How To Effectively Communicate Your Food Allergies When Traveling

Tried-and-true ways to communicate your food allergies effectively while traveling abroad – even with a language barrier!

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Let’s get real: Travel with food allergies can be complicated.

Even when you’re close to home mistakes can be made that cause serious side effects. Adding a barrier like not being able to speak the language and it can feel like the risk multiplies tenfold.

That’s why making sure you are able to clearly communicate your needs when traveling abroad is of upmost importance.

Through some good and not-so-good experiences I have learned ways that help me to express myself more clearly.

In my opinion, these aren’t complicated or difficult, they just take a bit of extra effort and maybe a little extra preparation.

Truly, it all starts before you even take off! These are the things I have learned over the years to help me be a more effective communicator when it comes to traveling with food allergies:

Research Local Dishes

A really fun part of planning a trip is learning what to expect when you get to your destination. With food allergies, that also means familiarizing yourself with the local dishes. I like to understand the ingredients used and typical preparation styles of those dishes.

Having a basic understanding of how these foods are commonly prepared can help you have a clearer vision of what might work best for you. It’s also a useful tool to help you know which dishes, or types of restaurants, you might want to avoid. I have been able to find many traditional dishes in places I have visited that were naturally free of my allergens! All it took was a little research in advance!

Informing Restaurants Of Your Food Allergies In Advance

When dealing with food allergies while traveling I believe the best outcomes have come from my own thorough preparation.

Creating an eating plan helps to ensure you are confident you’ll have choices before leaving on your trip.

Part of my communication with restaurants starts while I am creating my eating plan. If it is not entirely clear from their menu online whether or not they will be able to accommodate me, I often email them directly. My goal in doing that is to determine if they have an good understanding of food allergies. I really just want to know they can provide options I can be confident will not make me sick.

An example of an email to a restaurant might look something like this:

Travel Apps and Food Allergy Translation Cards

Many people with food allergies find translation cards really helpful on their travels. There are a variety of companies that create these cards for a fee. You just select the allergy and the language to get a card specifically for you. This can be a very simple way to alert the staff to your allergies.

One of my favorite apps to help me communicate my allergies while traveling is Google Translate. It allows me to type out my questions to have them translated – even without a data connection! You can also use your camera to translate a sign or menu which is really handy at restaurants. When necessary, you can also use two-way translation as you speak in a conversation.

I personally think it is a great tool for everyone to have on their phone. It helps to ensure the ability to clearly communicate food allergies when there is a language barrier.

Informing Others Of Your Food Allergies

On a recent trip to Italy, I encountered a perfect example of the communication issues many of us run into when traveling:

I went to a restaurant that was highly reviewed for their knowledge of food allergies. After being seated, I asked the server which items I could eat on the menu after explaining my allergies. As they went through the menu, I was told I could have the pesto. As that is not something I can usually have, I was excited at the idea. Yet, I knew that most pesto contains cheese. I asked the server, “What are the ingredients in your pesto?”. They told me “cheese, basil, pine nuts and olive oil”. Obviously it was not something I could have, and it was clear the server didn’t register the pesto contained dairy.

Those of us with food allergies have become so familiar with them that we may think others have the same knowledge we do. In reality, most people have very little understanding of what is in their food or even how foods are classified.

It’s situations like the one above that remind me of the importance of knowledge of the dishes and effective communication. If I had not clarified the ingredients I could have really paid the price.

Name Specific Foods, Not Just The Category

Explaining the specific foods you cannot have is an important step. I recommend making sure to elaborate on your allergies when talking to restaurant or other staff preparing food for you. Never assume that other people have the same understanding of what a gluten, dairy, etc. allergy means.

After clearly expressing the specific foods you’re allergic to, make sure you also state that the outcome could be dangerous for you.

Explain that even a small amount of your allergen can cause a serious, life-threatening reaction.

Don’t be afraid to ask them to take extra care in their preparation by cleaning the surfaces and cooking utensils thoroughly before using them.

Conclusion

Effectively communicating your food allergies is incredibly important whether traveling or staying close to home. Preparing for a trip abroad should include understanding local dishes and communicating with restaurants in advance. This is an excellent way to set the groundwork for your visit. Being prepared with apps and translation cards can be extremely helpful when you arrive at your destination. Remember, when speaking with staff, listing specific foods and not just food categories can help them better assist you in finding options that will work for you.

Do you have a story about a time when it was difficult for you to explain your food allergies when traveling? What has helped you learn to be a more effective communicator when it comes to your allergies?

My Travel Must-haves: