Food on the Road

What to eat and what not to eat

I wrote about this at some length in Girlosophy – Real Girls Eat, however, being healthy and staying that way really comes down to a couple of things when you’re on the road:

• Washing your hands a lot (and before each meal or any snack at all).
• Choosing where to eat wisely.
• Knowing what not to eat.

When you’re traveling, eating can be a bit of a gamble as you can’t always check the hygiene of each establishment.  As a rough rule of thumb I check the cleanliness of the interior and make a general decision based on the ‘feel’ of the place.  I also check how busy it is as this will have a bearing on food turnover, giving me some indication of the freshness of the food.

I never choose salads unless I am in the restaurant or café of a top hotel (these will always have high standards as they charge so much).  I peel fruit, eating only things like bananas, papayas, pineapples or oranges, which need peeling.  Super hot or fried things are sometimes best in a desperate situation (read: limited menus in far flung one-horse towns!) as any nasty bacteria that may be present are mostly killed in the cooking process.  I avoid dairy, poultry, eggs and certainly all meat if I am in hot climates.  So that leaves rice, rice … and rice!  Oh … and couscous, legumes, vegetables and noodle dishes, curries and dumplings and hot soups, etc.  Basically if it’s fresh veg, boiled, fried or super hot, and it’s not meat or dairy, you should be fine.

Drinking the Water

Drinking water that is not pure is one way to seriously derail your trip.  All drinking water should be boiled, sealed and fresh.  Don’t drink ‘old’ bottled water that’s been rolling around the floor of the bus or van for a day or two, even if it’s yours.  Bacteria multiply quickly and that can be dangerous to your health.

Take a bottle of water with you when you leave on your day’s sightseeing and drink frequently and regularly.  Buy fresh bottles as often as possible – only refill a small (portable) bottle from a big one a few times before you replace the bottle entirely.

“Being ill when you’re away from home is tough. The key is to be onto it as soon as you can to manage the illness as best you can.” 

Never drink from the tap and do not drink unfiltered water!

If you are trekking, water should always be fully boiled, and have purification tablets and/or iodine.  Your guide should be able to explain how to boil and drink the water safely.

Note: When I travel I always clean my teeth using bottled water and the one time I forgot, I ended up with a very upset stomach and ruined my birthday plans.

Be rigorous and beware!

Drink spiking is an international crime

Never ever let anyone you don’t know or whom you may have only just met buy you a drink of any description.  Even if they are offering you ‘just a Coke’ or any other form of soft drink, a polite and firm ‘No, thank you’ is the only answer.  This is a golden rule of travel – no exceptions.  You should only buy drinks from places where you can take the top off the bottle and break the seal yourself (or the bar tender should break it in your presence). Once it has arrived, keep a close eye on it at all times. This is both a health and a safety issue!

When your stomach just can’t take it

Being ill when you’re away is tough.  It happens to all travelers at some point in their journey.  The key is to be onto it as soon as you can to manage the illness as best you can.  The major problem with all stomach problems, including diarrhea and vomiting, is that you’re at risk of dehydration. Electrolyte replacement supplements are very handy but may not work if the illness is severe and they cannot be relied upon to work in all situations.

Read the literature on such illnesses and how to treat them.  One of my mainstay remedies if I’m feeling a little ‘off’ is a rather unorthodox mix of dry toast, sliced banana pieces and Coca-cola.  That and the relevant medication and lots of fresh water has had me back to form in no time.

If the illness continues and worsens – don’t delay.  Call the house or hotel doctor and/or get medical advice as soon as possible.  It may be serious.  Please don’t take unnecessary risks with your health.  It’s simply not worth it.

Hot Girlo Travel Tip

If you are going to be in an area far from proper medical facilities, it may be essential to do a first aid/survival skills course before you go.  Be aware and be prepared! 

Photographer: Geraldine Mills