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    Traveling to France with Celiac Disease: A Gluten-Free Guide

    Reviewed and edited by a celiac disease expert.

    In this article, we will provide tips and resources to help you plan your trip to France with confidence.

    Traveling to France with Celiac Disease: A Gluten-Free Guide - Image: CC BY 2.0--Air France A380-861 F-HPJA
    Caption: Image: CC BY 2.0--Air France A380-861 F-HPJA

    Celiac.com 07/08/2023 - France is known for its delicious cuisine, from croissants to crème brûlée. However, for people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance, traveling to France may seem like a daunting task. But fear not, with proper planning and preparation, gluten-free travel in France can be an enjoyable and stress-free experience.

    Booking a Gluten-Free Meal on Your Flight

    Many major airlines, including Lufthansa, United, American, and Delta, offer gluten-free meal options on their flights. When booking your flight, be sure to request a gluten-free meal in advance. It is important to confirm this request with the airline a few days before the flight to avoid any last-minute surprises.

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    I highly recommend packing gluten-free sandwiches and bars during your flight, and during your entire trip. It's always best to be safe instead of sorry, and in my experience the times I ended up sorry were when I got too hungry, usually while traveling.

    Booking Gluten-Friendly Hotels and Vacation Rentals in France

    When booking accommodations in France, it is important to do your research and find hotels or vacation rentals that cater to gluten-free travelers. Using travel apps like Booking.com, Expedia, and TripAdvisor, you can search for hotels and rentals that offer gluten-free options. Many hotels offer gluten-free breakfast options, and some may even provide gluten-free snacks or meals upon request.

    When booking a hotel in France, it's important to call ahead and ask about their gluten-free breakfast options. While many hotels offer gluten-free options, it's always best to confirm in advance to avoid any disappointment or inconvenience during your stay. Additionally, some hotels may be willing to cater to your dietary needs and provide gluten-free snacks or meals upon request. Taking the time to research and communicate your gluten-free needs can help ensure a comfortable and stress-free stay in France.

    breakfast_buffet_CC--opera_cadet.webp
    Hotel Breakfast Buffet. Image: CC BY-SA 2.0--opera.cadet

    The Advantages of Staying in Vacation Rentals vs. Hotels

    Staying in a vacation rental can provide more flexibility and options for gluten-free travelers. Vacation rentals often come equipped with a kitchen, allowing you to prepare your own meals and ensure they are gluten-free. Popular vacation rental apps like Booking.com, Airbnb, Vrbo, and HomeToGo offer filters to help you find rentals with a kitchen and other amenities that cater to gluten-free travelers.

    How to Eat Gluten-Free in French Restaurants

    When dining out in France, it is important to communicate your gluten-free needs to the waiter or restaurant staff. Many restaurants in France offer gluten-free options, but it is important to ask about cross-contamination and ensure that your meal is prepared in a gluten-free environment. Apps and like Yelp and TripAdvisor can help you find restaurants that cater to the gluten-free crowd, and you can read reviews that are written by other gluten-free travelers.

    To help communicate your needs, consider carrying a basic gluten-free restaurant card written in French that explains your dietary restrictions (we recommend keeping it simple).

    Gluten-Free Restaurant Card in French:

    Quote

    Bonjour, Je souffre d'une maladie grave appelée la maladie cœliaque, et je ne peux pas manger quoi que ce soit qui contient du gluten. Le gluten est une protéine que l'on trouve dans le blé, l'orge et le seigle. Cela signifie que je ne peux pas manger de pain, de pâtes, de gâteaux, ou quoi que ce soit fait avec de la farine de blé. Même de petites quantités de gluten peuvent me rendre très malade.

    S'il vous plaît, aidez-moi à rester en sécurité en veillant à ce que mon repas soit complètement sans gluten. Cela signifie de ne pas utiliser de farine de blé ou d'autres ingrédients contenant du gluten, y compris les sauces, les soupes et les vinaigrettes. Merci de votre compréhension et de votre coopération.

    Gluten-Free Restaurant Card Translated into English:

    Quote

    Hello, I suffer from a serious condition called celiac disease, and I cannot eat anything that contains gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. This means I cannot eat bread, pasta, cakes, or anything made with wheat flour. Even small amounts of gluten can make me very sick.

    Please help me stay safe by ensuring that my meal is completely gluten-free. This means not using any wheat flour or other gluten-containing ingredients, including sauces, soups, and dressings. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

    French Restaurants are not world famous for their ability to cater to those with gluten-free requirements, so a great fallback is to find a Vietnamese or Turkish kebab restaurant, as they offer many naturally gluten-free options, but be sure to use your restaurant card and speak to the staff about your needs. Both of these options can be found in most medium to large sized towns and cities throughout France.

    french_bistro_CC--awsheffield.webp
    A French Bistro. Image: CC BY 2.0--awsheffield

    Finding Gluten-Free Foods in Grocery Stores

    French supermarkets like Leclerc, Carrefour, Les Mousquetaires, Système U, Auchan, Casino, Lidl, Cora, Metro, and Aldi offer a variety of gluten-free products, including popular French gluten-free food brands like:

    • Valpiform
    • Gerblé
    • Céliane
    • Schär
    • Bjorg
    • Jardin Bio
    • La Vie Claire
    • Gerblé Sans Gluten
    • Le Pain des Fleurs
    • Priméal.

    Use search engines like Google and Bing to find the nearest supermarket that offers gluten-free products. Each of these supermarkets, hypermarkets, or discount stores offer a wide range of food and grocery products and each of these companies has its own network of stores and may have different store formats and offerings based on their business models.

    Lidl_Supermarket_CC--Billy_McCrorie.webp
    Lidl Supermarket. Image: CC BY-SA 2.0--Billy McCrorie

    The Importance of Packing Gluten-Free Snacks and Sandwiches While Traveling

    As mentioned, it is very important to pack gluten-free snacks and sandwiches when traveling in case you cannot find gluten-free options on the go. This is especially important when traveling by train, bus, ferry/boat, plane or car. Popular gluten-free snacks and sandwich options include rice cakes, nuts, fruit, and gluten-free bread with fillings like cheese or meat.

    In conclusion, gluten-free travel in France requires proper planning and preparation, but it can be a fun and enjoyable experience. Use travel apps like Booking.com, Expedia, and Tripadvisor to find gluten-friendly hotels and rentals, communicate your dietary needs when dining out, and pack gluten-free snacks for your travels. Bon voyage!



    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    cristiana

    Great article.  Would definitely agree that it is important to travel with some gluten free snacks. 

    However, I did find back in 2019 when we last visited France that somehow gluten was sneaking into my diet.  We were there for about ten days, and about a month after our return I still had a sore stomach and my TTG levels were raised.

    I didn't eat out, we cooked at our gite, admittedly at times using some items of pre-prepared food from supermarkets that did not contain gluten according to the labeling but were not certified gluten free.  However, this is how I eat in England, usually with no ill-effects, but it didn't seem to be working out so well in France.

    I couldn't help feeling that the food labelling laws weren't quite as strict in France then as they were here at the time.  I'd be most interested to find out if anyone else has found this. 

    Edited by cristiana
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    Guest Slk

    We traveled to France twice in the last 6 years, staying part of the time in Provence and part of the time in Paris on each trip. Paris has a decent amount of gluten-free patisseries and boulangeries, you just need to search for them. On my last trip I actually had a gluten-free croissant in Paris and I'm not ashamed to admit I got a little teary. As a celiac we're used to just living vicariously through everyone else and I had watched my family enjoy all the French bread which, let's face it, is part of the experience. So eating that croissant felt like a the missing puzzle piece to my French dream experience ❤️... Provence, on the other hand... Hit the grocery while you can. Pack your food, have snacks and meals prepared. I lost a LOT of weight in just a week each time we were there (had to buy a belt at the market 😂) you can risk the savory crepes, they were my fallback. Most are made with buckwheat but may be made on the same burner as the sweet crepes (not gluten-free). I'd still go back in a heartbeat. 

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    cristiana

    "... Provence, on the other hand... Hit the grocery while you can. Pack your food, have snacks and meals prepared. I lost a LOT of weight in just a week each time we were there (had to buy a belt at the market 😂)"

     

    Interesting.... my experience of rural Italy is the same.   I was expecting great things but in rural Italy we found a restaurant that didn't know what coeliac disease was, and other small towns where there was very little in the supermarket in the dried goods section.  However, the larger towns were great.

     

    Edited by cristiana
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    LovintheGFlife

    I have tried Turkish restaurants on travels and found they are OK. Have not tried Vietnamese yet. What I have also found is that most Indian restaurants offer many varied and delicious choices for those who can tolerate some degree of spice. Many Indian restaurants in the U.S. go so far as to identify the items on their menu as 'gluten-free'. I would be cautious regarding their desserts though.

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    Judith Stang

    I travelled to France in April, Paris and a Seine River Cruise and had no problems.

    I highly recommend Uniworld river cruises; they even had delicious gluten free croissants! I had lots of choices and the Restaurant Manager checked with me every time I was in the restaurant. All the waiters were aware of my restrictions and made sure everything I was served was Gluten Free.

    We stayed in a new hotel "SO" in the Marias district - no problems. Dined at some local restaurants nearby; they all knew about Celiac and again no problem. I seem to have more issued here in US - twice since my return I got "glutened"! 

    Overall, I find the food in Western Europe has less additives and most places are aware of Gluten and how important it is for Celiacs. 

    YES, definitely travel with lots of snacks and always request Gluten Free meals when flying; but if you flight is cancelled, rescheduled or delayed you may not get your gluten-free meal! I also bring a sandwich or two!

    Keep travelling,

    Judith

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    Italy98
    On 7/18/2023 at 1:00 PM, Guest Slk said:

    We traveled to France twice in the last 6 years, staying part of the time in Provence and part of the time in Paris on each trip. Paris has a decent amount of gluten-free patisseries and boulangeries, you just need to search for them. On my last trip I actually had a gluten-free croissant in Paris and I'm not ashamed to admit I got a little teary. As a celiac we're used to just living vicariously through everyone else and I had watched my family enjoy all the French bread which, let's face it, is part of the experience. So eating that croissant felt like a the missing puzzle piece to my French dream experience ❤️... Provence, on the other hand... Hit the grocery while you can. Pack your food, have snacks and meals prepared. I lost a LOT of weight in just a week each time we were there (had to buy a belt at the market 😂) you can risk the savory crepes, they were my fallback. Most are made with buckwheat but may be made on the same burner as the sweet crepes (not gluten-free). I'd still go back in a heartbeat. 

    Hello, do you remember where it was that you were able to enjoy a croissant in Paris?  Thanks!

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    Scott Adams was diagnosed with celiac disease in 1994, and, due to the nearly total lack of information available at that time, was forced to become an expert on the disease in order to recover. In 1995 he launched the site that later became Celiac.com to help as many people as possible with celiac disease get diagnosed so they can begin to live happy, healthy gluten-free lives.  He is co-author of the book Cereal Killers, and founder and publisher of the (formerly paper) newsletter Journal of Gluten Sensitivity. In 1998 he founded The Gluten-Free Mall which he sold in 2014. Celiac.com does not sell any products, and is 100% advertiser supported.


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