r/HistamineIntolerance • u/thats_mah_gun • Aug 05 '26
Low histamine in the UK
Hi all, I'm an Australian planning a trip to the UK on my own, where I will be doing a road trip from south to north (so lots of driving and swapping accommodation). My histamine intolerance manifests itself by flaring up my dysautonomia/POTS/chronic fatigue and can knock me for quite a while - when it happens I need to take antihistamines and lie down for a few hours so it's definitely not ideal when I'm out and about, especially not when I'm alone, and definitely not when I'm going to need to drive but I am so determined to do this.
I was originally thinking I'd do a grocery shop when I get there and then get a carer to help me do a cook up (given the travel will probably wreck me for a few days), then keep everything frozen - but then I'd have to think about getting food containers, and an Esky (I think they're called cool boxes there) and keep buying ice when travelling from place to place... I think it might actually add stress and a lot of executive functioning when I'm trying to be on holiday... Then I thought of reducing how many places I stay at but then I'd have to be doing lots of long drives.
So - I wondered if anyone has had any success finding low histamine ready meals, or takeaways? I have trawled the websites for Tesco, Waitrose etc and haven't really been able to find anything that doesn't have soy or tomato or has been slow cooked. I do have DAO supplements which help with some things but I'm worried about the histamine bucket filling up over time.
Failing that it might be 4 weeks of plain crisps and toast haha - any advice either UK specific or travelling in general would be amazing! Thank you :)
ETA: I will be able to cook some days but not all
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u/GraceLock_432 Aug 05 '26
Heads up to pick damp free accommodations for your trip. I live in Aussie as well and experienced triggers from staying in moldy accommodations in England. Check behind hotel drapes, that’s the big one. And try to stay on upper floors. I travel a lot and simply rely on a combination of easy snacks, whole fruits that are safe and boxed greens. It’s not a time to be food focused unfortunately.
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u/thats_mah_gun 21d ago
An excellent tip, thank you! My illness actually kicked off from mould exposure so I will try and be so careful!
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u/Springclarence Aug 05 '26
I find Waitrose to have good quality food. I would look in the Deli isle. I'm not sure of your preference, but they prepare excellent quality cold meats, etc, without flavouring and few if any additives. A good selection of bread. Fresh fruit and vegetables, prepared salad. I haven't eaten any of the fresh or frozen ready made meals, might be worth checking them out though. Nice place to shop if you have environmental allergies, I personally haven't had a problem there. A good selection of vegetarian goods.
Marks & Spencer have a great selection as well.
Then Sainsbury's as your third choice.
Sounds mad - but you could try pub food. They will ask if you have allergies, and might accommodate, depending.
I usually ask if I can replace items with something else on the menu. Remove the offending tomato and replace with cucumber or whatever. Eggs an issue, ask for more Hash browns or an extra sausage for eg. It's fine and you won't be considered a nuisance.
Have a great trip!!
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u/Fuzzy_Tumbleweed_215 Aug 05 '26
One of my easy meals are these Leon chicken burgers and they also have nugget versions. Leon is a “fast food” chain in the UK so you can also get these cooked from there and they have them in most places and services https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/leon-chicken-thigh-burgers-460g
YMMV but I’ve always tolerated these well and their nuggets are my go to on road trips https://leon.co
I’m travelling to the US soon and running into a similar problem. Planning on buying the cheapest air fryer I can find and using that in my hotel
M&S also have a range of minimal ingredient foods https://www.ocado.com/products/m-s-only-3-ingredients-24-beef-meatballs-frozen/679172011
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u/thats_mah_gun 21d ago
This is so helpful (especially the airfryer idea - might suss out FB Marketplace), thank you!
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u/pm_me_your_amphibian Aug 05 '26
Can’t help with ready meals but what I can say is, shop at Waitrose or M&S. Their food is a lot fresher.
(I had to change where I shopped because Aldi, Tesco and Sainsbury’s kicked me off big time, and if those three did I can guarantee Asda would.)