Fish allergy and/or vegetarian in scandinavia
I have a serious fish allergy, and will be traveling in Scandinavia this summer. I took an idea from here and am making up cards in all the appropriate languages to explain my allergy. But does anyone know if there is anything "tricky" I should look out for (in N. America, Worcestershire sauce and Caesar Salad dressing are hidden sources of fish, in some cuisines a fish sauce is used like soy sauce, etc.)?
Vegetarian restaurant recommendations would also be appreciated.
USA 05/30/2006
How to limit weight gain or even loose weight
Walk alot! That will help. I also drink LOTS of water. have a large glass of water before each meal and you will eat less. It also "flushes" your system and makes your digestive track work better. Eat small samples of those wonderful dishes- share with a friend.
USA 04/18/2006
Gluten-Free (Coeliac Disease)
I have coeliac disease and can't eat any gluten (wheat, oats, barley, malt and derivatives). In my travels I have found it very difficult to find appropriate GF breakfast, lunch & snack food. Dinner is usually a breeze. Here are my tips:
1. Pack some food supplies such as: GF breakfast bars, dried fruit & nuts, rice/corn cakes, GF breakfast cereal, GF bread. Fruit, milk, coffee are often provided at hostels for breakfast but no GF bread and hence no energy for the day ahead. This does add to your pack weight but you will be grateful to have it when everyone else is eating and you have to starve.
2. Obtain allergy information cards in different languages (from your local Coeliac society)and use them - embarrassing but better than getting sick. Remember, your travel insurance may not cover coeliac disease. Learn how to communicate your special needs in the foreign language and to express your gratitude for their assistance. Get your travel companion(s) to learn this too because they can help (if you are exhausted or don't speak the language as well).
3. Contact the coeliac society in the countries you are visiting for advice such as where to find GF friendly restaurants and supermarkets that stock GF products. Some coeliac societies also provide specific country-specific travel advice including GF product and company names.
4. Research - know what local dishes are GF. Your guidebook may often have a summary about popular dishes and explain what they are. Learn ingredient names in the foreign language. Use the internet to research further what ingredients constitute that dish. This was the most useful thing I do to survive (and not get sick) when I am travelling.
Good luck!
Nic
Brisbane, QLD Australia 03/21/2006
Coping
I am isulin resistant and take the same pills that type 2 diabetics do. I go to a local grocery store a pick up a small pack of local crackers to keep with me as well as some hard candies. If my sugar drops ( this is my problem, rather than high sugar) I can snack quickly without having to look for a store. It also gives me a chance to see what's available in the store and scope out potential items for later. I also make sure to eat high quality protien with each meal. That helps avoid spikes and dips in my sugar.
USA 03/11/2006
no milk for me
I am very very lactose intollerant and I am going Italy in a few days. Does anyone have any comments or advice anything would be a great help.
Joe <email>
Seattle, wa USA 02/26/2006
Cards are a great idea!!
My husband has a life threatening allergy to mushrooms and it is sometimes hard to get the severity of the matter across to the food server. For example, while traveling in Germany we(in German)made it very clear he could not have mushrooms. His steak still arrived covered in mushrooms and when we said he could not eat it the server said,"but these are WILD mushrooms!" I think having the laminated card with every variation of the food listed might drive home the importance.
Lori Booth <email>
San Diego, CA USA 02/21/2006
Diabetic
I am Type 2 diabetic, (on pills, not shots). I'll be in Italy and Amsterdam for 2 weeks in April (first time).
I'd appreciate any advice or hints from anyone who has coped with this while travelling abroad. Thanks very much!
Margaret
USA 02/18/2006
Make your own menu cards
Make your own menu cards using translation capability at http://babelfish.altavista.com/
David <email>
Albuquerque, NM USA 01/25/2006