Eating while traveling, especially in places that are unfamiliar or you don’t speak the language, can be difficult. It can be tempting to fall into patterns of eating fast foods which lack nutrition or trying every sweet you see but these are actions that can lead to headaches, bloating, dehydration and more hunger – not what you want to experience during your travels.
As part of my studying abroad experience I’ve been traveling a fair amount lately and will share some techniques and tricks that have worked well for me in terms of staying well fed and nutritionally satisfied while on the go.
Plan Ahead – for an early morning flight I brought my own breakfast along to avoid the added sugars, calories and prices of airport dining. This is a microwaved omelette that I made before leaving, wrapped in tinfoil and enjoyed while waiting to board. I also took a piece of fruit with me to start my day with a nice balance of protein and micronutrients.
On the subject of breakfast – we’ve all heard “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” but it’s especially true while traveling. Breakfast is the first fuel your body gets after fasting through the night so its important that its a good fuel. Starting your day with something sugary or skipping breakfast leaves you prone to making poor nutrition choices later in day not to mention either can lead to headaches, dizziness, hanger and lethargy. While traveling I try and keep my breakfast as close to what I would have at home. It’s easier to do when cooking for yourself but also doable when going out to eat. When going out – scope out the menu beforehand and when eating hotel breakfasts focus on protein, healthy fats and fiber and avoid the sugary breakfast sweets. I like to skip the breakfast deserts and save my sweet treat for something later in the day.
Pack your own – one of the great things about traveling can be trying new foods, but sometimes long waits in restaurants and cafes can slow you down from getting all your exploring done. If you know you’ll have a busy day pack something to eat so that you can be fed and fuelled for your adventures without being slowed down by slow cafes or busy restaurants. See photo captions for details
Ask for recommendations – google and tripadvisor are great but advice from locals is better. During a weekend in Madrid a friend spending the semester there recommended these 1 euro tacos and I promise they tasted even better than they look…
Eating the local cuisine – often when travelers think of eating local cuisine they think of gorging on foreign desserts and delicacies, but remember there’s more to a city or country than their unique pastry/gelato/etc. Also enjoy foods as the locals do – eat normal portions and take the time to enjoy it. If you are going to enjoy some special sweets (as you should every so often) – plan them into your day/trip. Think ahead so that you can try sweet a one day and sweet b another instead of just grabbing every new dessert you see. Also locals’ recommendations come in big on the desserts – they know the best spots for each item and are a great resource to maximize your enjoyment.
Stay open and aware – the Swiss ski resort I visited has a deal where if you ski a certain amount of runs within a day you can earn points which qualify you for free food or drink around the resort. I didn’t know this until my phone buzzed letting me know I had qualified. My options were a hot drink, a dessert or a small entre from a few different places and I opted to get a small fried rice to add to my meatballs and salad to round out a yummy and balanced post-ski meal.
Fed and Fueled 