Visit the Microscopic Colitis Foundation Website
Before I was diagnosed with MC, I signed up for a study abroad program for recent grads. I'm excited about it but also nervous, as I'll be away for a whole month. The program is 3 weeks in Germany and 1 in Italy. I've been to both countries before and speak conversational German, so I'm not worried about that... I'm more worried about what I'll be able to eat!
I'll be staying in a dormitory with other students. It has a cafeteria, but that's about the extent of my knowledge. The program seems to be in tune with food allergies (it asked about them on the application), and I hear Europeans are more knowledgable about celiac disease and gluten intolerance. Hopefully everything will be fine, but if anyone has any long-term travel tips to share, I'd really appreciate it! (Gabes, I know you travelled recently to France.)
FYI I'm following a paleo + white rice diet. The only raw fruits I eat are bananas. I can eat cooked/pureed strawberries but will probably have to do without. I eat cooked/peeled zucchini and squash and carrots, and sauteed asparagus. I can eat most lean meats, fish, turkey, chicken, eggs, etc. I made almond nut flour pancakes the other day for my parents and ate one small one -- it seemed to be okay with me.
I have a feeling I'll be eating a lot of eggs, meat, fish, and bananas. :o) They import bananas in Germany, right?? LOL
This is what I'm thinking of bringing for the plane ride over next Friday:
- Bananas
- Cold chicken or turkey
- White rice
- Very crisp bacon
- Nut flour muffin
I'll eat the stuff that should be cold first and save the bananas, bacon, and nut muffin for later on in the flight. Any other suggestions would be so helpful! Thank you!
Extended Travel to Germany/Italy
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
-
Joefnh
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 2478
- Joined: Wed Apr 21, 2010 8:25 pm
- Location: Southern New Hampshire
Gutten tag Gowest
Germany definitely seems to have quite a few food resources for dealing with a GF etc. diet. There is a fairly recent post in which another member here outlined several stores in Germany that have GF/DF/YF foods.
Check out
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... 81&start=0
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... c&start=15
Ich hoffe, dass Sie Ihre Reise gut geht, kümmern Gowest
--Joe
Germany definitely seems to have quite a few food resources for dealing with a GF etc. diet. There is a fairly recent post in which another member here outlined several stores in Germany that have GF/DF/YF foods.
Check out
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... 81&start=0
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... c&start=15
Ich hoffe, dass Sie Ihre Reise gut geht, kümmern Gowest
--Joe
Joe
gowest, where in Germany are you going to stay? And where in Italy? I've lived for one year there, in Verona, a city in the North. I loved it there.
Italy seems to be one of the best gluten free countries in the world. All children are tested there for gluten sensitivity. A lot of people are gluten free there, almost everyshop (to the smallest shops in the tiniest villages) has gluten free stuff. Also restaurant serve almost standard gluten free dishes (including gluten free pizza).
Italy seems to be one of the best gluten free countries in the world. All children are tested there for gluten sensitivity. A lot of people are gluten free there, almost everyshop (to the smallest shops in the tiniest villages) has gluten free stuff. Also restaurant serve almost standard gluten free dishes (including gluten free pizza).
GoWest,
You will probably be in the air for 12 hours, and in transit even longer. You'll need to plan for at least two meals. I wonder if getting a letter from your doctor stating you have food allergies would allow you to bring things like nut butter. You can bring a Ziploc bag of 3 oz. containers of liquids and pasty things without a problem. You might want to pack some GF cereal, like Rice Chex, and some rice milk in the 3 oz. containers. Once you add a banana, you'll have a pretty decent breakfast. Lunch could consist of rice cakes and nut butter, if allowed on the flight. I've been able to find nut butter in small plastic packages. I don't know if you eat potato chips, but they are filling and pack easily. Chocolate is always easy to eat and bring along, as are muffins, which you mentioned. My standard meal when traveling is a turkey sandwich.
Security has confiscated my frozen gel-pack in the past, but my insulated bag keeps things somewhat cold.
Staying in a dormitory with cafeteria food could present some problems. The staff won't be able to tell you what ingredients are in the foods and you probably won't be able to special-order your meals. Bring your own GF cereal for breakfast and hopefully you can find almond or rice milk. Rice Dream sells a three-pack of their rice milk which you could pack in your checked luggage. Germans eat soft-boiled eggs every morning. It would be great if they provide cold cuts for lunch, but you don't know for sure.
Germans eat a lot of pork and beef for dinner. They also use a lot of vinegar in their foods. Red cabbage is a favorite, usually with applesauce added. They also like fried potatoes. When I visited there several years ago, one restaurant offered eel. Ugh! I turned it down, as did DH. My MIL used to make leg of lamb for Easter, so I assume they eat lamb also. DH is German, so I've learned about their eating habits from him and his family.
I'll be anxious to read about your trip since we were hoping to travel there on Sunday. Having a tree fall on your house has a way of diverting plans.
Good luck and keep us posted when you have a chance!
Gloria
You will probably be in the air for 12 hours, and in transit even longer. You'll need to plan for at least two meals. I wonder if getting a letter from your doctor stating you have food allergies would allow you to bring things like nut butter. You can bring a Ziploc bag of 3 oz. containers of liquids and pasty things without a problem. You might want to pack some GF cereal, like Rice Chex, and some rice milk in the 3 oz. containers. Once you add a banana, you'll have a pretty decent breakfast. Lunch could consist of rice cakes and nut butter, if allowed on the flight. I've been able to find nut butter in small plastic packages. I don't know if you eat potato chips, but they are filling and pack easily. Chocolate is always easy to eat and bring along, as are muffins, which you mentioned. My standard meal when traveling is a turkey sandwich.
Security has confiscated my frozen gel-pack in the past, but my insulated bag keeps things somewhat cold.
Staying in a dormitory with cafeteria food could present some problems. The staff won't be able to tell you what ingredients are in the foods and you probably won't be able to special-order your meals. Bring your own GF cereal for breakfast and hopefully you can find almond or rice milk. Rice Dream sells a three-pack of their rice milk which you could pack in your checked luggage. Germans eat soft-boiled eggs every morning. It would be great if they provide cold cuts for lunch, but you don't know for sure.
Germans eat a lot of pork and beef for dinner. They also use a lot of vinegar in their foods. Red cabbage is a favorite, usually with applesauce added. They also like fried potatoes. When I visited there several years ago, one restaurant offered eel. Ugh! I turned it down, as did DH. My MIL used to make leg of lamb for Easter, so I assume they eat lamb also. DH is German, so I've learned about their eating habits from him and his family.
I'll be anxious to read about your trip since we were hoping to travel there on Sunday. Having a tree fall on your house has a way of diverting plans.
Good luck and keep us posted when you have a chance!
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
Thanks so much -- good idea about the prosciutto in Italy!
I was able to request a gluten-free meal on my flight... we'll see what that entails. In any case, I'll take the ideas here and cross my fingers!
Harma, I'll be in Freiburg, Germany, and Treviso, Italy (near Venice).
I can't believe how quickly this trip has come up! Off to make some rice muffins. I'll have internet access overseas, so I'll try to post updates when I can. :o)
Vielen Dank!
I was able to request a gluten-free meal on my flight... we'll see what that entails. In any case, I'll take the ideas here and cross my fingers!
Harma, I'll be in Freiburg, Germany, and Treviso, Italy (near Venice).
I can't believe how quickly this trip has come up! Off to make some rice muffins. I'll have internet access overseas, so I'll try to post updates when I can. :o)
Vielen Dank!
-
Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8367
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
i am not sure about italy, but in france the cold meats were not gluten free or dairy free (in australia they are) check the labels.
the gluten free meal on the planes for international flights are generally based on salad and fruit, and they will maybe give you some rice cakes, and a yoghurt. if you are GF/DF i would suggest carrying some snacks with you.
I flew into Treviso last year and went to venice, if you can find the right place then you should be able to request well cooked veges and meat.
enjoy the trip and look forward to the updates
the gluten free meal on the planes for international flights are generally based on salad and fruit, and they will maybe give you some rice cakes, and a yoghurt. if you are GF/DF i would suggest carrying some snacks with you.
I flew into Treviso last year and went to venice, if you can find the right place then you should be able to request well cooked veges and meat.
enjoy the trip and look forward to the updates
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Hello everyone, I'm back from my trip abroad! I had a fantastic time and, thanks to many of your suggestions, it was easier than I thought it would be. Wi-fi is hard to come by in Europe, and this site was blocked by internet cafes, so I'm just getting around to posting now.
I was well-prepared for the flight with homemade rice flour muffins, hard boiled eggs, bananas, and steamed veggies. I was in Freiburg, Germany for three weeks, so I found a good place to eat my dinners (a Thai food place, incidentally!) of plain chicken or fish, white rice, and steamed carrots and zucchini, nearly every night. I got to know the owner and employees pretty well! I also bought a mini steamer, so I was able to make hard boiled eggs and veggies on my own -- breakfast meats were provided to us.
In Italy it was even better; the place we stayed had a kitchen, so I made all of my meals. The meats (salame, prosciutto, etc.) were sooo good! I keep trying to find good ones here in the U.S. but I'm realizing that they all have dry milk in them (the ones in Italy did not -- I was able to translate the ingredients)!
I went off birth control while I was abroad (the more I read about it, the more scared became over the side effects!) and also noticed an increase in the number of bumps/acne on my forehead. I figured that would happen (and I've also heard acne is a rare side effect of Entocort). But I have a hunch the rice wasn't helping, either. When I did SCD before (no grains at all, not even rice), my forehead was totally clear and smooth, and I didn't need deodorant! Go figure. So I've decided to go totally grain free and "primal" for a month or two to see if it helps. So I'm sticking with eggs, meat, fish, fowl, bananas, pureed fruit, well cooked veggies, etc. Doing pretty well so far, though I've noticed my BMs are smaller, probably due to the missing "bulk" from the rice.
Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for your suggestions; I hope you are all doing well!
I was well-prepared for the flight with homemade rice flour muffins, hard boiled eggs, bananas, and steamed veggies. I was in Freiburg, Germany for three weeks, so I found a good place to eat my dinners (a Thai food place, incidentally!) of plain chicken or fish, white rice, and steamed carrots and zucchini, nearly every night. I got to know the owner and employees pretty well! I also bought a mini steamer, so I was able to make hard boiled eggs and veggies on my own -- breakfast meats were provided to us.
In Italy it was even better; the place we stayed had a kitchen, so I made all of my meals. The meats (salame, prosciutto, etc.) were sooo good! I keep trying to find good ones here in the U.S. but I'm realizing that they all have dry milk in them (the ones in Italy did not -- I was able to translate the ingredients)!
I went off birth control while I was abroad (the more I read about it, the more scared became over the side effects!) and also noticed an increase in the number of bumps/acne on my forehead. I figured that would happen (and I've also heard acne is a rare side effect of Entocort). But I have a hunch the rice wasn't helping, either. When I did SCD before (no grains at all, not even rice), my forehead was totally clear and smooth, and I didn't need deodorant! Go figure. So I've decided to go totally grain free and "primal" for a month or two to see if it helps. So I'm sticking with eggs, meat, fish, fowl, bananas, pureed fruit, well cooked veggies, etc. Doing pretty well so far, though I've noticed my BMs are smaller, probably due to the missing "bulk" from the rice.
Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for your suggestions; I hope you are all doing well!
Gowest,
Glad your travels were successful. As someone who logs about 150K+ miles per year in the air, I can truly appreciate what it means to travel with this condition. Sometimes, I feel like I am the only one on the plane with this affliction, and I know others have problems that are equally problematic, if not worse.
On long domestic and international trips, I actually take Ambien about a couple hours into flight. I sleep through my meals, but so what, because typically the meals are counterproductive to my condition (so I have learned). On my last couple trips to Asia, before I knew what this condition was called (when they told me it was IBS), I did take some of my own food with me (power bars, etc.). Then, when I was in country, I ate a lot of rices and soups. I made sure everyone was cooked. No sushi for me. I did lose some weight while over there but it was a good compromise in order to get my GI in order to the best of my abilities.
Imodium used to be my friend... it is no longer. Lomotil is the drug of choice that seems to kick in much sooner and lasts 24 hours for me... at least it used to. Diet is clearly the best long term solution.
So that is my current and former back of tricks... I am presently working on a new bag of tricks as everyone knows because if I can't get this under control, I will need to ground myself. I am planning to wind down a little anyways, I just need to get some others in my company "up to speed" first. Working on that.
Rich
Glad your travels were successful. As someone who logs about 150K+ miles per year in the air, I can truly appreciate what it means to travel with this condition. Sometimes, I feel like I am the only one on the plane with this affliction, and I know others have problems that are equally problematic, if not worse.
On long domestic and international trips, I actually take Ambien about a couple hours into flight. I sleep through my meals, but so what, because typically the meals are counterproductive to my condition (so I have learned). On my last couple trips to Asia, before I knew what this condition was called (when they told me it was IBS), I did take some of my own food with me (power bars, etc.). Then, when I was in country, I ate a lot of rices and soups. I made sure everyone was cooked. No sushi for me. I did lose some weight while over there but it was a good compromise in order to get my GI in order to the best of my abilities.
Imodium used to be my friend... it is no longer. Lomotil is the drug of choice that seems to kick in much sooner and lasts 24 hours for me... at least it used to. Diet is clearly the best long term solution.
So that is my current and former back of tricks... I am presently working on a new bag of tricks as everyone knows because if I can't get this under control, I will need to ground myself. I am planning to wind down a little anyways, I just need to get some others in my company "up to speed" first. Working on that.
Rich
Welcome back!
It's great to hear that everything went so well.
Your comments about Italian meats was interesting. I've often wondered why processors in this country seem to think that every product should contain as many ingredients as possible.
Thanks for sharing your experiences,
Tex
It's great to hear that everything went so well.
Your comments about Italian meats was interesting. I've often wondered why processors in this country seem to think that every product should contain as many ingredients as possible.
Thanks for sharing your experiences,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.