Enjoying local foods, while traveling abroad, is one of the best ways to experience a culture. Not only can tourists eat how the locals do, but mom-and-pop restaurants are a great way to meet authentic folk. However, eating overseas poses some serious health hazards. Here are some tips on eating healthy away from home.

Drink Safe Water 

Finding a safe water source is one of the most challenging aspects of travel in developing countries. Common ways of treating water include iodine tablets and carbon filtration systems. Of course, boiling water is the oldest way of eliminating contaminants. If travelers are unsure of the water, they should use a carbon filter, as they are more
effective and take less time than tablets do. Bottled water is generally a safe source, but the seals cannot be broken.

Wash Your Hands 

Washing hands is a universal precautionary measure, yet t is surprising how many people do not wash their hands regularly. It is so important, but not part of people’s habits that CNAs are taught how to help people with basic hygiene needs. The CNA Training Center in Iowa mentions that this is part of the state’s required training for nurse aides. There is not someone to watch vacationers overseas; it is up to them to wash their own hands.

Eat Fresh, Completely Cooked and Hot Food 

There are three adjectives people should remember when they are looking for food abroad: fresh, cooked and hot. Food that is not fresh might have been growing bacteria, while it was sitting unprepared. Likewise, food that has had time to cool off after being cooked might have grown bacteria. Therefore, people should look for food that is still hot and has not been kept warm with another heat source. Finally, cooking is the most important battle in the fight against food-borne illnesses. Especially meat and seafood should not be eaten raw or under-cooked.

Avoid Ice 

No matter how hot the environment is and how refreshing a cold glass of ice would be, ice should be avoided. Unlike water, people cannot verify where the ice came from, in most cases. There is usually no way to know if it has been made with treated water or not. If this can be determined, then ice can be very refreshing, and safe. Avoid Raw Produce that You Don’t Peel Bacteria can be transferred from people’s hands to fruits and vegetables during preparation. There are two ways to avoid contracting a food-borne illness from fruits and vegetables. Travelers should seek out cooked fruits and vegetables, since any bacteria will be killed during cooking, or ones that they can peel themselves.

Unrefrigerated Dairy 

All dairy products, aside from a few soft cheeses, must be refrigerated at all times. Even if they are refrigerated at a dining establishment, there is no way to determine that they were cooled during transport. If this is not definitively known, people should avoid dairy products. These tips can keep people safer away from home, by helping them avoid food-borne illnesses. There are many places overseas that provide safe food and water. Just keep these in mind while traveling.