How to Find Gluten-Free, Vegan, and Healthy Food Selections in Santorini
Do you suffer from food allergies or have a restrictive diet?
As far as my diet goes, I consider myself to be a bit of a flexitarian.
Upon moving to Greece, I made it my mission to enjoy the Mediterranean diet in a way that was enjoyable and best suitable for my dietary needs.
With age, I have noticed that my tolerances have changed when it comes to food, and I currently have a handful of dietary restrictions. I think this is common. However, when you are traveling or living in a new country and the food is completely different, it can add further complications or improvements to one’s health.
The biggest food allergy I have is to milk products. In America, there is a plant- based food revolution happening, so I had no trouble avoiding dairy products for the most part. Before moving to Greece, I was extremely nervous about what alternative food options would be available to me here. On the contrary, I’m more grateful than ever for all of those cooking classes that I took during the past year in NYC!
Cooking class at The Natural Gourmet Institute in NYC
Although Santorini does not have an abundance of alternative food options like NYC, there still are many choices here. For example, most Greeks avoid animal products during lent and eat more plant-based options during that time throughout Greece. An easy way to identify vegan cheese at a supermarket is to look for religious symbols on the packaging.
Vegan feta cheese from ΑΒ Βασιλόπουλος supermarket in Santorini
There also is a popular brand of Greek vegan cheese called Viofree, and it does not have religious symbols on the packaging. We have the same brand in the US but it goes under the name Violife. Viofree (Violife) is an amazing brand of vegan cheese that tastes reminiscent of traditional cheese, it melts, and is packed with B12!
Vegan cheese haul
I’ve also found plenty of plant-based milks such as cashew, coconut, almond, oat, hemp, quinoa, rice, and soy in Santorini. If you are extra sensitive like myself, then you have to buy a few brands until one is proven tolerable. Unfortunately, even non-dairy brands tend to add stabilizers, preservatives, and extra ingredients that can cause adverse reactions. I experimented with at least five varieties until I found a suitable one here in Santorini. I decided on a brand named The Bridge and their rice milk in particular. It consists of spring water, organic Italian rice, organic sunflower oil, organic safflower oil, and salt. It’s vegan, gluten-free, light and it thankfully agrees with my picky stomach!
The Bridge rice milk
Vegan ice cream from Lidl in Santorini
Speaking of plant-based options, vegetarian dishes that are prepared at Greek restaurants rarely disappoint. Greek cuisine is not only relatively healthy (i.e. the Mediterranean diet), but it is also packed with lots of flavorful herbs and good portions.
Greek salad
The Airbnb effect is very real in Santorini and many tourists find it cost efficient to utilize their kitchens as opposed to eating out every single time hunger strikes. If you are someone with dietary restrictions or just conscious about what you consume, then you may want to give the Green Market a try.
The Green Market in Fira
The Green Market is a small, cash only store located in the town of Fira. It has been my saving grace when looking for specialty items. The store has organic selections, vegan, super-foods, gluten-free options, Greek traditional food, and the list goes on.
The frozen food section
Sometimes I like to make international dishes, and this store has helped me with sourcing those hard to find ingredients. This is encouraging for the large number of tourists that travel to Greece from other countries, as the store may offer a sense of home and familiarity.
The Green Market gives me hope that a traditional place such as Greece is willing to adapt to modern times. In the future, I hope to see additional specialty stores like this pop up in more locations throughout Santorini as the demand is definitely there.
P.S. – The HappyCow app is a great place to start if you are looking for restaurants all around the world that cater to special dietary needs. It has helped me locate many hidden gems in Greece that I may not have found otherwise.
Do you stick to a vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free diet? If so, what is your strategy for managing travel and your diet?
