Less than two weeks before our first camping trip to France - yay! I've started a grocery shopping list for food items to take with us, but I'm wondering if the French supermarkets cater for special diets. My husband for health reasons can't eat dairy products and doesn't eat meat. He eats fish/shellfish and will eat chicken if there isn't anything else he can eat. For obvious reasons we will be doing our own cooking instead of eating out, plus it will be cheaper. Does the supermarkets stock items like soya milk and quorn type products? It doesn't have to be British brands. I will be taking some soya milk but unsure how much due to lack of space.
I know we will get by with what the supermarkets have to offer but any help and advice will be appreciated.
------------- Holidays
2011 - Turkey, France (Brittany), Finland (Lapland)
2012 - France (Paris), Luxembourg, Belgium (Bruge, Ghent), Germany (Black Forest)
2013 - Scotland (Isle of Mull), Tenerife
2014 - Tenerife, Wales (Abersoch), Scotland
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
I'm sure you'll find all you need. The big hypermarkets have a huge range of fruit and vegetables for vegetarian meals, there's never a problem buying fish and shellfish, and if you Google "soya milk in France" you'll find lots of info. there.
I have never had any problem buying soya or even rice milk abroad though sometimes have to look up a health food shop for other things (like gluten free pasta) “magasin bio.”
The vegan society publishes a vegan passport with all the phrases you might need if you are not a fluent french speaker
We've never found Quorn or other pseudo-meat in supermarkets. We've never looked for soya milk because it is only this year that my wife has moved on to that from milk. - so it's good to find that it's available.
supermarkets don't stock much fresh milk in France, it's mainly that long life stuff so I wouldn't depend on soya milk being available in a supermarket. I've never seen quorn or anything like it either.
Quote: Originally posted by Newoverseascamper on 23/5/2011
Less than two weeks before our first camping trip to France - yay! I've started a grocery shopping list for food items to take with us, but I'm wondering if the French supermarkets cater for special diets. My husband for health reasons can't eat dairy products and doesn't eat meat. He eats fish/shellfish and will eat chicken if there isn't anything else he can eat. For obvious reasons we will be doing our own cooking instead of eating out, plus it will be cheaper. Does the supermarkets stock items like soya milk and quorn type products? It doesn't have to be British brands. I will be taking some soya milk but unsure how much due to lack of space.
I know we will get by with what the supermarkets have to offer but any help and advice will be appreciated.
This might be useful. Take a look here - page 9 I think. Links to French Supermarkets.
I know I've seen Quorn in France, I just can't remember what it was disguised as. They do sell rice cakes and I find their baguettes a good bit easier on the gut than our bread.
They do have an amazing amount of wonderful fruit & veg, so hubby won't go hungry. I have dietary requirement to and haven't starved yet!
Liz
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
hello,
My OH is gluten/wheat and diary intolerant and my daughter is vegetarian. I am the only near normal person in my family. We manage in France by taking 2 soya milk from England and some back up supplies for 2 days meals in case of.
We also take one freezer box of vegie supplies (frozen to hell to last the journey). You can get vegie things like quorn but where we go they are seen as medical supplies for strange people!and we found them in a pharmacy type store.
All in all eating in France is quite easy as it is all fresh, salady, fishy etc.
As said earliar. The OH can eat French bread (apparently the treatment of the flour is different) and we bring back French flour to cook up in a bread machine.
Best of luck.
Sueze
We have never had difficulty finding soya products. We don't look for Quorn as it contains egg, and so would not be acceptable to the vegan in the family. Soya milk, yogurt and spreads seem easy to find, and we have found a good variety of vegan products in the 'dietique' section, along with products for people on special diets (gluten-free, diabetic etc). Having said that, it might be worth taking a few basics just to cover for the odd day, in case you find yourself unable to get to a big supermarket.
Quote: Originally posted by chrissie7 on 24/5/2011
We have never had difficulty finding soya products. We don't look for Quorn as it contains egg, and so would not be acceptable to the vegan in the family. Soya milk, yogurt and spreads seem easy to find, and we have found a good variety of vegan products in the 'dietique' section, along with products for people on special diets (gluten-free, diabetic etc). Having said that, it might be worth taking a few basics just to cover for the odd day, in case you find yourself unable to get to a big supermarket.
Thanks everyone, I was aware that the French don't really cater for special diets very well. We experienced problems in the French area of Canada a few years ago, I think they thought my husband was from another planet!
My husband isn't vegan, most quorn products only contain egg white and he can safely eat that. I know he won't starve as he eats plenty of fish. I'm going to take two cartons of soya milk and hope they last for 9 days otherwise he can do without for a couple of days (it won't hurt him)
------------- Holidays
2011 - Turkey, France (Brittany), Finland (Lapland)
2012 - France (Paris), Luxembourg, Belgium (Bruge, Ghent), Germany (Black Forest)
2013 - Scotland (Isle of Mull), Tenerife
2014 - Tenerife, Wales (Abersoch), Scotland
Some Vegeburgers and similar can be found in some of the "U" stores. More likely the "HYPER U" and "SUPER U" than the smaller "MARCHE U", Nothing to write home about though! Have also found a small selection of vege stuff and a bit of special dietary needs stuff in various "Geant/Casino" stores, but expensive!
I'm vegetarian but I eat fish. I have never had much luck finding vegetarian foods like quorn in France (and Spain) but to be honest I havent bothered. The fish quality is great as are the vegetables.
Last year I took ill with kidney stones when on holiday in France.We were there for 4 weeks and this happened in our 1st week.I was put on a no dairy no red meat diet by the hospital.I had no problems finding soya and no meat products.In fact a very good range.It's here I have the problem! The vast range of fish and shell fish is amazing.All the fresh fruit and veg you can eat.I really didn't need quorn and such like,but it was avaliable if I wanted it!
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: French supermarkets and special diets
We experienced problems in the French area of Canada a few years ago, I think they thought my husband was from another planet! 
