Tips for Traveling With a Picky Eater
[guest post] Traveling as a picky eater isn’t easy. The further you explore, the stranger the food options can become. If food isn’t enough to put you off your travels, you’re likely looking for a solution to your picky eating.
Fortunately, you don’t have to become less picky to find solutions to the problem. There are many ways you can avoid foods you don’t like while traveling, as long as you know how. If you’re planning on traveling soon, here’s what you need to know.
Learn The Language
When you’re traveling, the biggest barrier to ordering food and getting what you want is not knowing how to speak the language. It can help to learn a few phrases and how to pronounce the names of meals you enjoy. When you visit local restaurants, you can be sure you know how to ask for what you want.
If the server asks you a question you don’t understand, it can help to have a translator app on your phone. This will help you to avoid any confusion and get a meal you’re happy to eat.
Take Pictures
If you’re dealing with more than just picky eating, you may need more than language to help. If you have an allergy to certain foods, it’s essential that you make sure it’s not included in your meal. Rather than just relying on a few words or phrases to get you by, have a picture of the food you’re allergic to with you.
For instance, if you’re allergic to garlic and you’re traveling in Europe, it can be a common ingredient in many foods. Be sure to go to restaurants that make fresh food and can easily leave garlic out of the dishes.
Do Your Research
When you know where you’re going, you can prepare by researching local restaurants and popular dishes. Christopher Precopia has put a list of travel and food shows together that are ideal for watching before you head off on your adventure. Knowing what to expect is half the battle when you want to be sure you’ll get a good meal.
When you arrive at your destination, talk to other travelers and ask for tips on the best restaurants for picky eaters. If you’re in a city or nearby, you can guarantee there’ll be a McDonald’s within reach.
Swallow Your Pride
Traveling is about experiencing new things and eating is no different. Often, being a picky eater when traveling is travel anxiety and it requires mind over matter. For example, if you’re traveling to the Mediterranean, you can expect fish to be on the menu.
If you can pep talk yourself into trying fish, just while you’re on vacation, you may have better luck at trying something new. You’ll also find it much easier to find meals on the menu since fresh fish is a commonly used ingredient. Being willing to try is the first step to finding something that you may enjoy.
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