Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Eating Out Overseas

Deano12

By Deano12
in Gluten-Free Restaurants

Recommended Posts

Deano12 Rookie
Deano12
Posted

I have just been diagnosed with celiac disease a few weeks ago and i have just started a gluten free diet. I am about to go overseas to Europe for a holiday and i am a little nervous about eating out. i just wanted to know which places are more suitable for a gluten free diet. i get the feeling that Italian foods will not be the go because of pizzas and pasta. but what about thai? indian? Chinese? Japanese? Korean? etc.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


kenlove Rising Star
kenlove
Posted

I spend 3 to 5 months overseas and never had a problem, in fact its often easier for me than eating out near my house.  You can always find a CHinese or Thai or Greek or INdian place.  If your in Italy, its easy too as there are many places rated by their celiac association. 

Korean is tough as soy sauce is on everything.  Chinese and Thai usually i just get steamed veggies and tofu.  In INdian places, anything from the Veg menu shoudlbe good but just be clear they understand no flour from wheat.  For5 example you can usually get pekora which is chick pea or chana besam flour but samosa is wheat flour.  Palak or saag the spinach dishes,  dal,  aloo gobi and vindaloo have always been ok for me as is the  briyani rice dishes.  somepalce  throw naan on top so you have to make so no naan.  What countries are you going too?

 

I have just been diagnosed with celiac disease a few weeks ago and i have just started a gluten free diet. I am about to go overseas to Europe for a holiday and i am a little nervous about eating out. i just wanted to know which places are more suitable for a gluten free diet. i get the feeling that Italian foods will not be the go because of pizzas and pasta. but what about thai? indian? Chinese? Japanese? Korean? etc.

Deano12 Rookie
Deano12
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for the reply. Im going to UK, Croatia, Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Germany, Prague, Spain, Greek Islands

kenlove Rising Star
kenlove
Posted

Germany, Spain, Greek Islands were never a problem for me.  France and the Uk I only  had salads which not all that good so I usually found a Chinese or greek place. Only  changed planes in the Netherlands  although my brother lived there for 4 years.  Croatia should kbe ok. Never been there but I learned the language and did a story on immigrants in Chicago. Had great massive picnics there with all the Croatians there. I'm looking forward to  Sounds like a great  trip. I'll be in Prague next year so I'm looking forwrd to what you find there.

ken

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

I am in the UK this very minute. My B&B caters to celiacs in Bath. I travel with toaster bags and purchase bread on my own. We have found a few G f restaurants on the internet. Purchased food at grocery stores like TESCO and Sainburys to picnic in parks or in our room. Travel with a collapsible mini cooler. We are going on Baltic cruise, but I plan on hitting the grocery stores at the ports as a back-up. I also printed off celiac awareness cards in many languages. Search the internet for those.

I think you will do just fine. Enjoy!

  • 2 weeks later...
Anna-2 Newbie
Anna-2
Posted

Since you're covering so many countries and so many languages, make sure you bring celiac dining cards with you. Show the card in the appropriate language to your server and ask whether they can accommodate you. Try to eat simpler foods. Fresh fruit, steamed veggies, roasted meats. Try to avoid sauces with indecipherable ingredients. Have fun and enjoy!

  • 1 month later...
amber Explorer
amber
Posted

Italy is in fact great for gluten free.  There is very good awareness of celiac disease there as they have the highest rate in the world.  We had no problem there.  Greece will be fine too as  a lot of the food is naturally gluten free.  The UK should not be a problem as awareness is quite good there also.  Also Spain was pretty good too.  Can't comment on the others though.     Come to Australia or New Zealand if you want the easiest places a celiac to eat.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


love2travel Mentor
love2travel
Posted

I live in CroatIia and while it is a gourmand's dream, if you get off the beaten path, be prepared for blank stares. But most are great at accommodating as there are often naturally gluten-free options. Clarify cross contamination issues. Thankfully, you can easily find grilling places. Do eat in konobas, not restaurants, for charm and traditional food. Frequent fresh fish eateries. Risottos are glorious and everywhere I know uses homemade stocks. Do use the restaurant card in Croatian...it is very important here.

If looking for gluten-free products, try DM stores which have a small gluten-free section. Some grocery stores do as well. Gluten-free products are severely lacking but it is better than even just a year ago.

France is much easier than Croatia, as is Italy, as mentioned. I have not been to the UK or Germany since my diagnosis so cannot offer personal reccommendations. But Croatia is the most beautiful! :)

Enjoy your adventure!

kenlove Rising Star
kenlove
Posted

Never  realized you lived in Croatia

Pozdrav, hvala vrlo velik dio za svoj ​​post. Nadam se da posjetite sljedeće godine. Ima li kakvih Veganski opcija?

ken

I live in CroatIia and while it is a gourmand's dream, if you get off the beaten path, be prepared for blank stares. But most are great at accommodating as there are often naturally gluten-free options. Clarify cross contamination issues. Thankfully, you can easily find grilling places. Do eat in konobas, not restaurants, for charm and traditional food. Frequent fresh fish eateries. Risottos are glorious and everywhere I know uses homemade stocks. Do use the restaurant card in Croatian...it is very important here.

If looking for gluten-free products, try DM stores which have a small gluten-free section. Some grocery stores do as well. Gluten-free products are severely lacking but it is better than even just a year ago.

France is much easier than Croatia, as is Italy, as mentioned. I have not been to the UK or Germany since my diagnosis so cannot offer personal reccommendations. But Croatia is the most beautiful! :)

Enjoy your adventure!

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. Scott Adams
      0

      Celiac Diner Sues Olive Garden After Gluten Mix-Up Leads to Medical Emergency (+Video)

    2. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to pothosqueen's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      16

      Positive biopsy

      In the study linked above, the little girl switched to a gluten free diet and gained enough weight that that fat pad was replenished and surgery was not needed. Here's the full article link... Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome in a 6-Year-Old Girl with Final Diagnosis of Celiac Disease https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6476019/
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jordan Carlson's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      1

      Fruits & Veggies

      Hello, @Jordan Carlson, So glad you're feeling better. Tecta is a proton pump inhibitor. PPI's also interfere with the production of the intrinsic factor needed to absorb Vitamin B12. Increasing the amount of B12 you supplement has helped overcome the lack of intrinsic factor needed to absorb B12. Proton pump inhibitors also reduce the...
    4. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to pothosqueen's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      16

      Positive biopsy

      @pothosqueen, Welcome to the tribe! You'll want to get checked for nutritional deficiencies and start on supplementation of B vitamins, especially Thiamine Vitamin B 1. There's some scientific evidence that the fat pad that buffers the aorta which disappears in SMA is caused by deficiency in Thiamine. In Thiamine deficiency, the body...
    5. Scott Adams
      0

      Inmate with Celiac Disease Wins $630,000 After Jail Denies Gluten-Free Food

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,039
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Val70
    Newest Member
    Val70
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Positive biopsy

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      In the study linked above, the little girl switched to a gluten free diet and gained enough weight that that fat pad was replenished and surgery was not needed.   Here's the full article link... Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome in a 6-Year-Old Girl with Final Diagnosis of Celiac Disease https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6476019/
    • knitty kitty
      Fruits & Veggies

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @Jordan Carlson, So glad you're feeling better.   Tecta is a proton pump inhibitor.  PPI's also interfere with the production of the intrinsic factor needed to absorb Vitamin B12.  Increasing the amount of B12 you supplement has helped overcome the lack of intrinsic factor needed to absorb B12. Proton pump inhibitors also reduce the production of digestive juices (stomach acids).  This results in foods not being digested thoroughly.  If foods are not digested sufficiently, the vitamins and other nutrients aren't released from the food, and the body cannot absorb them.  This sets up a vicious cycle. Acid reflux and Gerd are actually symptoms of producing too little stomach acid.  Insufficient stomach acid production is seen with Thiamine and Niacin deficiencies.  PPI's like Tecta also block the transporters that pull Thiamine into cells, preventing absorption of thiamine.  Other symptoms of Thiamine deficiency are difficulty swallowing, gagging, problems with food texture, dysphagia. Other symptoms of Thiamine deficiency are symptoms of ADHD and anxiety.  Vyvanse also blocks thiamine transporters contributing further to Thiamine deficiency.  Pristiq has been shown to work better if thiamine is supplemented at the same time because thiamine is needed to make serotonin.  Doctors don't recognize anxiety and depression and adult onset ADHD as early symptoms of Thiamine deficiency. Stomach acid is needed to digest Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in fruits and vegetables.  Ascorbic acid left undigested can cause intestinal upsets, anxiety, and heart palpitations.   Yes, a child can be born with nutritional deficiencies if the parents were deficient.  Parents who are thiamine deficient have offspring with fewer thiamine transporters on cell surfaces, making thiamine deficiency easier to develop in the children.  A person can struggle along for years with subclinical vitamin deficiencies.  Been here, done this.  Please consider supplementing with Thiamine in the form TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) which helps immensely with dysphagia and neurological symptoms like anxiety, depression, and ADHD symptoms.  Benfotiamine helps with improving intestinal health.  A B Complex and NeuroMag (a magnesium supplement), and Vitamin D are needed also.
    • knitty kitty
      Positive biopsy

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @pothosqueen, Welcome to the tribe! You'll want to get checked for nutritional deficiencies and start on supplementation of B vitamins, especially Thiamine Vitamin B 1.   There's some scientific evidence that the fat pad that buffers the aorta which disappears in SMA is caused by deficiency in Thiamine.   In Thiamine deficiency, the body burns its stored fat as a source of fuel.  That fat pad between the aorta and digestive system gets used as fuel, too. Ask for an Erythrocyte Transketolace Activity test to look for thiamine deficiency.  Correction of thiamine deficiency can help restore that fat pad.   Best wishes for your recovery!   Interesting Reading: Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome in a 6-Year-Old Girl with Final Diagnosis of Celiac Disease https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31089433/#:~:text=Affiliations,tissue and results in SMAS.  
    • trents
      Positive biopsy

      By trents · Posted

      Wow! You're pretty young to have a diagnosis of SMA syndrome. But youth also has its advantages when it comes to healing, without a doubt. You might be surprised to find out how your health improves and how much better you feel once you eliminate gluten from your diet. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that, when gluten is consumed, triggers an attack on the villous lining of the small bowel. This is the section of the intestines where all our nutrition is absorbed. It is made up of billions of tiny finger-like projections that create a tremendous surface area for absorbing nutrients. For the person with celiac disease, unchecked gluten consumption generates inflammation that wears down these fingers and, over time, greatly reduces the nutrient absorbing efficiency of the small bowel lining. This can generate a whole host of other nutrient deficiency related medical problems. We also now know that the autoimmune reaction to gluten is not necessarily limited to the lining of the small bowel such that celiac disease can damage other body systems and organs such as the liver and the joints and cause neurological problems.  It can take around two years for the villous lining to completely heal but most people start feeling better well before then. It's also important to realize that celiac disease can cause intolerance to some other foods whose protein structures are similar to gluten. Chief among them are dairy and oats but also eggs, corn and soy. Just keep that in mind.
    • pothosqueen
      Positive biopsy

      By pothosqueen · Posted

      26F!
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.