Hi, I am a senior female who had first bout of diverticullitis in April and the antibiotics unfortunately gave me acid reflux on top of that. Im still healing and have my good days and challenging days. I really have to watch my diet and food choices. This is all new to me and love to travel. We go to Europe every year and this year have a trip to Sardinia planned for end of August. Luckily we are staying in air b n b s with full kitchens and have our own car so we can make our own choices of pace and itinerary and food shopping. My question is for restaurant dinners how do people handle getting food prepared without certain ingredients. Is it rude to ask this in Sardinia? I can use Google Translate as my Italian is limited. Has anyone travelled to Europe with these food restrictions and health conditions? Any tips? Would you travel outside of the US in light of this?
Posted by
6906 posts
I’m pescatarian, and while that is not a stretch anywhere, I have made plenty of inquiries about dishes and while some do still look askance at certain things, I’ve never been discouraged from asking or ordering what I want. The markets on Sardinia are just as excellent as those on the mainland, and we rent apartments so we can make breakfast and most lunches, then go out for dinner, so happy to try to ask any specific questions.
Italy is in general terms very accepting of food allergies and such, and menus always indicate allergens. I find that my appetite is much smaller than restaurant portions and have dismissed any qualms about asking for a to-go box!
Sadly, you’ll have to be careful about the wonderful Italian coffee and wine (based on my personal experience with reflux), but otherwise I feel like you should be able to have a successful trip!
Posted by
Surrey, UK
1021 posts
Generally speaking, restaurants in Europe are very good about allergies etc.
What is it that you have to avoid? More information may mean we can give better help.
There should be no shortage of fresh fruit and veg, and restaurants are normallly quite happy to prepare plain food if necessary.
I would make sure you have adequate medical insurance, in case you need sudden treatment and obviously, bring enough of your medication.
Posted by
UK (London - Chelsea Harbour)
528 posts
Restaurants in Europe are very familiar with both voluntary dietary restrictions and medical dietary restrictions. I don’t know about Sardinia, but in the last 10 years visiting western Europe I think I have been asked about allergies at every restaurant I have visited, before they’d even seat me!
Years ago (pre-Google translate) I had a friend with honest-to-Pete celiac disease (not a preference, not a fad - she had real nasty lesions and so forth) and a horrifying peanut allergy who traveled to Italy and France and was terrified to eat out since she didn’t speak French or Italian and could not eat any wheat or peanut sauce or peanut oil… you get the picture.
She had business cards printed up in Italian and French instructing wait staff of what food ingredients would send her to the hospital, and she was graciously and smilingly accomodated everywhere she went.
Maybe something like that would work for you?
If you’re not entirely certain of what will affect you… that’s another hurdle. 🤔 But you could certainly “get out in front” of not being served stuff that you know will make you sick.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
17979 posts
If you know what foods you should eat or what to avoid, you can ask anything. There are ample choices in Sardinian restaurants, from low fiber, to high fiber, vegetarian, you name it. If you are allergic to certain ingredients just ask. My wife is allergic to veal and scallops, so she always asks if any menu choices contain either.
Posted by
OP
Farmingville, USA
49 posts
This was helpful, thanks so much. I like the idea of printing out the requests in Italian on a card. Basically, yes it's sad that red sauce, chocolate, onions, garlic and wine are triggers for the acid reflux because, after all, I will be in Italy. And I should not eat raw veggies/salads to date or too many high fiber foods.. We usually eat breakfast at our air b n b and can pack fresh lunch food sometimes. It's the dinners that we usually eat out because after all, it's Italia.