Having dietary restrictions, allergies, or food intolerances can be daunting when it comes to travelling in new environments. However, plenty of students go abroad every year safely and successfully.
Whether you have Celiac disease, a major food allergy, religious dietary restrictions, or you are vegan, all you need to have an enjoyable experience is some careful planning and preparations. The main key is communication. Ensure your advisors, friends, roommates, and instructors are aware of your needs and restrictions.
Please find helpful questions, resources, and links below to better assist your research into global learning opportunities. If you have any questions or would like additional assistance or guidance, please do not hesitate to contact one of our advisors at study.abroad@ucalgary.ca.
Top 3 things to consider before going abroad
Tips to help you prepare
Talk to a Global Learning Advisor
Some programs may be more or less flexible to accommodate different diets. If you have any dietary restrictions, allergies, or intolerances, our advisors are happy to discuss your needs and help identify programs & destinations that will work well for you.
Talk to your instructor
For students attending Group Study Programs, your instructor will have more detailed information about the types of food and facilities that are available in-field, and what types of diets can be more or less easily accommodated.
Research your host institution
For students attending Exchange/Research/Internship programs, your host institution may have online resources. Your Global Learning Advisor can support this research and help contact past students or the host institution for additional information if needed.
Consider your housing situation
Housing varies on different programs. You may live on or off campus, source your own meals, or have food provided (can you reach out to food providers in advance to check about allergens & cross-contamination?). You may have roommates whom you want to inform of your dietary restrictions as well.
Research medication import rules
If bringing medication with you, check your host country's embassy website for any regulations. Ensure your prescriptions are up-to-date and get them filled prior to travel so that you can bring enough to cover your trip. If bringing autoinjectors (e.g. EpiPens), these normally go in your hand luggage, but check with the embassy to be sure.
Plan what else to bring
You may want to consider bringing small meal supplements. This is especially relevant for short trips with tight schedules, where you might not have time to visit multiple restaurants/stores in search of appropriate food.
Make note of emergency numbers
In case of a severe food reaction or medical emergency, ensure you know how to call for help. You can find emergency numbers listed on the Government of Canada's Travel Advisories - check for all countries you plan to visit on your trip, as numbers may vary: https://travel.gc.ca/
As someone who has spent the last 12 years of her life eating gluten-free since being diagnosed with celiac disease at nine, I had become used to the awareness of the gluten-free lifestyle and the many options for eating gluten-free in Canada. Upon arriving in Hong Kong for my semester abroad, I quickly realized that gluten-free food was not easy to find – no one even knew what gluten-free meant!
Mairin Rockliff
Past UCalgary student who did an exchange in Hong Kong
How did Mairin handle being gluten-free in a culture that didn't recognize that label? Read her blog for some advice: Gluten-Free Girl in Hong Kong
Compare with these other student stories: A Guide to Eating Abroad for the Adventurous, Cautious, Gluten-Free & Vegetarian
![A large square pizza loaded with toppings sits on a paper sheet on a table. The wall behind the table has an artistic blue-and-white mural of a large cat with its mouth open, aligned with the pizza.](/sites/default/files/styles/ucws_image_desktop/public/2024-06/Rodrigo%20Cortez%20-%20Hungry%20Eyes%20-%20Chalcuapa%2C%20El%20Salvador.jpg?h=480b03a0&itok=68b1txkN)
"Hungry Eyes" (Chalcuapa, El Salvador)
Rodrigo Cortez
Resources for further research
Food Allergies:
Celiac:
- The Celiac Travel Guide
- Celiac Travel Recommendations (Instagram @thenomadicfitz)
- Gluten-Free in Europe
Diabetes:
Religious dietary restrictions:
Vegetarian/Vegan: