How to eat well while traveling?

Whether it’s a vacation, a year of study abroad, or a trip abroad for work, our eating habits can dramatically change. For some, it is the door open to relaxation … It is all the more difficult as culinary habits vary considerably from continent to continent, from country to country …
Here are some tips to make yourself happy while continuing to eat healthily for yourself and the environment.

Keep a regular meal schedule

During the holidays, we often tend to slack off. However, that does not mean that you have to eat several times a day while snacking right to left. Keep on a regular meal schedule, with at least two main meals, a breakfast and / or a snack. Even if they are out of step with your usual hours.
This allows you to keep regular intakes and periods of digestive rest. Also structure your diet and avoid a high intake of nutritionally “poor” foods.

Foods to choose from for you and the planet

To have a positive impact on the environment, you need to eat sustainably, even when traveling! Sustainable food is the set of dietary practices that aim to feed humans in sufficient quality and quantity. All this while respecting the environment and being economically accessible and profitable throughout the food chain.
Here are 5 examples of foods that are good for you, the environment and your taste buds!

• Cereals and grains (quinoa, buckwheat, white fonio, millet): Choose whole grains which are better for your health because they concentrate fibers, proteins and vitamins. In addition, eating whole grains lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease, reduces feelings of hunger, restores energy and reduces stress.
• Pulses (lentils, black beans, broad beans, mung beans) which have a unique ability to fix and use nitrogen present in the atmosphere. They don’t need chemical fertilizers to grow.
• Spinach which has a rapid growth and therefore a low environmental impact. This food is also rich in iron, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
• Nuts and seeds (flax seed, sesame seeds, hemp seeds) which are considered to be one of the most nutritious varieties. However, you should not eat just any variety as not all are durable.
• Algae which have a limited impact on the environment and are considered the food product of the future due to their many benefits for health and the environment. Seaweed is rich in mineral salts as well as fiber. The most ecological algae are: nori seaweed, Wakame seaweed, wash seaweed.

Eat seasonal products … at the right season

Fruits and vegetables produced out of season are generally less good because they have not received enough sun and therefore heat. It’s best to avoid consuming products that have traveled half the planet before reaching your plate. Choosing locally produced foods generally reduces greenhouse gas emissions from transport; aircraft impacting our environment more than boats and trucks.
Eating in season also means adapting your diet to your body’s needs. Winter fruits and vegetables do not necessarily provide the same nutrients as summer ones. And a little bonus: they are also on average cheaper than products consumed out of season.
Traveling to a faraway land gives you access to fruits and vegetables that are in season in your destination country when they are not at all in your home country.

In which country do we eat the best?

Here are the top 5 countries where we eat the best:

• Peru holds the dominant position in gastronomy. It is varied, healthy and tasty. Peruvian cuisine has some of the best ranked restaurants. Among the specialties that you can taste on site, the “ceviche” is certainly the most famous. You will also find empanadas, a chicken broth called “aji” or potatoes stuffed with meat.
• Italy: pizzas and pasta are the most famous, but Italian cuisine is so much richer than these two star dishes. It includes stews, local olive oil, mozzarella, succulent tomatoes, seafood and fresh fish to taste when the fishermen arrive.
• France: A staple in gastronomy, France is a country that cares about food. This is evident in every meal, ingredient and style. The dishes are different from region to region. On the menu: veal blanquette, beef bourguignon, sauerkraut, bouillabaisse….
• India: Food cultures in India are very diverse. For vegetarian cuisine, we find Dal, Aloo Gobi or Palak Paneer. Non-vegetarian dishes often contain mutton or chicken, such as Chicken Tandoori, Tikka Masala or Murgh Makhani.
• Japan is represented in large part by sushi all over the world, but it is not the country’s only specialty. Crispy pork in sauce, korokke croquettes or dried jellyfish are equally popular.

With these tips, we can already, at our own level, help bring about new eating habits that are good for your health, even when away from home!

During your stay abroad, and depending on the nature of your stay, also consider taking out travel insurance, expatriate insurance or student insurance abroad