Between Meals: Milan, the Olympics, and Saying Yes

A travel story about preparation, labels, stadium rules, and ordering confidently in Italy.

There’s something surreal about standing in an Olympic stadium.

The noise.
The flags.
The sheer scale of it all.

And for a moment, I wasn’t thinking about food allergies.

I was just there, soaking it all in. Getting there, however, took preparation.

A Road Trip to Italy With Sandwiches

Before even arriving in Milan, I packed safe food from my base in Slovenia. I made sandwiches with meat & cheese brands I trust. I made a lot of them! I find that having a solid backup of safe food helps ensure I can avoid rushed decisions on an empty stomach. Plus they add peace of mind.

Enjoying a roadside cappuccino en-route outside of Milan. This accompanied my homemade sandwich.

Olympic Snack Lines & Unexpected Relief

Inside the arenas and stadiums, the snack lines were massive. I'm talking 1+ hours of waiting for a soda and popcorn! I did this once, and that was enough — I was there for watching sports after all.

Interestingly, I didn’t notice peanuts or tree nuts anywhere. No shells on the ground. No peanut-selling kiosks.

For someone who grew up scanning stadium floors for danger, that felt… surprisingly freeing.

The opening ceremonies was such a thrill! I was hungry though and wish I ate more beforehand.

The No Food Policy

The stadium had a strict no outside food policy — unless you had a doctor’s note explaining it’s an allergy or medical requirement.

I didn’t go that route this time, but it was good to know the option existed.

What struck me most?

The amount of food confiscated at security.

So much waste. So much stress in line.

After this experience, here’s my biggest tip:

Eat a solid meal before any major event.

Stadium food lines are chaotic. Choices are limited. And when you’re hungry, decision-making gets worse.

Confiscated food and beverage table at security.

EU Labels: A Small but Powerful Advantage

One thing I really appreciated in Italy was the EU allergen labeling law.

Pre-packaged foods are required to emphasize the 14 major allergens.

Even navigating Italian labels, I could quickly scan and identify what mattered with the help of comparing with my Equal Eats card in Italian.

That made grocery store stops much easier for:

• breakfast items
• hotel snacks
• simple on-the-go staples (I carried in a fanny pack with my epinephrine)

I typically have much success in the fresh areas of the grocery store, but found some surprises including mortadella containing pistachios which were poorly labelled as it was made fresh in the deli.

The Battery Pack Surprise

One curveball? No portable battery packs were allowed into the stadium.

As a tourist relying on digital tickets, maps, translation, and emergency communication — and as someone whose phone is part of my allergy safety strategy — that was not ideal.

Conserving battery all day was stressful.

I worked around it by carrying a wall charger and stopping into a café midday to recharge.

Lesson learned: Always research venue policies — especially if your phone is part of your safety system.

Dining in Milan

I visited two restaurants:

• a classic Italian pasta spot
• an Irish pub (don’t judge me 😉 I still ordered pizza)

Both used QR menus. Both had allergen information.

The information felt more like checkbox compliance than a thoughtfully organized ingredient matrix. It was entirely in Italian and wasn’t intuitive to navigate. It provided a starting point though, and I then felt confident showing my Equal Eats card and asking about a few targeted menu items.

I ordered a basic spaghetti and a spicy salami pizza.

When in Italy…

What This Trip Reminded Me

It was a trip where I felt proud to not let my food allergies slow me down. However, I realized the importance of "moving slow" once arriving in order to remain vigilant, be in tune with my instincts, and simply be more present.

Watching the athletes compete, I couldn’t help but think about their road to get there. Years of small, disciplined steps. Traveling with food allergies feels similar. Each experience adds a layer of confidence. Each prepared moment makes the next one easier.

It's not a competition, but when you have a safe travel experience, it certainly feels like a win.

— Kyle Dine
Founder, Equal Eats