Dietary Restrictions

Do you have food allergies or certain dietary restrictions? The suggested guidelines below will assist you, your family, and your physician to find the best plan of action.

General Tips

  • Before you depart from the US, as you research your host culture and location, also research local cuisine, typical ingredients, grocery stores, and restaurants near your accommodation.
  • Be sure to disclose your restrictions to your program or resident director. Do not depend on a friend or yourself to communicate the problem when it is happening.
  • If you are living in a homestay, make sure you clearly communicate your restrictions with your host family. Do not assume that your program or resident director did so before your arrival. Whenever you are being fed in some capacity, even through your program, do not assume your needs are already being communicated; take the step to make sure.
  • When traveling, pack your own snacks. Don’t rely on the free snacks that planes may give you or airport food to necessarily be able to accommodate you. Similarly, make sure you research the cuisine of the place to which you are traveling, and come prepared with alternatives if you cannot find a meal that complies your needs. If you are staying in a hotel, look for one with refrigerator or microwave access that way your have more options regarding your own food, rather than relying on outside food, and mention that it is because of a medical/dietary restriction--if there’s a fee for these amenities, it may be removed if you are forward with your needs.
  • Prepare yourself with the appropriate vocabulary before traveling. Some places may have different ideas of what “vegetarian” means or may not understand what a certain allergy is, so come prepared with an explanation of your restriction, not just the word. If you are not very familiar with the language, take the time to prepare these explanations beforehand and write/print them out if that will help you.
  • Check out the following resources:

Allergies

  • Do your research on local cuisine, typical ingredients, and possible accommodations before you go abroad.
  • Your program or resident director needs to be fully aware of ways to prevent an issue, the risks, and appropriate treatment in the case of an emergency; do not depend on a friend or yourself to communicate the problem when it is happening. Make sure to disclose your restrictions as well as treatments, like how to use an EpiPen, immediately.
  • Similarly, if you are living in a homestay, make sure you clearly communicate your allergies to your host family--never assume anyone else did it for you. Also, tell your host family how to treat your allergic reaction should an incident arise while you are at home.
    • Keep an EpiPen and teach your host family, and others that will often accompany you, how to use it. If you have an EpiPen, bring a note from your physician with instructions on when and how to use it, preferably translated into the language of your host country. If you plan to travel to other countries, also include those translations. Keep these instructions attached to the EpiPen, not in a separate bag.
    • Inform your physician of the length of time you will be abroad and ask if you should bring multiple EpiPens. If Benadryl or other over-the-counter medications are used for your allergy, include those translated instructions as well. Make sure to come prepared with as many treatment options as possible.
  • When choosing restaurants, feel free to call in advance to ask about food options and your allergy. If they seem accommodating and are willing to talk to you about their process (e.g., if you are allergic to gluten and thus your meal can’t be made in the same space as something else), it’s probably safer than a restaurant that just says you’ll be fine. Try to avoid restaurants that have meals that by and large contain the ingredients you cannot have.
  • When traveling, make sure to be prepared with the following:
    • Bring your own snacks, in case you are hungry and the plane or whatever food options are available cannot provide for your needs, especially during long flights or layovers.
    • If you have a severe airborne allergy, please alert the airline when making reservations.
      • If it is a long flight in which you are being served a meal, you can often specially request a meal that caters to your needs in advance. Alert the airline beforehand, and try to talk to a flight attendant once on board to ensure the safety of your meal.
    • Be sure to take your medical records and all over-the-counter/prescription medications in your carry-on luggage. Make sure they are labeled properly.
      • Taking EpiPens and over-the-counter medications across borders is usually not a problem, but you should make sure to do your research (especially with prescription medications) before encountering an issue while traveling before and during your time abroad.
    • Bring a laminated card with a list of your restricted foods to show at restaurants, in English and the local language. You can order cards through SelectWisely if you would like.
    • Carry a card in your wallet with local 911 numbers and the number of all the local hospitals. (It is also helpful to add them to your phone contacts.) Include an explanation of your allergy translated into the host country language. When mentioning what to do in an emergency, be sure to include the word “anaphylaxis” in the description. Most first responders will understand exactly what is wrong and how to treat you. Depending on the severity of your allergy, consider wearing a medical dog tag or bracelet.
  • Your program or resident director should have access to a list of English-speaking doctors. Along with CISI’s Team Assist (TAP), a US consular officer can assist in locating medical services or English-speaking doctors in your host country. If necessary, a consular officer can also assist in the transfer of funds from the US. Be sure to register with the US Embassy for your host country before you leave the US. Note, however, that payment of hospital and all expenses is your responsibility.
  • Check out the following resources:

Diabetes

  • Do your research on local cuisine and possible accommodations before you go abroad.
  • Go over your travel plans with your doctor before leaving.
    • Get any immunizations, vaccinations, or anything that you need before traveling that could impact your blood sugar levels well in advance.
    • Get extra supplies and prescriptions.
  • Your program or resident director needs to be fully aware of ways to prevent an issue, the risks, and appropriate treatment in the case of an emergency; do not depend on a friend or yourself to communicate the problem when it is happening. Make sure to disclose your restrictions as well as treatments immediately.
  • Similarly, if you are living in a homestay, make sure you clearly communicate your needs to your host family--never assume anyone else did it for you. Also, tell your host family how to treat you should an incident arise while you are at home.
    • Bring a note from your physician with instructions on how to help you, preferably translated into the language of your host country. If you plan to travel to other countries, also include those translations.
    • Inform your physician of the length of time you will be abroad and ask if you should bring extra supplies and prescriptions. Include a letter from your doctor explaining that you have diabetes along with the translations as well. Make sure to come prepared with as many treatment options as possible.
  • When traveling, make sure to be prepared with the following:
    • Bring your own snacks, in case you are hungry or low on sugar and the plane or whatever food options are available cannot provide for your needs, especially during long flights or layovers.
    • Please alert the airline about your needs when making reservations, and try specially requesting a meal if you need certain components in your diet. Make yourself and your needs known to flight staff upon boarding.
    • Be sure to take your medical records and supplies in your carry-on luggage. Make sure they are labeled properly. Do NOT put them in the cargo--for temperature reasons and to ensure they are not lost.
      • Make sure to alert airport security that you have diabetes and will be carrying medical supplies before encountering an issue while traveling before and during your time abroad.
    • Bring a laminated card with a list of your needs to show at restaurants, in English and the local language. You can order cards through SelectWisely if you would like.
    • Carry a card in your wallet with local 911 numbers and the number of all the local hospitals. (It is also helpful to add them to your phone contacts.) Include an explanation of your condition translated into the host country language. Depending on the severity of your condition, consider wearing a medical dog tag or bracelet.
  • Check your blood sugar levels more frequently than usual.
  • Pack multiple pairs of comfortable shoes and socks that cover your entire foot. Do not go barefoot or wear open-toed shoes. Follow your normal foot care routine.
  • Check out the following resources:

Other Restrictions (Kosher, Veganism, etc.)

  • Do your research on local cuisine, typical ingredients, and possible accommodations before you go abroad.
  • Your program or resident director should be made aware of your restrictions, with an explanation of what your restriction means tangibly as different places have different understandings of certain needs. Make sure to disclose your restrictions immediately.
  • Similarly, if you are living in a homestay, make sure you clearly communicate your restrictions to your host family--never assume anyone else did it for you--and fully explain what your restriction means.
  • When choosing restaurants, feel free to call in advance to ask about food options and your needs. If they seem accommodating and are willing to talk to you about their process (e.g., if you are vegan and don’t want your food cooked in the same space as something else), it’s probably safer than a restaurant that just says you’ll be fine.
  • Try to supplement your diet with vitamins.
  • When traveling, make sure to be prepared with the following:
    • Bring your own snacks, in case you are hungry and the plane or whatever food options are available cannot provide for your needs, especially during long flights or layovers.
    • If it is a long flight in which you are being served a meal, you can often specially request a meal that caters to your needs in advance. Alert the airline beforehand, and try to talk to a flight attendant once on board to ensure the quality of your meal.
  • Be very aware that different regions have varying ideas about what certain words mean. To some, “vegetarian” may mean “no red meat” and then you’ll be served fish. In each language that will be useful to where you are traveling, you should learn how to say what your restriction is AND what it means. Print this out if you are not familiar enough with the language to memorize it all.
  • If you wish, bring a laminated card with a list of your restricted foods to show at restaurants, in English and the local language. You can order cards through SelectWisely if you would like.

Here’s a look at how one of our students abroad in Europe ate as a vegetarian. It could be challenging sometimes, but she made good use of the tips above and could always rely on pizza, pasta, and pastries—not a bad way to live!

Breakfast in Nice, France

Dinner in Lisbon, Portugal

Dessert in Lyon, France