I have a peanut allergy and was just wondering if its a good idea to go to Thailand ?
Cos ive read that they use peanuts or peanut oil in alot of their food.

Would it be possible to travel and avoid peanuts or would it be a good idea not to go at all ?

And are they much choice of ''western'' food available over there ?

I'd need as much info on this as possible.

Thanks guys ;)

You can find westernized food all over and some true western fare (it's expensive...). Take the same precautions you would back home - ask cooks. If you don't speak the language, then don't partake. Bring your medications, if you have any...maybe consult a doctor before going?

You could use that argument to not leave the house ever! Just be careful, if you stick to large professional looking restaurants you should be OK. Also, if you do want to eat roadside food (and believe you me, it's AWESOME) you can actually watch them cook it in front of you and inspect the ingredients.

You are right, peanuts are a very common ingredient in Thailand, so you'll have to be alert.

Heaps. If you're one of those travel-halfway-around-the-world-for-Starbucks-and-McDonalds types, you should be fine if you stick to the larger cities. You'll need to expand your palette a little if you want to venture out into the rural areas.

Good luck and enjoy the ride!

Many cooks use cheap palm oil. It's sold here, cheap, by the barrel!

You might be safer sticking to the myriad of soups available.

Besides the obvious fast food, there are chains such as Sizzler, Outback Steakhouse, Tony Roma's, many affordable Japanese eateries, and some pizza places, although the Thai take on pizza is a bit bizarre.

here is an excellent thai menu/travel info, with expressions for allergies on page 2, pdf file.

http://www.nachang.com/travelmenu/thai_travel_menu.pdf

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brilliant menu - just great stuff

let me give credit where credit is do. author of thai menu is Chanchao a regular poster on LP, and long time resident of thailand, guessing based in CM now. besides that fine menu, he has another site which may interest you, pretty much about food and chiang mai, and a lot of reading if interested. some side links and guessing some profit motivated links, all of which i have not tried, as CM doesn't do anything for me. but food food food, that he definitely knows, along with all things thai. one of the few posters on LP, that thinks past KSR. NO offense intended, just not my thing.

HAPPY TRAVELS AND MUNCHING

Chanchao's link Chanchao's Chiang Mai Food Review - Reviews of restaurants and Thai food stalls in Chiang Mai, Thailand - Fotopages.com

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On the other hand, he doesn't think too far outside Chiang Mai.

Curt, aka Stupid_American

he does seem to be settled in, or just doesn't get out much. 9 months in udon is too much for me. 3 months of school breaks and i'm out of there as long as possible.

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Maybe take some translated cards with you explaining no nuts etc etc, this site seems very popular for the cards on different forums.
Travel translation cards for food allergies, gluten free, diabetes, penicillin allergy, latex allergy, lactose intolerance, vegetarian, vegan, asthma
Or maybe someone on here could even translate and you could print up your own cards to show at restaurants etc.
Cathy

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