Are you someone who likes to travel? If so, you’re probably always looking for ways to make your trips more enjoyable. One way to do that is by making sure you enjoy food when you travel. From, restaurants to street stalls to all-day snacks, there is so much culture involved with food in the places you visit.
To make sure you can get the most out of the experience, don’t forget these tips:
1. Check Your Oral Health
Seriously, how often do you think about your mouth when you travel? Probably never. However, when you’re in a new city or country, your mouth can become just as much of a sensory organ as your eyes. Besides, you need to make sure that you can chew well and taste the food properly.
Before you travel, see your dentist first. See to it you don’t have cavities or gum inflammation that could get worse and even cause you a lot of pain. If you have malocclusions, which can affect your bite, the dentist may recommend appliances like Herbst Device orthodontics to correct the issues.
2. Take Note of Your Allergies
Having food allergies won’t stop you from taking trips. However, you may need to bring appropriate medications in case you develop reactions even on ingredients that are less familiar or completely unknown to you.
You also need to ensure that the food you’re eating doesn’t contain the food you’re allergic to sensitive to. It may help to know the local language equivalent of these. You can always research about that before you leave or use Google Translate. Otherwise, consider eating in more familiar restaurants or dining places with staff who can understand your language.
3. Research on the Food You Want to Eat
Usually, there’s no point in trying to eat something different when you feel you won’t enjoy it in the first place. It’s a waste of both time and money. You could have spent these resources on those that bring you joy.
Before you travel, research the food you want to eat. Check out the most popular ones in their country of origin and check if they’re available where you’ll be. You can also consider going to different places with a specific category of food in mind, such as the top 10 restaurants or best kiosks for street snacks.
4. Pack Snacks
Traveling long hours between destinations without having to wait for your meal is the best feeling. So pack snacks to tide you over until you arrive or before you go on a trip.
You could also ask if you can get free food samples in the places you plan to visit. Just make sure they’re not expired. Otherwise, just head straight to the local grocery stores and buy your favorite brand.
5. Respect Mealtimes and Customs
Never forget to consider the place you’re in when it comes to food, especially if you’re visiting a foreign country. You’ll never know if their customs or eating times are different from what you’re accustomed to at home.
For example, breakfast is usually earlier than lunch and dinner combined in some cultures. Also, in many places, you’re not supposed to eat in public inside a mosque or in a funeral parlor.
Some cultures may invite you to join them at mealtimes, but you may bring something for the family. Others may find it rude to reject their offers for food.
6. Try Local
We are creatures of comfort, and so we usually pick the ones we’re more familiar with, even when it comes to food. But as mentioned, food is part of travel, so why don’t you try local cuisine?
You may not be able to get the chance to eat homemade meals, but at least visiting establishments that serve their dishes is already worth it. It also gets you one step closer to understanding the food culture of where you are. Even better, trying to eat like a local gives you access to more affordable meals.
7. Don’t Eat Too Much
It’s quite common to be enthusiastic about all the new places and foods you’re experiencing. However, don’t eat too much that it affects your health or will lead to serious stomach issues. Besides, you may not have enough space in your tummy for other types of food.
You can always follow the 80/20 rule – that is, you can stop eating until you’re 80 percent full. You can also plan where to eat each day. This way, you can eat the food you want to try, plan your budget accordingly, and learn to control your meals.
Traveling also gives us an excuse to try new flavors, but if you want to enjoy their food, you also need to prepare for it. These tips will help you.
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