Like most people, when I first got on the travel scene, my biggest concern was ensuring I had the perfect travel luggage.
And jewelry.
And itinerary.
And outfits and sets.
All of these things are important, to be sure. However, after getting severe food poisoning on two different trips, I knew it was time to broaden my horizons.
Everyone knows that sampling the local cuisine is one of the most important parts of the whole travel experience. But how do you do that without putting your stomach in danger? While you might think that only eating at restaurants is a good way out, that’s not always the case.
I’ve learned that the biggest aspect of staying safe on the road is watching what the locals eat and when they eat. Of course, no single piece of advice will work in every scenario. But I’ve found that since I started practicing certain tips, I’ve been able to enjoy meals on my travels a lot more.
Hopefully, these tips will help your tum-tum find its balance on the road, too!
My Guide to How to Enjoy Street Food Anywhere in the World
Some of the best tricks I’ve picked up for ensuring I eat safely include:
One – Watch the Queue
One of the best ways to tell a great place to eat is by the length of the line in front of the stall. So, this is great practice anywhere in the world. However, in addition to how long the line is, I also make sure to check who’s on the line, too.
Generally, I lean towards stalls with more women and children, as I think our stomachs have about the same amount of resilience. And, usually, the more variety in the customer base the stall shows, the more likely it is that it offers good-quality food.
Two – Watch the Food
The benefit of eating in street stalls is that you often get a clear view of how your food is prepared and handled. Why is this important? Because, iron stomach or not, hygiene is everything.
That’s why you want to avoid stalls where one person does the food-making and handles the money. This applies even if they’re using plastic gloves. On the other hand, if it’s a two-party stall – where one person handles the money and the other takes care of the food – then you’re probably good to go.
Three – Detailed Translation Cards to the Rescue
Yes, you can gesture repeatedly and try to mimic getting sick over food to convey your point – I’ve tried this repeatedly over the years. But does it ever get your point across? Rarely.
What does work is having a detailed translation card. This works great with street food stalls, as it’s much easier to modify your meals here. That can make all the difference if you have food allergies, as the cards will clearly state what ingredients the chef should avoid using.
Four – The Baby Wipes Technique
Sometimes, the food may not be the culprit – the cutlery might be. Food stalls tend to have different hygiene standards so you may come across poorly washed utensils. But this isn’t a problem if you have your baby wipes. Give the cutlery a good wipe-down, and you’ll be all set for your meal!
Warning: This will get you a few weird side glances. But it’s always better to be safe than sorry, isn’t it?
Five – Timing is Everything
As the saying goes, “When in Rome…”
I’ve found that it’s almost always a good thing to learn when the locals take their meals and time yours for the same period. This is because the food will likely be fresh then, and if you’re like me, you may have an easier time processing it then. Grabbing an 11:00 AM lunch or a 6:00 PM dinner may not be your thing, but if that’s what the locals are doing, follow suit. Your stomach will thank you for it.
Other Food Safety Trips
- Pack some probiotics for your trip;
- Keep activated charcoal at hand;
- Digestive enzymes can be lifesavers.
And that’s all I have for now! Hopefully, this guide will help you find food that agrees with your stomach so you can make the most of your trip.
Bon appetit!
