Tell us about you!
Where did you study abroad
St Andrews, Scotland (UK)
How did you choose your study abroad location
I visited St Andrews during a family trip and absolutely fell in love with Scotland, so I knew I needed to explore it more through studying abroad.
Had you been out of the country before studying abroad? Do you speak the local language?
Yes and N/A—they speak English!
Did you plan anything ahead of time?
I was communicating with my program especially regarding accommodations to have my own flat with my own kitchen to make navigating my food allergies easier to manage. They were so kind with helping me make this possible and also with providing safe food options during our occasional program events. During my year abroad, I traveled to 18 countries, so translation cards were such a huge part of my prep for each country. I use Equal Eats cards, and they have been such a game changer with navigating restaurants where English isn’t the main language. I also prepped by researching certain food products and grocery stores in the area beforehand, just so I had a good feel for things before I arrived.
What are your best tips for studying abroad with food allergies?
Scotland is the most amazing country, especially for travelers with food allergies. If you’re studying here, I highly recommend communicating with your program early on to learn about allergy accommodations, so you know how to prep in advance. Otherwise, one thing that I faced was needing to still make sure to check certain food labels on familiar products because between the USA and the UK INGREDIENTS CAN CHANGE, so some products that I have eaten forever in the USA were no longer safe in the UK. That is something to keep in mind for sure. Make sure to try the local cuisine if you can as well- Scotland has amazing seafood and the fish n chips were a staple during my time there.
Did you have any concerns about traveling with food allergies?
Yes, I was definitely apprehensive about navigating allergies abroad. Before this experience in Scotland, I had studied in Sweden during a short-term abroad program. That experience helped me build confidence in navigating allergies in a new setting—especially since it involved a different language. The UK initially did feel more manageable since everything was labeled in English, and from my previous experiences in the UK, I found that restaurants were more accommodating than most in the USA. Therefore, overcoming nerves about eating out and finding safe food products went better than I could have ever expected. I slowly was able to find favorite safe products and become a regular at local restaurants in St Andrews. I was also able to cook with the kitchen I had in my flat, so that helped me have a constant back-up plan in case I needed a break from eating out. I ended up finding a great balance between cooking for myself and being comfortable eating out frequently too.
What airline did you fly? How did you handle accommodations and airplane food?
I flew JetBlue, Delta, and United (flew a couple times to get there). I always request to pre-board when I get to my gate so that I can wipe down my seats before the flight. Along with this, I always ask if the airline is serving nuts (my most severe allergy) and whether they can refrain from serving them and/or make an announcement to passengers to not eat them during the flight. As far as my own food is concerned, I always pack food from home for flights or buy snacks that I have eaten before at the airport. This makes me know that what I eat is safe and helps reduce the risk of reactions during the flight. Personally, I am not comfortable eating the meals that planes serve.
Where did you live and how were meals handled?
I stayed in my own studio flat with my own kitchen, so I prepared my own meals with food from the grocery store.
What are your 3 favorite places to eat in St Andrews?
Tailend: I actually cannot say enough great things about Tailend and how yummy the food is/how great they are with allergies!! I always wanted to find a fish and chips spot when I came to the UK, and this has been my place since moving here basically. They have a separate fryer for chips, can cook things in separate pans to avoid cross contact, and the staff are genuinely the kindest people and so understanding about accommodating allergies and answering ingredient questions. I order take out or sit in and it’s been one of my go-to spots since being abroad so I cannot recommend more. A must-visit if you’re in St Andrews!!
The Niblick Restaurant: This restaurant is incredible!!! They have a vegan soup of the day that I’ve had multiple times and has been great for my allergies. This past visit I had tomato soup, haddock with veg and tomato sauce, and the cherry on the top was my first sticky toffee pudding ever!!! They had a vegan one on the menu that is also nut free and gluten free and after being on the hunt for a safe version this spot made my day! They were great with accommodating my allergies and making sure that they adapted the dishes as needed. I love that a whole dish was safe for me to order with little changes—lots of them were naturally free from certain allergens! And the view looks out onto the 18th hole at the St Andrews Old Course for the golf lovers!
Cottage Kitchen: This is such a cute spot! The menu is helpful with vegan and gf options labeled. I loved ordering their salmon poke bowl. They were great with checking on ingredients and making changes to dishes to accommodate my allergies. Definitely recommend for a quick bite to eat in the heart of town!
Is there any food your study abroad location is known for that you were able to have safely?
Fish and chips!! My favorite spot was Tailend, they were fantastic with allergies every single time I went there. I ate there so much that the manager told me I needed a member card lol— but that’s how amazing they are. Truly could not recommend more.
For anyone with a sweet tooth, were there any special sweet finds like ice cream shops or bakeries?
Blank Street, PANCAKES Amsterdam, Reffen – Copenhagen Street Food
What other places did you visit during your trip?
Edinburgh, Scottish Highlands, London, Exeter, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Milan, Venice, Paris, Vienna, Salzburg, Bergen, Dublin, Dubrovnik, Amsterdam, and Reykjavik.
Besides the food, were there any fun experiences or favorite things you did?
In St Andrews, the Fife Coastal path was my favorite activity– the view of the town and beach was simply unmatched and I often spotted highland coos as well. Also in St Andrews: golfing in the Home of Golf; St Andrews Castle and Cathedral; exploring local fishing villages and areas like Crail, Pittenweem, Anstruther, Elie, and Isle of May. In Edinburgh (because this was an extension of St Andrews) I loved the farmers market on Castle Terrace; exploring the Royal Mile/Castle; Arthur’s Seat hike, Holyrood Palace, The National Museum of Scotland, St Giles’ Cathedral, Calton Hill, The Mussleburgh Horse Races.
