On Vacation with a Food Intolerance

Gluten-free, intolerances, allergies, and a pescatarian diet. At home you know exactly what the supermarket carries. But now that you’re going on holiday to Alicante, you’re suddenly getting cold feet. Where will I find those gluten-free rice cakes and vegetarian vegetable pâté? Going on holiday with a food intolerance can feel a bit daunting.

But don’t worry. I think Spain actually offers a much wider range of products than the Netherlands. Organic, ecological, and dietary products are everywhere. Also because Spaniards simply love healthy, pure food. Packets and pre‑prepared foods, jars and “ready‑made” meals aren’t as easy to come by here as I see in Dutch supermarkets. So here’s an overview of the biggest and best supermarkets with pure foods, gluten‑free products, and natural cosmetics. As a sportswoman I’ve been focused on healthy, responsible eating all my life. I won’t always say no to a tasty ice cream on the boulevard, of course — but we apply the 80–20 rule daily in our household. By now I know my way around the better supermarkets!

Not all stores are in Alicante city center. Because I also have many clients from the Alicante area, I’ve included those addresses in this blog as well. The purest, most natural selection can of course be found at the Mercado de Alicante — the market. You won’t get anything fresher than that. But the options below are a great addition!

1 Herbolario Navarro

A “herbolario” is a kind of store with all sorts of natural products. Navarro is a lovely supermarket near the train station. It has plenty of gluten‑free products, organic vegetables, delicious teas, multivitamins, natural products for children, sunscreen without nasties, and cruelty‑free makeup. You can also buy oils for your diffuser, plant‑based milk, and bread without gluten, salt, or other additives that aren’t great for your health. This store has two locations in Alicante: one in the center and another in the Vista Hermosa district, outside the center.

https://goo.gl/maps/ge7QAK7Pmx4u6Aa19

2 Veritas

If you’re on holiday in Alicante without a car, it’s not very easy to get here. But for me this address definitely ranks number two, because this newly opened supermarket truly has an enormous selection. Besides plant‑based milk, fresh nuts, bread, creams and vitamin preparations, you’ll also find all kinds of fresh products here, such as meat, vegetarian items, and Spanish olives. It feels like a regular supermarket — that’s how big it is. But the products you buy here are generally really better for your health than products from an ordinary supermarket. For people who live in Alicante or the surrounding area, this shop is highly recommended, as they often have discounts, and you can also order online and have your groceries delivered.

https://goo.gl/maps/CQPRnYg3qtUvCVxy6

3 Alcampo in Plazamar shopping center

This isn’t an organic supermarket per se, but this supermarket — besides being enormous — also has a huge selection. There’s an extra‑long aisle with shelves full of products from the categories mentioned above, and at a great price. From store brands to exclusive brands. If you eat gluten‑free, you can really indulge here. Also handy if you’re the only one in the family who needs to follow a specific diet while the rest just eats along with whatever’s cooked.

https://goo.gl/maps/8qCWd3LUZpND9a6P6

4 Limalimon Biotienda

A small shop with mainly packaged products. Think gluten‑free rice cakes, raw food bars with chocolate and dates, other healthy, nutritious snacks, and teas without additives. They also have a wide range of creams, shower foams, etc. For those who speak Spanish, this store is also a good tip, because there’s a nutritionist on site. Workshops are regularly offered on all kinds of nutrition‑related topics.

https://goo.gl/maps/KWa4spFqQkEnejMR9

All these supermarkets can of course also be found in the Alicante Like a Local App, and you can download it here.