Studying Abroad With a Gluten Allergy

By College Tourist -- Author -- Jaclyn Schwartz -- University of Illinois. When people think of Belgium, the first things that usually come to mind are beer and waffles. Unfortunately, my gluten allergy prevents me from enjoying these Belgian specialties. I am currently studying abroad in Leuven, Belgium and I love it but don't get me wrong, being allergic to most Belgian foods is not easy. Although having a food allergy is a struggle, do not be discouraged to study abroad! There are ways to make the most of your study abroad experience while avoiding gluten. Do research ahead of time. Before I came to Belgium, I researched what grocery stores sold gluten-free products which was very helpful. I discovered a grocery store, Delhaize, has gluten free bread and other products. At Delhaize, I found a gluten-free section, but products were mislabeled, so I ended up buying products with gluten. Always double check labels! I later realized that Belgium doesn't always use the word "gluten" but sometimes uses the Dutch word "tarwe," meaning flour. Learn all the foods with gluten in the native language of your country to make grocery shopping easier. If you are traveling to other countries, research the country's famous dishes to find something you can eat. (Ireland, London and Spain are great for gluten free options.) Food markets are a great and delicious options for gluten free. Some of my best meals abroad were from food markets. Always come prepared. Since Belgium is cen...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news