How To Create An Allergy-Friendly Eating Plan When Traveling

A step-by-step guide for creating an eating plan that can cater to food allergies when traveling around the country and around the world.

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Creating an eating plan is an absolute MUST when traveling with food allergies.

Admittedly, when I go on vacation I want to experience all that the destination has to offer. Of course, that also includes the food!

No matter where I go in the world, each country, city or general area have their own specialities. They highlight the history and offer seasonal delicacies of that particular geographical area. These dishes often showcase the freshest items available. Eating them can make me feel more connected to a place. It gives me a literal taste of what life may be like for the locals.

As much as possible, I strive to find ways to try these specialities. Even if it is just an adaptation of the regional dishes to meet my specific dietary needs.

While I love to try new foods, I really don’t like finding somewhere to eat last minute. It’s a terrible idea for me to be caught trying to desperately find a restaurant that might work. Especially in the moment when I am super hungry!

Without proper planning, I have learned that things can go wrong that can have life-threatening side effects.

That’s why I always want to have a plan for where and what I can eat while traveling.

In order to both be able to try the local specialties and also avoid getting sick along the way, I have learned to always prioritize making an eating plan.

It is just as important to me as selecting a hotel or booking a flight. My trip planning cannot be complete without one!

When thinking of how to create an eating plan, start big and narrow it down. This helps me be able to see all of my options and then prioritize how I should spend my time. My goal is always to make the most of my trip without stressing myself out along the way. That said, let’s just get right to it.

My step-by-step approach to creating an eating plan when traveling with food allergies:

1. Start By Mapping Out Activities In Each City or Location

The first step in my plan is to make a map of all the activities I want to do. I divide them up by each place I am planning to go on my trip. This can be accomplished a few different ways, but one of the easiest ways to do it is on TripAdvisor.

Here’s how:

• If you don’t already have one, create a TripAdvisor account.
• Click on “Trips” and create a separate trip for each city or location you are planning to go.
• Set the location in the search bar to the first city or location and click on “Things To Do”.
• Research activities you want to do and start saving those activities to each “Trip”.

If a TripAdvisor account isn’t for you, you can use prefer pen and paper. I recommend starting by making a list of all the activities you would like to do. Then print off a map of each location or city. Circle the location of each activity or place you would like to visit.

You Might Also Like: The Best Allergy-Friendly Snacks For Traveling

2. Research Potential Restaurants In Each City or Location

The second step is all about looking at what your food options will be. You will want to start focusing your research on finding potential restaurants. Make sure to search for places that could meet your food allergies or other dietary needs.

Don’t forget to check out my guides for recommendations where to eat in cities across the county and around the world!

If you are using the TripAdvisor method, save each potential restaurant to the correct city or location under your “Trips”.

If you are using pen and paper, make sure to mark the location of each restaurant on the map. Ideally you should use a different color of pen or marker than you did for the activities. This will make it easier to differentiate between the two.

3. Use The Map To Create Daily Itineraries For Your Eating Plan

Now that you have created individual maps for each location, you can start using those maps to create daily itineraries.

I do this by grouping together an activity with restaurants in the nearby area.

You can easily accomplish this using TripAdvisor by going to your “Trips”. Then select each trip as you organized them by city or area.

Here is an example of the map I created for my trip to Florence, Italy:

As I am sure you guessed, the tickets with stars represented the activities, and the fork and knife represent restaurants.

Using each map, I start grouping activities activities with the nearest restaurants saved.

When grouping activities with restaurants, I aim to keep restaurant options within .5-1 mile at the most of the activity. This is because I generally prefer to walk everywhere, especially on trips to Europe. If I have a rental car, I usually want the restaurant to be under 10 minute drive from the activity.

At this point, I start creating an itinerary using an Excel spreadsheet. You could also write it on pen and paper if that is easier for you.

This spreadsheet should show in two separate columns the activity/activities for that day, and all the nearby potential restaurants.

It should look something like this:

4. Before Adding To Your Eating Plan, Check The Details Of Each Activity and Restaurant to Ensure They Can Accommodate Your Food Allergies

This step can take a bit of work. You will want to consider the amount of time you will spend at each location. You’ll also want to decide if you will be doing multiple activities on the same day.

It also includes doing a deep dive into the restaurants you plan to visit. If possible, I like to visit the websites and check the menus. Make sure to check the restaurant hours to see which dates and meals they are open.

If it is not clear whether or not they will be able to accommodate me, I will often email the restaurants directly with questions.

As you do your research, make sure to take notes on each activity and restaurant. It is important to keep a record of it!

Ultimately, if I cannot feel confident from the information I find online or receive from the restaurant that they will be able to provide food options for me that will be safe considering my food allergies, then it gets cut from the list.

5. Create Your Written Itinerary And Eating Plan For Your Food Allergies

Using the information you have gathered, be ruthless in cutting the activities or restaurants. That means anything you do not feel 100% comfortable including.

Once you have narrowed everything down, make sure it is all written down or noted on an Excel spreadsheet. Then make a copy of your itinerary and eating plan for other adults in your group. You want to make sure you’re all on the same page!

It is important to keep in mind that even when you do research on the front end, there is still potential for surprises.

You may get to a restaurant and they might be closed unexpectedly. They could even be out of what you planned to eat. Maybe after speaking with the server or chef you just don’t feel comfortable with their understanding of your allergies.

In case something unexpected like that does happen, make sure you always have snacks packed as backup options. That way you won’t ever be caught without an option.

Conclusion

I swear by creating an eating plan as a way to markedly improve the experience of traveling with food allergies! Although it does take time and effort, it can also save you from dangerous reactions that could ruin your trip. Making the most of your eating plan will without a doubt help reduce stress. In turn it will make travel more fun and enjoyable for not only you, but also your travel companions.

I want to hear from you! Do you create your own eating plan when traveling with food allergies? What ways have you found an eating plan helpful when traveling with food allergies?

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