Student Travel In London, Paris, Over Summer

[Greeneyes4950]

Hi, i'm currently on a gluten/casien/soy free diet. I'm a Jr. in college, and i recently learned of an opportunity to go to europe for 3+ weeks with a group of students and a professor.

I'm just in the beginnings of learning about this, but i would really like to go, but as my mom said to me "what will you do about eating"

It one of those trips for college credit, you pay upfront, room, board, travel is all included. And i have to admit, "eating" is hard enough to do on a daily basis. I basically make all of my own food, and avoid eating out for fear of contamination.

How hard will this be if i decide i want to go? How food allergy/intolerance accomidating is Europe? The countries we would be visiting are London, Paris, and Budapest.

has anyone been to any of these places, what were your experiences?

[aikiducky]

Obviously you need to talk with the people organising the trip if there are times that meals are included and you all eat together. It might be that you need to arrange food for yourself separately some times.

That said, London is not a bad place to visit as a celiac. Restaurants are generally fairly well aware of it. Sainsbury's and Tesco carry gluten free bread and cookies. Gluten needs to be clearly labelled on products, except for maltodextrin, dextrose and glucose syrup made from wheat. The same labelling laws actually apply to France and Hungary as well but of course you need to be able to read the labels. I don't have experience eating out in France or Hungary so I'll let other people answer that.

In short, I think it's totally doable, of course it's more difficult to travel as a celiac but you can find food over here.

Pauliina

[SydneyGF]

Hi

In London, you will find it easy, the UK have very strick allergy labelling laws, so in the supermarkets (Tesco, Sainsbury or Waitrose), their processed foods need to have an allergy label near the ingredients list, stating what is in their products. eg contains, milk, soy and gluten.

For the other places, I have been to Paris and found it a little hard as I dont speak french but take the alergy cards with you. (which you can print from the net). And visit a supermarket and stock up on rice cakes or nuts and fruit.

Good luck and hope you get to go. Try not to let your food allergies interupt travel plans. The way I see it, so what if I eat super bland for a few weeks, when I get home I'll be able to enjoy my favourite foods. But if I stay at home I will have missed out on seeing the sites like Big Ben and the Effile tower - all of which are very impressive.

Good luck.

Sydney73