So, you’ve made the life-changing decision to study abroad! What you are about to embark on will be the single most mind-expanding adventure of your high school or college years. By now you’ve probably read up on everything there is to know about where you’re going. You know what to pack, you know where to visit, you know what your Must See and Must Dos are, and you might even know exactly what your first authentic meal will be. But, wait! Are you heading out to a foreign land with a food allergy or intolerance? Are you feeling a great pit of anxiety in your stomach because you don’t think you’ll find anything you can actually eat?

Traveling with a food allergy can be daunting…no, it can be downright scary. I know; I have an allium allergy. And while this means I can’t eat a great deal of dishes while traveling and thus does limit my cultural experience (I truly believe food is one of the most important and treasured parts of travel and learning about another culture), I have had enough experience traveling with an allergy to pass off some tips to you. After all, studying abroad with a food allergy shouldn’t stop you from enjoying all there is to enjoy about your destination!

Learn the Food. It feels daunting to head to a foreign country where absolutely everything seems different at first. It’s even more daunting to head to a place where you have no idea what to eat. Research the heck out of popular dishes and spices used beforehand. This way, you can know which dishes to avoid. Bonus: learning so much about the food of a place is learning so much about the culture of a place. You’ll even be able to recommend the must-eat cuisine to your study abroad pals!

Know the Language. So, you’re allergic to shellfish and you’re heading to Spain. Learn the key phrase or set of words for exactly what you are allergic to. This way, when you’re at a restaurant you can A. peruse the menu looking for those words and thus narrow down your options and B. talk to your server! Bonus: having an allergy while studying abroad will broaden your knowledge of the language.

Snag the Freebies. Is your study abroad home going to be at a college? Will you be traveling and staying in hostels or hotels? Here’s a tip: take extras. While I was studying abroad in Cannes, I would take extras from the buffet or fruit and bread baskets to eat later, just in case I couldn’t find anything. And lots of hostels and most hotels have breakfast included, so I’d just grab extras of whatever was available that I could eat. Certainly I’m not advising to steal, I’m just saying that it’s helpful to take more when it’s available so that you can eat later. Bonus: this is great for the traveler on a budget. Ain’t no shame in the cheap, allergy-ridden traveler!

Cook It Yourself. Are you staying in a home? Do you have access to a kitchen? Head out to a market and get yourself some fresh ingredients! On a weekend excursion? Head to a market and grab some ingredients for a picnic in a park. Bonus: this option can provide some excellent people watching, it’s often healthier, and, of course, it’s cheaper than heading to a restaurant. Also, there is little more fulfilling than feeling like you’re part of the land you are (albeit temporarily) living in. Walking through a market, haggling with the vendors, gathering ingredients for your dish – all of this will have you so exhilarated upon leaving that you’ll feel like you can conquer the world!

Eat It Anyway. I’m going to tell you something that your doctor will not recommend and that probably goes against your better judgment: eat it anyway. If you have a food intolerance or an allergy that’s not severe, pick the one dish you wish you could eat, and eat it! Let’s say cheese gives you some unpleasant side effects, but won’t impede upon your explorations. Now let’s say you’re in Paris, you’re munching on a baguette and you’re under La Tour Eiffel: eat the dang cheese! You’ll forever remember it. Bonus: You got to eat the one thing native to that country — and that’s something you’ll never regret.

About the Author: Tana Baer is a dedicated foodie, writer, and traveler. She studied abroad in Cannes, France. Check out her blog The Still and The Flow for her mouth-watering recipes and musings on all things life, love, and wanderlust.