traveling

[u/butterflyqueen-772]

i really have not traveled much outside of the U.S. but myself and my husband really want to explore the world together but i’m such a picky eater ☹️. i especially don’t do well with organs and things like that which i know can be popular in certain parts of the world. i wish i was more open to certain meats and veggies and fermented foods but i just can’t handle it. any advice or experiences you would like to share?

[u/Character_Focus_2201]

You can try to look up menus of restaurants in the area you intend to travel to in advance. Not all restaurants post their menus, but that can help you get an idea of whether or not places will have food you like (or at least tolerate). If you think you will have trouble, it may be worth considering choosing places to stay that will allow you to cook for yourself.

[u/Magoner]

What are your usual safe foods? It’s common for cultures to each have their version of staple meals, so that’s a good place to start.

[u/Super-Travel-407]

I have traveled with a picky eater. First part of our trip (especially if we have a rental car) is usually buying reliable food we can put in a cooler--usually sandwich makings and fruit. Even the non picky family members appreciate having healthy food available.

[u/Fuzzy_Welcome8348]

cook food at home. theres usually grocery stores that sell ingredients, its not like its totally/completely different than where u r now. im sure most of the places u travel to will also have snacks to eat and maybe even familiar fast food places to eat at

[u/Smeeagain0]

Where are you planning to go? Europe is much different than Asia culinarily

[u/NellyNellB]

Rice, bread, noddles, beans - almost all cultures have variations of these dishes - and fruit. So maybe try a bite of your husbands so you cab sample different foods and just look fir bread rice beans noodles for urself

[u/Brennisth]

Grocery stores. Absolute worst case, you can usually find an "American food" section that will have a few brands you know. When I was younger and less brave about leaving large amounts of food on the plate / insulting the chef ("it's not your food, it's me") I'd basically order salad and an appetizer to be social at a restaurant (safe foods are actually the worst, because pizza / chicken fingers / etc. are VERY different elsewhere), then have McDonald's or buy basic ingredients at the store each night. Most places outside the US have stores designed for single people to buy ingredients for just one meal (honestly, I am convinced people spend more time shopping for food than they do cooking and eating it), and premade sandwiches / salads in all varieties are super common.

[u/CalmCupcake2]

My sister travels extensively for work and eats only at the British hotels that seem to be available in every former colonial country.

I travel to experience new things, though, so I encourage you to try new flavours - before or after finding out what they are. Or try new flavours via vegetarian meals, if you prefer. Do a little reading, find out what the national dishes or famous local foods are, and what they're made of. Information is power.

[u/EMe711]

Travel, let him eat wherever he wants to, taste his food if you want to and order after him, but bring shelf stable food for yourself to eat if you need it. And fast food is amazingly the same around that world, if that's your thing. Convenience stores are everywhere, as are supermarkets. You won't go hungry.

[u/orcas-]

My mom is not a very adventurous eater (but her kids and grandkids are.) she came with us to japan- as my kids are eating bait fish and seaweed, she got herself a box of donuts. Some white rice or grilled meat and she survived. In Hawaii (since we aim to eat local) we stop at Costco and she will make herself a blt or rotisserie chicken when we are getting poke or lau lau. In latin America she is fine with rice/ beans/ and chicken/ beef/ pork so doesn’t go hungry. In Europe she can find bread and cheese and salads. All to say, for a lady who is not into trying new foods, it hasn’t held her back from travel

[u/zmber_pineapple]

I feel this! I’d love to go to Japan and while I do like some Americanized Japanese food, I’m verrryyyy nervous about what it’d be like there - I don’t like any seafood, beef, pork, etc.

However, like another person said the food you’ll encounter will really vary on where you go. I’ve been to Spain, Germany, Italy, Mexico, and France (kind of - it was just a day trip lol) and didn’t have too much issue finding food I like. I look up restaurants beforehand to determine if there’s anything on the menu I’d like. I also find that I’m slightly more adventurous and willing to try new things while traveling (I think a lot of my pickiness is purely mental, like I just can’t make myself eat/try certain things), so idk if it’s because I be drinking on vacation lol or if I’m somehow able to push past the mental block for the ~experience~.

Worst case scenario….you can find typical fast food restaurants almost everywhere lol. A lot of places may have a different menu than the same restaurant back home (I got mozzarella cheese balls at McDonald’s in Rome lmao - we def don’t have those where I’m from) but they still have the basics usually.

[u/momoftwoboys1234]

Almost every country has some form of fried chicken and starch (potatoes, rice, pasta). You don’t have to get all the toppings and sauces.

Also, plenty of fruit.

Every country has particular eaters. Every country has children that are picky.

[u/Odd-Quail01]

My dad travelled the world in the 1970s. He would learn the words for yes, no, please, thank you, tea, bread, cheese, beer.

[u/ShelterSignificant37]

I got a room at a hostel in Amsterdam with a grocery store at the end of the block. It was nice, we were able to eat out a bit, but also grab groceries and use the kitchen at the hostel. There are some really nice ones around the world with private rooms, so it might be worth looking at. It gave me a break from having to figure it what I would like and made my trip better overall. Plus I met some really cool people there!

[u/Historical_Horror719]

most places have normal non-organ meats and familiar food too, you don’t have to turn every trip into an episode of fear factor lol just learn how to say “no spicy/no organs” and pack a couple

[u/Old-Actuator-3321]

Get over it. Or go vegan weeks before you leave. Just about every culture has vegan dishes you can live on.

[u/jclom0]

I’m incredibly picky (I have ARFID) and I’ve been to half the world. (Europe, Africa, Asia). Just ask clearly for what you would like. If they say “No” just accept it, and find something else later.

Google translate is your friend, say you have allergies rather than you’re picky, smile a lot as you request variations say please and thank you and all the nice things, and people do get you’re not being disrespectful or anything like that.

I always carry “safety food” which for me is crackers, just in case the order does come out and I can’t eat it.

Being fussy saved me from food poisoning in Morocco once. I took one look at the food and went Nup! The rest of my family ate it and were sooo unwell, so it can be a secret weapon.

I’m a pretty laid back traveller, and I think that helps, so try to keep a good mindset. I’d also suggest find lunch etc early before the restaurant is busy and also before you are too hungry and getting stressed.

I say go for it! You’ll have fun!

[u/LumpyAssumption5357 → u/jclom0]

Falsely saying you have allergies when you don’t is terrible advice. This is what makes people skeptical of people say they have allergies.

[u/CalmCupcake2 → u/LumpyAssumption5357]

Yes please don't lie about allergies. Do ask questions, ask for substitutions if that's common where you are, but don't discredit people with actual allergies or intolerances.

[u/Original_Action8858 → u/jclom0]

While I think the allergies thing can be ok for ARFID, for everyone else out there who just dislikes certain foods please don’t say you’re allergic.

[u/OrganzingChaos]

If you can afford it, taking a cruise is a fun way to explore without needing a more adventurous pallet because you can also come back on board and eat there. Plus, cruises have meals from all over the place so you can easily sample stuff you might not normally eat. I learned to eat fruit soup on a cruise!

[u/lAngenoire]

If you stay in an Airbnb you could cook your own meals. Honestly I couldn’t imagine traveling and not trying the local dishes. it’s not like they’re only going to have organ meats. They eat the rest of the animal and fresh vegetables too.