Dairy allergy France food??

I would think that whatever measures she takes in the US, she would take in the France. I think I would print out in French on a card very clear instructions concern diet requirements so that you can hand it to waiter to avoid any language problem. How extensive is the butter allergy? Does it include frying in butter, certainly butter based sauces are common in French, less so in Italy.

Susan & Monte,

Since milk is found in so many foods, she (you) will have to be very careful as to what she eats.

Yes, France is known for their rich sauces & yummy pastries made with butter, etc...
If you choose to travel to a different country, the same measures of avoidance will have to be taken into consideration.

If your daughter's friend has had this milk allergy for some time, she should already have a good idea as to what foods she needs to avoid.

Make sure she takes at least one (twin-pack) of Epi-Pen (Epinephrine auto-injector) in case she develops severe (life threatening) symptoms, which may be associated with food allergies.

Make sure you know how to use the Epi-Pen ahead of time (there is a trainer in the box), in case you need to use it in an emergency.
She should also pack some antihistamines.

Here is a very informative website you may want to read: http://kidshealth.org/en/teens/milk-allergy.html#

Unfortunately, France is consistently where I have had the worst experiences in restaurants regarding food allergies. They just don't 'get it'.

First of all, there is generally no willingness to alter food prep to accommodate allergies. Often, the patience to discuss how exactly food is prepared (ie use of butter) is totally absent. Nor is there always the sense of responsibility that comes with answering truthfully or completely. Nor can you assume that if you ask about the presence of milk or butter or cream, AND state an allergy to milk, that there will not be cheese in the food (since you forgot to specifically ask about cheese as well - no kidding.).

Your daughter's friend will have to accept that he/she will a) be taking risks, b) be very limited in food choices, c) always have 'fall-back' food with her in a pinch.

She will have to ALWAYS say "aucune sauce, s'il-vous-plaît". Be prepared for pugilistic attitudes when they get it wrong or don't understand.

She can't be shy. She will have to be prepared to send food back to the kitchen (and refuse to eat what comes back - I have had veal come back 'scrapped off', even though I had been clear about 'no sauce' when I initially ordered).

Another time, I had to refuse fresh fruit because it came with 'crème anglaise', even though I had declared the allergy and specified no milk or cream when ordering the meal. According to the waiter, I had not asked specifically about 'crème anglaise' - thus MY bad. One of the things he said was that people say that they have allergies, when in fact it's 'a caprice' (being finicky).

One night, I actually could not eat anything at all and left dinner on an empty stomach. We were a party of four and the problem(s) arose when we were served - too late by then for us to go elsewhere.

I have been to France multiple times and have criss-crossed the areas that you intend to go to. Regarding the response to allergies, the best food experiences were in Paris, and the worst in the provinces. I speak fluent French (raised in Québec), so the problem is not language. It's one of personal attitude and culture. I say 'culture', because the Italian approach to accommodating food allergies is much more open and willing (in marked contrast to the French), for example.

I know that some people here will take exception to what I just wrote, but it's what actually happens. On this subject, I'm brutally harsh. Just be prepared that it won't be easy and that a few idiot waiters/owners will be more than willing to put her at risk, because they really won't care to understand/take the time/accommodate.

I appreciate your responses and ideas, and thank you so much Diane. Her allergies are not life threatening, but she will get sick- rashes and vomiting. Not how you want to feel while on vacation!

It sounds like you have first hand experience with this Diane. Here in the states she generally ends up choosing vegetarian choices for meals. She can eat eggs, just no butter, cream, cheese, etc.

What countries offer more vegetarian choices or which countries do you find easy to deal with?

Thanks so much for the help and ideas!

In my experience, Italy is the easiest country for me to eat well. Not only is the topic of food allergies understood, but they're also making great strides, IMO, regarding awareness of food intolerances and GMO foods as well.

Also, wherever you decide to go, the daily menu sometimes offers the best choices. That's because it's often dictated by available ingredients, almost always fresh. Usually, the preparation is right then and there (with less chance of it being something packaged or frozen). That makes it much easier to work around food allergies or sensitivities.

You might have better luck with Indian, Turkish, Japanese restaurants. Vegan places should work, too. Carry a card with allergy info printed on it.

If you have to change your plans, Italy is the best alternative.

I very much appreciate the advice and great to hear the honesty about France. I'd be awful to get there and find out it was a bad idea. I think we will focus on Italy!

Thanks so much!

What is your opinion of Spain or Germany?

I will just add my vegan experience in France. I've been a couple of times, latest on the Paris and Heart of France tour. Even with the RS tour guide advocating on my part I still got butter on veggies at some of the group meals. I was more successful on my own because I generally stuck to pizza sans fromage, pasta sans fromage, salads and frites. In Paris I was in falafel mode so did not have a problem there. I am ashamed to admit that I did go to Starbucks in Paris for a soy latte.

Italy was pretty easy as food is more often prepared with olive oil over butter and it is easy to get cheese left off things or to make sure cheese is not included in the dish.

You asked about Spain. In my experience, people there are pretty good about food allergies. I do not know about dairy specifically, but I've had good luck getting accommodations for gluten. There is less English spoken there tgan some other parts of Europe, so I'd advise bringing a translated card to give to waiters.

The food isn't as dairy-heavy as France. And you can find jamon (ham) everywhere. You will still need to take precautions of course. Italy would be equally good or better.

One thing I do is book apartments or aparthotels. Then there's a kitchen in case there's a real problem. That way I can store all sorts of foods for snacks and simple meals.

Also, any city in any of the countries mentioned will have stores with vegan food, as well as regular stores with a selection of dairy-free specialty items. And the bigger cities are likely to have fully vegan restaurants or vegetarian restaurants that are well aware of veganism. Yes, I know she's not vegan, but if she eats at a vegan restaurant she is sure of no dairy!

I have been to Germany a couple of times, needed gluten-free foods and it was hit or miss as to the degree of expertise of the wait staff. Sometimes I got a shrug of the shoulders and "Salad" suggested, at other places I was assured that they had gluten-free options.

I think cooking method may be the thing to check.

Sorry to weigh in so late here. I think she'll be fine. She must be used to her limitations at this point and she's a young adult so she should be an okay advocate for herself. Another positive thing (in a host of negative things, I realize, but this is, indeed, a positive) is that her allergy is NOT anaphylactic. You've got yourself a whole additional level of danger with an anaphylactic allergy. I know she'll be miserable if she gets hives and is vomiting, but if she's certain she's not anaphylactic it would give me a measure of comfort if I were you.

You've already gotten the EpiPen advice and I'm sure she carries Benadryl, which she can chew a few of if she feels that there may have been something that slipped through at a meal. Another thing that might help, which I always do when I travel is to take 10mg of Zyrtec each morning. It does seem to give a little food allergy protection.

You do not say if you're doing apartments or hotels but apartments give you way more food control. I don't trust anyone to totally understand food allergies and I don't love restaurant situations in foreign countries. I try to have a kitchen and have learned that it's pretty fun, actually, to browse the aisles of a grocery store for simple meals to make at the apartment. She'll have no problem with meals that you make avoiding dairy. Likewise, takeaway meals from grocery stores typically have ingredient lists on the packaging and I resort to those a lot.

Also - sometimes when I feeling overwhelmed by the necessary food vigilance as I travel, I'll set out in the morning with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich an apple and some cookies in my backpack. I'm good for the day that way and I don't even need to think about whether or not servers appreciate a food allergy.

Thanks again for the help.

So, honestly, I'm heartbroken and I'm not sure if we should change our whole trip to include a friend. But, it would be really nice for us and our daughter to have a companion along. But, it also might take away the fun if she were to get sick. Food is a really important part of our trip. Going out to eat, just moderate priced places, is a highlight for us. So, I wouldn't want to cook (that's no vacation for me!) The friend accommodates her own diet and says when she goes out she chooses vegetarian options or salads.

I'm really torn what to do. We had the trip fairly well planned and she didn't expect it would really be a problem, but my daughter was concerned. I had no idea her allergy was really that bad.

Not really sure what to do.....

It sounds like the young woman is game to go so maybe that should be the deciding factor. If she's been living with these allergies all these years, she'll probably be just fine. I travel all over with my allergy - I come prepared, take my Zyrtec and eat carefully.

I guess I'm assuming when you say young adult that this is someone in their 20s who has moved out of their parents' home and lives independently. I think she'd be fine.

Well.....almost! She is a bright, sweet 25 year old who has never moved out and helps take care family members who have medical problems. I think she is independent in most ways, but lives at home and has no travel experience. I think she feels confident in her ability to manage her own diet. The problem would be if she doesn't get her food minus sauce/butter etc if she ask, but then doesn't recognize it and eats it anyway. Or if there just were not many things she could eat.

She tells me she is happy with salads or vegetarian meals. I can't remember if these are available in most French restaurants or not, since I always for the sauce/cheese, etc....all the good stuff!

Ok, you really don't want to switch plans, which is fine! If you were open to multiple options, then yes, Italy or Spain or England or plenty of other countries would be easier. But you're set on France, and it's your trip! You have every right to go where you want, and it is very nice that you are concerned about this woman.

So my advice - go as planned. I know you don't want to COOK (that's fine!), but I would still strongly advise getting a hotel with at least a fridge and maybe a stovetop. Then if you all go to a restaurant, she's unsure, she can not eat much and then get "home" and pull her salad greens out and boil water for pasta with olive oil. Or whatever. She's an adult, she can cook simple meals if the options are cook, starve, or get sick! She will also be used to bringing her own food with her, so encourage her to do this on the trip as well. A stop at a market in the morning can yield fruit and other prepared snacks.

I have lost track of where you are here. Decided on France, or still open to other options? Spain would a good choice----good grilled meats and fish, not sauced like in France. They are proud of their olive oil and use it in cooking more than butter. One of our favorite tapas is a tortilla, which in Spain is an omelette with potatoes and maybe onion, cooked in olive oil rather than butter. Another is bacalao, but the preparation may involve poaching the salt cod in milk, so best avoid that. There are many other good seafood options that would not include cheese or butter. And wonderful salads.

I would in no way consider changing your plans.. really.. that would be quite a huge concession to me.. and sorry, this "girl" is actually a 25 yr old adult lady. She has lived with this allergy all these years.. she should now be old enough to manage it .

We took our kids and their boyfriends/girlfriends and friends to a Mexican AI last years.. six young adults between 18-25.
Sons gf( aged 22) is deadly allergic to nuts and peanuts.
Stepdaughters friend ( aged 24) has severe allergy to seafood.

Both "kids" managed just fine. And neither had an real travel experience.

Tell her to get an allergy translation card .. bring her meds.. and be vigilant.

Mrseb ...if you had read the thread Susan did come on and tell us the young lady is 25 yrs old. Not a child, teen or minor.

I thank you for your input!

As you can see I'm someone that does not make up her mind very easily! I vacillate back and forth, and all around! We have plenty of time since we don't go until May 2017, but I'm getting a budget together for her so she can save the money needed.

I was so sad at the idea of giving up France, but also want to have a good time and not worry about her. But, yes, she is mature and can handle herself and her allergy. But, it would be nice if we could all dine and enjoy, and I think we would.

But...somehow I had it in my head it wasn't that long of a drive between Provence and Dordogne. I was thinking maybe 5 hours, but today I was looking at it and it is 7 1/2 or more! Yikes! Now I may want to change our plans.

So, I'm keeping all options open but trying to work around Norwegian air so it will be cheaper. I'm thinking of Tuscany and Umbria for two weeks....? It would be easier for her and happy for us. BUT....I do love France!

Susan i am wondering, have you all sat down as a group to discuss this, i mean, she is adult and paying her way ( well mostly i assume) so perhaps you should all have a say in a major itinerary change.

I would ask both girls where they want to go...maybe split the difference...a week in france a week in Italy.

Or perhaps she will say she really would prefer seeing Italy over France.

The thing is, MrsEB, sometimes reading just the original post means that you miss further information as the thread progresses. The age of the young allergic friend was mentioned twice so Pat did not deserve your scolding.

Just my $.02, but knowing how much you really want to go to France, that is what you should do. Don't change where you go for the friend. She will manage and I'm sure she will enjoy the itinerary you plan. I wouldn't want you to spend so much money to end of resenting that it's not the trip you really wanted to take. As for the long drive between Provence and Dordogne, you could always find a place to stay the night along the way if the drive seems too much for one day.

Yes, I had my heart set on France! I would hate it if she got sick or had to eat a sandwich at our B & B each night and not participate in dinner. I'm just not sure how difficult it could be for her to accommodate her diet. Since we stay in B & B's most of the time I wonder if the owner knows nearby restaurants and they could call over and tell them of her dietary needs ahead of time (speaking French) and then when we arrive she could hand them a pre made card in French again stating her allergy. I just hope she could tell if there was butter or cream in some food so she wouldn't eat it. It would be a big bummer if she got sick!

She is thrilled to go anywhere with us. We will consult with her, but it is our family trip that we are inviting her on. However, we want her to be healthy and happy! If we think that can not happen then we would go to the next best location so she could come, but France would be number one.

A couple of points.

French food does often have a sauce. I don't pay a lot for my food in France because I am cheap. I rarely have a sauce.

French food is regional.

To eat cheap I eat a lot at Flunch. You can think carefully about what you are getting and the vegetables, salads and desserts are self serve, and there is a list of ingredients available for each dish.

They also have McDonalds, also with an ingredients list.

Mrs eb i was not being " snarky" i just read the entire thread before i posted, never a bad idea. Your welcome.

Stick with France. "Friend" sounds like she is going to be very happy getting to go to Europe and is well aware that her gastronomic experiences will be limited and she will have such great days that she won't mind not eating what you are for dinners. I found that my hosts at B&B's and small hotels were most willing to help in many ways. Asking them for dinner recommendations and calling ahead to explain Friend's dietary restrictions sounds like an excellent idea. I found it very easy to manage with my restrictions (no meat or seafood products) - waiters either knew or would run back to the kitchen to find out what was available and what adjustments could be made. Most of my lunches were picnic-y, put together from all the temptations in the weekly markets that I happened upon. There were more meat options that cheesy ones, besides all the deli-style meats, there were grilled chickens, and heaps of fresh fruit and veggies.

With my dietary restrictions, I am often in the position Friend will be in. I enjoy sharing mealtime with friends and don't expect anyone to restrict their meals in any way. And I also end up with grilled veggies or a salad. It's such a small part of travel after all. The only concern I would have is how sensitive she is to traces of dairy . . . for instance in dark chocolate or sorbets. As far as I know, most bread in France is dairy-free.