How to Eat Culturally

[Danielle is definitely someone I admire greatly not just because she’s a great blogger and woman overall, but her passion for traveling is one after my own heart.  I can’t tell you how jealous I am every time she goes somewhere new.  If there is one thing I love to read about though, is how she’s never afraid to eat the foods that are from the area or cultural.  Please enjoy her guest post! ]

Hi Trying to Heal readers! I’m Danielle, (Danielle Abroad, that is), and I’m thrilled to be guest posting here today. Melissa is an amazing person and blogger, one that I’ve been lucky enough to have “known” for quite a few years now and to have met just last summer. So, when she asked me to contribute some of my thoughts on how “not to be afraid to try new cultural items,” I jumped at the chance.

As I’m sure you’ve gathered from my own blog’s title, I am passionate about travel. I think it’s a necessary enrichment to living a full life. I also believe that food is an integral part to those experiences, as well as one of the most exciting. What’s unfortunate, however, is that for many, it is food that brings the most stress. Aside from being picky, the problem begins with our definition of vacation—a break a.k.a. a break from our otherwise healthy lifestyle and eating habits. That promise coincides with complete relaxation, which is great… until it’s followed by the second phase of the problem, weight gain. How can we ever truly enjoy ourselves on our trips, getaways, or even simply outings to ethnic restaurants then, when we’re in constant fear of foreign foods?

Different cuisines are spicy, sweet, savory and satisfying. They’re not scary. I can promise you that. But just in case you have any doubt, here are a few reasons I’ve gathered from my travels to support my reasoning as to why not:

• Eating local is a global tradition. In many countries, especially those less industrialized than the United States, regional dishes are a direct product of the produce that is local to the area. Avocado is plentiful in authentic Mexican dishes because it’s grown there and fish is plentiful in Japanese dishes because Japan is an island, surrounded by an ocean, that is full of ‘em. Obvious, no? J Sure, you may not be used to the way these ingredients are prepared, but you can’t argue that avocado and fish are healthy food items. Enjoy them when and where you can!

• Variety is great for your body. Just because you’re not familiar with basing a meal around coconut milk (as in Thai cuisine) doesn’t mean it can’t help your immune system. Just because you’ve never used tumeric (popular in Indian cuisine) doesn’t mean that it isn’t an anti-inflammatory. Some delicacy items may be more caloric than you’re used to, but I’d recommend trying each dish at least once. You might like them, you might not, but by the chance that you do, you could be bringing home some healthful inspiration for cooking in your kitchen. I spiced up my personal recipe for hummus sandwiches with walnut pieces, of which I discovered worked well together in Chile. The risk of an “ew” is worth it.

• No matter where you are, there is more to food than nutrition. France is the capital of regarding food as pleasure. It’s a philosophy worth adopting. In my time there I ate baguettes, chocolate, and wine a plenty. I also had a plant-based diet and, if you can believe it, lost weight. The trick is to approach these delicacies with a healthy mindset. They’re delicious and they’re not the healthiest for you and both are more than okay. Have a croissant one morning because it makes you happy and follow it by a big salad in the afternoon because it makes your body feel good. Walk wherever you can, whenever you can, if nothing else because it’s nice to enjoy your surroundings. The trick is to be aware of how your food choices and your actions make you feel, and lead your life in a way that will you bring the most satisfaction across the board.

Wherever you go, I hope that you are always able to celebrate food. It is a spectacular part of each and every culture, and if approached healthfully (as it is meant to be), can always be the best part of each and every trip you take.