BackThe world on your plate
A cheat sheet to help you decode menus and order healthy on your next trip abroad
PremiumOTHERS :
Your holiday is probably the last place where you would want to think about watching your weight or worry about eating right. Yet exercising a little bit of restraint can go a long way in preventing that dreaded holiday weight. Watching what you eat is also important if you have any existing condition, such as diabetes, hypertension or cardiac ailments.
Here’s how to navigate the culinary minefield when you’re on a holiday—without forgoing a taste of the local cuisine.
MEXICAN
What we know as Mexican food is largely Mexican-origin food, which has been greatly influenced by southern US cuisine (hence the name Tex-Mex). Nachos, burritos, fajitas and chilli con carne are all examples of this cuisine. While corn, beans and chilli are traditional Mexican ingredients, the Tex-Mex variety features a heavy use of cheese, sour cream, meat (especially beef and pork) and certain spices such as cumin, which are not used in Mexican cooking. If you’re travelling through the US, you will find Mexican food everywhere—from restaurants to food trucks—and huge portions of it. In the land of supersized meals, it’s best to order a dish to share.
FRENCH
When you’re travelling through France, there are umpteen temptations in the form of excellent local cheese, bread and butter-laden dishes. “You need what French women have: a balanced and time-tested relation to food and life," says Mireille Guiliano in her 2007 best-seller, ‘French Women Don’t Get Fat—The Secret Of Eating For Pleasure’. So take a leaf out of a Frenchwoman’s book and practise portion control; smaller meals are the key to enjoying French cuisine.
Many vendors offer a choice between crêpes made with refined wheat flour and buckwheat flour. As enticing as a Nutella crêpe may sound, it’s just bad news for your waistline (and diabetes).
ITALIAN
For dessert, you’re better off sticking to gelato, which is low in fat and sugar, and high in seasonal fruits. Make sure you eat artisanal gelato, which does not contain artificial flavouring. “Genuine gelato never looks big and fluffy; those are just full of stabilizers. Also look out for the colour; anything fluoro or extra bright is gelato made with powdered stuff. The flavours to look out for include mint (which should be white, not green) and banana, which shouldn’t be bright yellow," says Pasquale.
THAI
In general Thai cuisine is light, with an emphasis on aromatic ingredients and that all-important balance of sweet, sour and spicy flavours. Since Thai food includes a lot of steamed and stir-fried food, it’s easy to eat healthy. Rice is pretty much a staple, with most curries being served with it. If you’re looking to avoid carbohydrates, you can still eat the flavourful curries on their own.
Thai cuisine also contains some deep fried dishes such as ‘Kai ho bai toei’ (chicken wrapped in pandan leaves and deep-fried), ‘Mu krop’ (deep-fried pork belly), ‘Pla sam rot’ (deep-fried fish in tamarind sauce), which should be avoided. Stick to the stir-fried dishes such as ‘Phak boong fai daeng’ (stir-fried morning glory), ‘Phat phak ruam’ (stir-fried vegetables), ‘Kai phat khing’ (stir-fried chicken with ginger) and of course, Pad Thai.
STAY IN SHAPE
Here are some general tips to avoid the holiday weight-
u Plan ahead: If you know that you’re going to travel a long distance, stock up on healthy snacks to avoid the temptation of grabbing some junk food on the way. Fruits, nuts, popcorn and granola are all great options to have in your bag.
u Portion control: Most restaurant dishes can serve two people, so keep that in mind while ordering. Go for a tasting platter if you can, so that you can try a bit of everything without stuffing yourself. Remember, moderation is the key. Limit the number of treats to one a day; if you’re going to have that tiramisu for dessert, skip the fried ‘polpette’ and ‘arancini’ for starters.
u Go local: Find where your nearest farmer’s market is and shop for fruits in season, instead of drinking sugar-laden fruit juices and sodas. Buy freshly baked bread and team it with local cheese (and/or meats) to make your sandwich lunch, instead of eating in a restaurant for every meal. A baguette with Camembert is more Parisian than ‘pommes frites’ (French fries).
u Work out: Explore your destination on foot rather than hiring a cab. Sign up for a cycling tour of the city or include a spot of hiking in your itinerary.
Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
