Gluten Free in Paris
I’ve been meaning to write this post forever. Thinking about next year’s travel adventures reminded me to finally write about surviving Paris sans Gluten!
And not just once. But during multiple visits to Paris.
It is possible to visit, stay, and enjoy Paris without Gluten. Whether you have Celiac Disease, gluten sensitivities, or choose gluten free for health, diet, or lifestyle, you can survive in Paris… and thrive!
Tips for Navigating Paris Gluten Free
Looking back on my month in Paris with my four young homeschoolers, I sometimes can’t believe that I didn’t eat a baguette, crepe, or patisserie the entire time I was there.
In my trips back to Paris and since I’ve been living in France, I still have survived just fine without a bite of famous French baguettes or baked goods.
A Month in Paris without Gluten
I can’t help but smile when I think about how much I miss my month long stay in Paris with my children.
That’s actually where this blog started. From a tiny 5th floor AirBnB apartment, somewhere in the 6th Arrondissement. My thoughts shift from the Musee Rodin, the Saint-Germain piscine, Pont des Arts, Paris Plage to street art/graffiti, French language classes, and cafe lattes.
And then I think about sans gluten.
Surviving Paris without Bread
But when I think about our long stay in Paris, gluten is nowhere to be found.
Though my once-upon-a-time, former gluten-eating-self loved baguettes, bagels, and everything baked with wheat flour, I stay true to a sans gluten diet.
I’m not celiac (apparently), but I definitely have gluten issues.
Avoiding gluten isn’t as hard as it seems, actually. Even in my early gluten-free days. And especially in Paris.
Why? Because I know how much better I feel without gluten in my diet.
The feeling and knowing how bad I would feel if I indulged in French pastries or bread has made it fairly easy to resist tempting gluten-filled treats in Paris. Or anywhere in France, for that matter.
So what did I eat during an entire month in Paris? And during subsequent trips?
I ate. I enjoyed Parisienne food. But honestly, I ate a lot of salads. And fell in love with French salads!
Avoiding gluten in Paris gave me the chance to try different salads and eat cleaner.
It also gave me the opportunity to live like a local for that month. I bought fresh fruit, veggies and herbs at local farmers’ markets, and made lots of yummy food and snacks in our cute little Parisian apartment, like delicious guacamole from the most perfect avocados.
And I also stocked up on gluten-free choices at Monoprix or the nearest hypermarche – Supermarche Carrefour. I definitely ate at “home” a bit more often than I might have if I wasn’t gluten free. But it turned out that this had some big time perks, like experiencing Paris more like a local needing to make meals.
Declining baked goodies and crepes on nearly every corner also made it easier to say yes to coffee treats. No gluten (and saving money by cooking some meals in my AirBnB) gave me a guilt-free excuse to indulge in cafe lattes at French cafes, whenever the urge hit.
I tried lots of coffee at many different coffee shops. My kids say, and they are indeed correct, that my coffee addiction began in Paris.
Weeks without a Single Baguette
I survived weeks in Paris without a single baguette or crepe. I didn’t make it to one of the dedicated gluten free restaurants in Paris, though I did have a decent salad at Brasserie Balzar (hat tip to Gluten Free Mom for suggesting that place for its gluten free options, though I actually thought the options were somewhat limited there or perhaps I was just too picky that day).
For on the go “backpack” snacks, I found gluten free chocolate covered rice cakes (and a gluten free section) at the small Carrefour express/market stores scattered throughout Paris.
Gluten Free in Paris Tips
If you’re dreaming about going to Paris but are hesitant because you don’t do gluten, set your worries aside and start planning your trip!
Here are some gluten free tips to help you and put your mind at ease.
Tips & Tricks to Going Gluten Free in Paris
1. Add the words Sans Gluten to your Vocabulary.
This means without gluten. Make sure you’ve got Google Translate on your phone, so you can ask servers whether menu items contain gluten.
2. Seek Out Gluten-Free Specialty Restaurants in Paris
Things have changed in recent years. Gluten-Free isn’t as hard to find as it once was in Paris. You can now find specialty restaurants and cafes that serve gluten-free treats. Google restaurants and cafes in the neighborhoods near where you plan to stay.
3. Stock up on “backpack” or “purse” gluten-free snacks at the local grocery store
French grocery stores, like Carrefour, tend now to have gluten-free sections and stock gluten-free foods. Pick up some snacks for your bag, like my favorite, gluten free rice cakes covered with dark chocolate, so you can easily snack whenever and wherever the urge strikes.
4. Eat out less, Splurge on your Stay
Don’t eat all of your meals out. Instead, use the money you will save toward splurging on a nicer AirBnB or rental that has a great kitchen. Take Instagram pics of your cooking in Paris experiences! Or use that extra cash on fancy wine tasting events or coffee tours–where you know you’ll be gluten free safe.
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