Holiday Abroad

[WhereDidAllThoseYesterdaysGo]

Hi, Our dd is 7 and has allergies to nuts and milk (carries an epipen) and has asthma (carries inhalers) and hayfever (on Cetirizine).

We haven't been abroad with her because of worries about the flight and nuts and also eating when we are there.

We would choose to self-cater on our first trip. Its now so long since we've been abroad I have no idea about food labeling and whether UK brands that we know might be available.

I feel really adamant that we must try this because I want her to every experience she would have had had allergies not been present. But I'd like to start with an 'easy' one first.

Does anyone have an information about what food labeling is like in Europe and experiences of anywhere that its been possible. Also somewhere with a good health care system would be good
Many thanks

[mrsnec]

I don't have allergies but know people that do.

Have you thought about Cyprus?

Lots of British brands. Lots of people speak English. The big supermarkets have aisles where they stock the free from ranges. Even small village shops sell alpro.some of the big supermarkets stock UK supermarket products too so you will find tesco and waitrose products there. In terms of labelling it would be the same as you are used to as they tend to just put a removable label in Greek over the English ingredients list.

Health care is very good. All the meds you mention easily available.

Lots of familiar brands in terms of restaurants too so you wouldn't find eating out a problem either.

[rogueelement]

Hi there

We go to Italy and France. Food labelling is excellent, health care is fine (make sure you get an EHIC card and know how to get help) but it helps if you can read French and Italian ingredients. You can't really find British brands.

Biscuits/sweets are the biggest issue for both; both countries tend to view hazelnut chocolate, for example as practically a health food, and there are loads of nuts/egg in anything sweet. (My DD is severely egg allergic)

Fresh food is easy, eating out is difficult although in my experience staff are more knowledgeable about ingredients. We always self-cater and take back up treats/breakfast cereal. Foreign fizzy drinks (like Orangina) are always very exciting.

Flights not a problem. We used to use Eurocamp in France and met other people with allergies who took their car packed with safe treats when they went abroad - lots of driving but not a bad solution.

Good luck!

[WhereDidAllThoseYesterdaysGo]

Thank you for those replies, They are very helpful. I appreciate all of the details too.

We're not brilliant with hot weather so Austria or Switzerland were thoughts - and places we'd probably choose.

[rogueelement]

I would have a chat to someone who lives there/knows about the local food - my first thought with both those cuisines is that milk/cheese might be an issue but that might be my lack of knowledge. Chocolate & icecream is also going to be off-limits sadly.

Would echo babybarrister, DD's asthma and allergies tend to improve in the sunshine.