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Help! Traveling What Can I Eat? And Update

kowkitty

By kowkitty
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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kowkitty Rookie
kowkitty
Posted

My husband is taking me to Italy for our anniversary :D

Believe me I'm soooo thrilled but.... worried about what I can eat?

Shame all the way to Italy and can't eat the pasta or pizza...... :(

But will I have trouble finding chicken, fresh seafood and other safe foods?

Has anyone traveled to Italy and have any advice on things to eat?

Was finally diagnosed a few weeks ago and have been eating gluten free since. I really feel so much better too!! It has been a bit hard giving up bread, pasta, BEER!!! but I'm managing so far. Have been buying gluten free products at whole foods market and some by mail. Just bought some bagels which I cant wait to try!! dying for some bread!!

I've been making Jasmine Rice (gluten free from taste of India) with fresh chicken that I make with olive oil, garlic, pepper, balsamic vinegar, fresh mushrooms, fresh spinach and soy cheese melted on top. Very tasty if anyone would be interested in making it!! Giving up the beer has been tough and the gluten free stuff is just so expensive. So, I've switched to wine and so far I'm enjoying it.

Thanks for any advice on foods in Italy

Jackie

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Mango04 Enthusiast
Mango04
Posted

from glutenfreegirl.com about eating gluten-free in Italy:

It was so easy.

All I had to say was, "Io sono celiaco." That's it. No apologies, no shrugging of shoulders, no endless stories of how my intestines work if I ingest 1/4 teaspoon of gluten. In the States, I often feel like an other when I go to restaurants, or, at best - an advocate for the rest of us. Sometimes, I feel like I never stop talking about what it means to live gluten-free, because I am always having to explain myself.

But in Italy, after I said "Io sono celiaco," or sometimes simply the phrase "senza glutine," I could move onto other conversations. Better yet, I could tuck my fork into my food and not have to worry if I could take another bite.

I didn't feel different there. I didn't have to feel like I was making trouble. Asking for food without gluten was as effortless as saying I preferred water without ice. Or beef instead of pork. I was simply a diner, being taken care of, and well.

You see, in every place we ate in Italy, the waiters and chefs understood. From what I have been told (both here and in Italy), the Italian people have been educated about celiac. Children are now routinely tested for the disease before kindergarten, a test as ritualized as a standard set of vaccinations. If you work in food in Italy, you know how to feed people well, no matter what their allergies and concerns.

The rest is at Open Original Shared Link

p.s. Have you tried Redbridge or Bard's Tale beer?

kowkitty Rookie
kowkitty
Posted
  • Author

Thanks so much! You have no idea how much that info has helped. I don't like to "make trouble" or cause anyone to have to go to far out of their way, so the fact that celiac is known elsewhere is so wonderful. I'm pretty knew to the whole gluten free thing so again, thanks. We went out for dinner last week and was really happy to see that the place we went PF Changs (Chinese) actually had a gluten free menu and I did not have to really explain too much about my "issues" to our friends. I did not want to spend the whole evening talking about it. They even had a flour free desert which was very good. When I found out where evryone wanted to eat I figured I'd be eating a plain bowl of rice and steamed veggies hoping no gluten got into the meal.

Jackie

Mango04 Enthusiast
Mango04
Posted
Thanks so much! You have no idea how much that info has helped. I don't like to "make trouble" or cause anyone to have to go to far out of their way, so the fact that celiac is known elsewhere is so wonderful. I'm pretty knew to the whole gluten free thing so again, thanks. We went out for dinner last week and was really happy to see that the place we went PF Changs (Chinese) actually had a gluten free menu and I did not have to really explain too much about my "issues" to our friends. I did not want to spend the whole evening talking about it. They even had a flour free desert which was very good. When I found out where evryone wanted to eat I figured I'd be eating a plain bowl of rice and steamed veggies hoping no gluten got into the meal.

Jackie

You're welcome. The link I posted isn't working on my end. If that's the case for you, too, it's worth reading the whole thing at www.glutenfreegirl.com. Enjoy your trip!

Rivergirl Apprentice
Rivergirl
Posted

Can I go with you?! You will be just fine. I go to Europe for work and find it to be much easier traveling in Europe than the US. As mentioned by the previous post, Europeans "get it". Many, many Europeans have what we have (i.e Celiacs). The Italian food is so delicious. Fresh tomatoes, with incredible olive oil and basil, and mozzerella. Bruschetto with veggies for dipping. The most incredible cheeses and salami that I have ever had.The potato salad was to die for. Ever have potato salad with capers and radishes? Me neither until I was in Italy. I also am from the Great Potato State of Idaho - so I have had my fill of potato salad. The restaurants pride themselves on going to market every single day to buy the freshest of ingredients so very little worry as to what is in your food by the chef. Lastly, if you are just beginning to transition to wine - Italy is a wonderful vacation to get hooked for life. If you get an opportunity head off to some wonderful small vineyards for tasting - you will also meet some of the most wonderful people ever. Also if you like the Italian wine - when you come back to the US, look for wines that have a little oval gold label that says "Small Vineyards". The Small Vineyards wine distributer only sells Italian wines that are high quality, somewhat inexpensive, and are from small (not monster Italian producers) of Italy.

Don't worry, have fun, and invite me next time - just kidding....

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