Traveling to France with Celiac Disease: A Gluten-Free Guide

Celiac.com 07/08/2023 - France is known for its delicious cuisine, from croissants to crème brûlée. However, for people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance, traveling to France may seem like a daunting task. But fear not, with proper planning and preparation, gluten-free travel in France can be an enjoyable and stress-free experience.

Booking a Gluten-Free Meal on Your Flight

Many major airlines, including Lufthansa, United, American, and Delta, offer gluten-free meal options on their flights. When booking your flight, be sure to request a gluten-free meal in advance. It is important to confirm this request with the airline a few days before the flight to avoid any last-minute surprises.

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I highly recommend packing gluten-free sandwiches and bars during your flight, and during your entire trip. It's always best to be safe instead of sorry, and in my experience the times I ended up sorry were when I got too hungry, usually while traveling.

Booking Gluten-Friendly Hotels and Vacation Rentals in France

When booking accommodations in France, it is important to do your research and find hotels or vacation rentals that cater to gluten-free travelers. Using travel apps like Booking.com, Expedia, and TripAdvisor, you can search for hotels and rentals that offer gluten-free options. Many hotels offer gluten-free breakfast options, and some may even provide gluten-free snacks or meals upon request.

When booking a hotel in France, it's important to call ahead and ask about their gluten-free breakfast options. While many hotels offer gluten-free options, it's always best to confirm in advance to avoid any disappointment or inconvenience during your stay. Additionally, some hotels may be willing to cater to your dietary needs and provide gluten-free snacks or meals upon request. Taking the time to research and communicate your gluten-free needs can help ensure a comfortable and stress-free stay in France.

Hotel Breakfast Buffet. Image: CC BY-SA 2.0--opera.cadet

The Advantages of Staying in Vacation Rentals vs. Hotels

Staying in a vacation rental can provide more flexibility and options for gluten-free travelers. Vacation rentals often come equipped with a kitchen, allowing you to prepare your own meals and ensure they are gluten-free. Popular vacation rental apps like Booking.com, Airbnb, Vrbo, and HomeToGo offer filters to help you find rentals with a kitchen and other amenities that cater to gluten-free travelers.

How to Eat Gluten-Free in French Restaurants

When dining out in France, it is important to communicate your gluten-free needs to the waiter or restaurant staff. Many restaurants in France offer gluten-free options, but it is important to ask about cross-contamination and ensure that your meal is prepared in a gluten-free environment. Apps and like Yelp and TripAdvisor can help you find restaurants that cater to the gluten-free crowd, and you can read reviews that are written by other gluten-free travelers.

To help communicate your needs, consider carrying a basic gluten-free restaurant card written in French that explains your dietary restrictions (we recommend keeping it simple).

Gluten-Free Restaurant Card in French:

Quote

Bonjour, Je souffre d'une maladie grave appelée la maladie cœliaque, et je ne peux pas manger quoi que ce soit qui contient du gluten. Le gluten est une protéine que l'on trouve dans le blé, l'orge et le seigle. Cela signifie que je ne peux pas manger de pain, de pâtes, de gâteaux, ou quoi que ce soit fait avec de la farine de blé. Même de petites quantités de gluten peuvent me rendre très malade.

S'il vous plaît, aidez-moi à rester en sécurité en veillant à ce que mon repas soit complètement sans gluten. Cela signifie de ne pas utiliser de farine de blé ou d'autres ingrédients contenant du gluten, y compris les sauces, les soupes et les vinaigrettes. Merci de votre compréhension et de votre coopération.

Gluten-Free Restaurant Card Translated into English:

Quote

Hello, I suffer from a serious condition called celiac disease, and I cannot eat anything that contains gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. This means I cannot eat bread, pasta, cakes, or anything made with wheat flour. Even small amounts of gluten can make me very sick.

Please help me stay safe by ensuring that my meal is completely gluten-free. This means not using any wheat flour or other gluten-containing ingredients, including sauces, soups, and dressings. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

French Restaurants are not world famous for their ability to cater to those with gluten-free requirements, so a great fallback is to find a Vietnamese or Turkish kebab restaurant, as they offer many naturally gluten-free options, but be sure to use your restaurant card and speak to the staff about your needs. Both of these options can be found in most medium to large sized towns and cities throughout France.

A French Bistro. Image: CC BY 2.0--awsheffield

Finding Gluten-Free Foods in Grocery Stores

French supermarkets like Leclerc, Carrefour, Les Mousquetaires, Système U, Auchan, Casino, Lidl, Cora, Metro, and Aldi offer a variety of gluten-free products, including popular French gluten-free food brands like:

• Valpiform
• Gerblé
• Céliane
• Schär
• Bjorg
• Jardin Bio
• La Vie Claire
• Gerblé Sans Gluten
• Le Pain des Fleurs
• Priméal.

Use search engines like Google and Bing to find the nearest supermarket that offers gluten-free products. Each of these supermarkets, hypermarkets, or discount stores offer a wide range of food and grocery products and each of these companies has its own network of stores and may have different store formats and offerings based on their business models.

Lidl Supermarket. Image: CC BY-SA 2.0--Billy McCrorie

The Importance of Packing Gluten-Free Snacks and Sandwiches While Traveling

As mentioned, it is very important to pack gluten-free snacks and sandwiches when traveling in case you cannot find gluten-free options on the go. This is especially important when traveling by train, bus, ferry/boat, plane or car. Popular gluten-free snacks and sandwich options include rice cakes, nuts, fruit, and gluten-free bread with fillings like cheese or meat.

In conclusion, gluten-free travel in France requires proper planning and preparation, but it can be a fun and enjoyable experience. Use travel apps like Booking.com, Expedia, and Tripadvisor to find gluten-friendly hotels and rentals, communicate your dietary needs when dining out, and pack gluten-free snacks for your travels. Bon voyage!