This week will be my first time traveling to Belgium with food allergies. I am excited to travel to a place where language shouldn’t be a barrier. I plan to spend the majority of my time in Bruges, which I hear is spectacular.
My two substantial Belgian cuisine desires:
- I will be able to eat a Belgian waffle
- I will be able to find nut free, pure Belgian chocolate to eat
I have no idea what I will find as far as eating with my allergies, but I hope to not miss out on everything this country is known for (since I am already unable to have the mussels, a Bruges specialty).
Preparing to Travel
In preparation for my trip, I will organize plenty of extra medicines (including epinephrine, antihistamines, and inhalers). I will also make sure to have all health paperwork accounted for in my travel folder, as well as the emergency numbers. I learned earlier this year the importance of making sure that my phone has plenty of money on it (most phones here are pre-pay), so in case of an emergency I have enough money to call my allergist and family in the U.S. I also make sure that I have appropriate chef cards in the country language (for Belgium it will be English and French).
Besides that, I should be ready to go! Now I just need to figure out what clothes to pack… :)
Yes, absolutely! It was quite a while ago now, but I didn’t have a problem back then and awareness and options have only improved. Check out my other blog post from Belgium that is linked in this post and here
Were you able to find options in Bruges? We are traveling this summer and our children are allergic to peanuts and tree nuts. I am concerned about finding safe restaurants for them.
Hi Lindsay,
Thanks for the encouragement! Enjoy Brazil! :)
It sounds like you have everything under control! I really hope you find safe waffles and Belgian chocolate. I’m traveling to Brazil on Friday, and it’s always a little stressful to travel with food allergies, but with the right precautions, everything is possible! Have fun! :)