Travelling as a family with food allergies can be tough, we are often faced with daunting scenarios when navigating new places and suitable eateries.
As a family we feel strongly that our children should have the chance to see the world and why should allergies get in the way of that! Whether you’re on the hunt for a weekend break or you’re keen to get away for a long holiday with the family, here are just some of the world’s allergy-friendly cities for families
Photo by Annie Spratt
Prague
With a standardised allergy/diet restriction food chart imperative for every restaurant, Prague is an ideal holiday break for allergy wary families since you can have peace of mind knowing exactly what is in your kid’s food, even in massive chains like McDonalds. As well as vegetarian and vegan diets, Prague caters well to coeliac and dairy-free families. Many menus allow you to choose your meat and carbs separately, which means if you’re avoiding wheat or gluten you can opt for potatoes or vegetables instead.
Some of the best allergy and child-friendly restaurants include MoMo Veg Café a perfect lunch spot with delicious vegan soups, gluten-free breakfast bagels, and yummy homemade gluten-free cookies and treats. It’s a relaxed and friendly environment so ideal for a breakfast or snack while sightseeing. Another favourite, if you’re looking for allergy-friendly sweets for kids, would be Puro Gelato. They offer gorgeous gluten-free cakes and vegan alternatives to ice cream, such as fruity sorbets. For a lively evening meal that welcomes the wee ones, Podolka finds itself on the edge of a river, serving up tasty veggie dishes like their quinoa burger, and includes fun kids play area.
Berlin
One of the first things you’ll notice about Berlin, aside from the giant currywurst and frothy beers, is the ease at which you can pick up vegan, gluten-free and often dairy-free snacks around the city, whether lodged in the subway or in one of their massive supermarkets – which is ideal for hungry kids on the go.
As well as huge free-from and substitute food sections in their stores, eating out is a delight since many districts such as Neukölln have become thriving vegan-friendly areas. Let It Be is well worth a visit, a small cafe with crépes, vegan burgers and other meat and dairy-free options. It also has an area full of vintage kid’s toys and a few comics and books for older children. Another hot spot for gluten-free and vegan dishes is Familiencafé Emma und Paul a designated kid’s cafe with delicious desserts like vegan apple strudel and a play area equipped with a pirates ship, a wooden train, cars, lego, dolls, and many other toys.
New York City
Home to many of the world’s biggest and best restaurants, New York is a haven for free-from, with flavor-packed gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian menus found across the city. Its rich culinary landscape means you’ll be spoilt for choice when googling places to eat. Out and about and stuck for an allergy-friendly munch? Look out for the Cinnamon Snail food trucks where they can rustle up vegan cinnamon buns and donuts among other treats. Another top-notch eatery located in most food halls is Two Tablespoons, a veggie pop-up featuring oatmeal with coconut oil and almond milk (perfect for kids breakfasts) and local and organic sandwiches and soups.
Aberdeen
Although this may seem an unlikely one, it’s wealthy demographic means an abundance of businesses that focus on vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free foods, with predominately trendy bistros and cafes offering the best grub. Food Story is a laid back, family orientated cafe with a wide selection of vegan and gluten-free brownies, cakes, falafel, burgers, and sandwiches. Christo’s Greek Taverna showcases fabulous and healthy Greek classics and is the number one spot for allergy-friendly families looking for a hearty evening meal.
Portland, Oregon
Arguably the best city outside of LA to find gluten-free gems, Portland is a progressive, friendly place and an allergy-friendly foodie fest! It hosts a plethora of farm-to-table, sustainable, organic, gluten-free, and vegan spots, so it’s not hard to find somewhere for a mean munch. Back to Eden bakery does gluten-free treats catering to kids and Harlow does fresh healthy and free from dishes with an extensive kids menu with dishes like Baby Chia vanilla pudding and dragon bowls.
Copenhagen
Experts at delicious open sandwiches, Copenhagen is a wonderland for nut-free and gluten-free families, bursting at the brim with organic rye bread, gluten-free bakeries, and high-quality meats. Foodie highlights for those with allergies include Whoopie, an ice cream parlour with gluten and dairy-free options. Souls, is an organic veggie and gluten-free cafe with acai bowls, mango lemonade, and stacked pancakes. There are also loads of other vegan eateries in the city.
Have you been on any great trips to allergy-friendly cities that you can recommend? comment below or email me at anna@mychildsallergy.com