Being somebody that travels a lot myself, I know how hard it is to be picky with your food in another country. This difficulty could potentially be a lot more difficult if you have a food intolerance! Foreign countries may not always understand your language, room service is always prepared behind closed doors and some places simply want to take short cuts out from helping you!

It is so important that you do not let your allergies get in the way of you having the time of your life away however, which is why we have a quick guide for you here.

1. Choose where to go- For people with food allergies, often deciding on a destination requires some extra planning and thought. If you have a peanut allergy, perhaps a remote village in Vietnam or Thailand is not the way to go…this being said, if this is what you want, perhaps discuss your travel options and safety plan with your Doctor before making final decisions.

2. Research local hospitals and medicare- Just to give you a peace of mind before you leave!

3.Carry hand wipes-Washing your hands frequently is a great way to prevent accidentally coming into contact with allergens. But when you’re traveling you can’t count on having access to soap and running water. A good supply of hand wipes ensures that you can clean your hands and wipe any eating utensils that may have come in contact with foods that may cause a reaction.

4. Pre-Pack Safe food-if possible, bring safe food to last you until at least the beginning of your trip. If you are in an area where it is not easy to purchase or order allergen-free food, stock up on food supply! Sometimes if you are travelling internationally, it is hard to be able to read labels at local grocery stores.

5. Make sure your travel insurance covers you-Most travel insurance covers pre-existing cases such as food allergies without any extra surcharge. To be sure, we know that Mondial and Aussie Travel Cover are very food-allergy friendly.

6. Download a restaurant card! Restaurant cards like this one are available in 51 languages for Coeliacs are a great way for restaurants to take you seriously.

I hope that this guide has helped you and that you have safe and happy travels, filled with good food for you Ingredient savvy Ingredieaters!

Anna