We all love to travel, to explore the world and gratify our souls with diverse cultural experiences. Not to forget, food is one of the most important parts of it. Different regions of the globe have so many different flavors to offer that you can never think of. Believe it or not, at times food can also create issues in your travel plans. Nevertheless, you need to research and get the best for yourself.

Research and Research! In today’s world, everything is connected and can be operated with just a click of a button. You can do extensive research on Google and know about the different dishes of the globe. The cuisines vary from country to country. Some of the destinations keep very simple, whereas others offer a lavish spread. There will always be something really exciting to try. The possibilities of tasting different dishes while traveling is endless.

Eat your Way All Around the World 

Travel and food go together like soy and ginger or lemon and thyme- the moment you plan your desired holiday destination. For many, the main criterion is: ‘Travel is what we eat’. It is an opportunity to explore exhilarating new flavors and regional specialties with wine sipping under the stars. Tasting new cuisines is the main reason why many travelers love discovering the different parts of the globe. Nevertheless, it is not that easy to have appropriate dining while traveling. The secret behind this is to act more like a local and less like a tourist.

Your first creamy taste of a flawlessly Parisian croissant, rich Italian hot chocolate, or delicious Indian desserts definitely lasts for a long time and for good reason. You just need to venture out (check out Travelstart) by being a local of the country and not a tourist. Always take suggestions from friends who have been to that place about the eateries or just click a button and get every detail within few seconds.

FOOD- The Best Part about Traveling

We all take out time from our work and plan a preferred destination. We book flights and search for best possible accommodation as per our budget. Now what is left? It is FOOD! After this, we search for the new flavors, experience, and tastes of that particular country. However, it may not give you full satisfaction, but a sense of deeper appreciation is surely there in you for local food and culture.

You are actually forced to look for local specialties. Consulting your travel desk of the hotel, you get to know more about the place and its food culture. But now, here are few reasons why eating is considered the most important and best part about traveling:

You Taste Foods that you have never had Before: Traveling to some new destination opens your eyes as well as your taste buds. You find out something new that has been missing out since long. For instance, the famous thing to eat in Poland is pierogis, stuffed with vegetables and meat. Exploring new food of a particular place is a good reason to visit that country someday.

You Discover Foods you make at Home in a Different Way: Experiencing new foods in a different country is incredible. The food that you have already tasted before and find a completely new flavor in some other country is amazing. For instance, mozzarella cheese of Italy has a completely new flavor that what you get at the nearest grocery store. Taste and texture is so different that it seems that you have tasted a new foodstuff for the first time.

Food unites People: Experiencing food trails with someone who is a big foodie as you are, is simply awesome. You will have wonderful bonding over new foods that you try and decide what you must try next. In this way, you get to meet new people of different nations. A conversation with a stranger over a cup of coffee or some dessert seems to be a good idea.

You Get Home New Flavors and Dishes: When you visit some different country, you bring back home lovely experiences of new flavors and dishes. Then you wish to try it in your kitchen. The taste may not be the same that you tried, but you can say, ‘Yes I had this there and it’s yummy.’ For example, if you tried pasta in Rome, then you try your level best to get the same taste of it.

Enjoying scrumptious food during your travel not only opens up your mind but also your stomach. Adjusting to unusual tastes and flavors is not everybody’s cup of tea, so must go beyond the comfort zone. You may be unfamiliar with the food items but you must definitely give a try. Order a meal of your choice and consider the above-mentioned points.

Last but not the least, while traveling we keep budget also into consideration. We concentrate on the budget and spend accordingly. Though, while traveling we come out of our comfort zone, but still search something (restaurant for local cuisines) which is pocket friendly and has something good to offer.

This article is written by Ashly Jacob, senior editor in www.holidoi.com, a leading holiday & travel portal in Dubai, UAE.

Do you consume whole grains because the latest nutrition headlines say they prevent cancer? Did you become a vegan or vegetarian to help your heart? Truthfully, the advice changes depending on the latest research and trends.

This all brings up a salient point: are there “good-for-you” food staples that make it onto the weekly grocery list of health experts regardless of headlines or hype about superfoods?

Ryan Hibbert gives you a quick look at what health experts are stashing in their shopping carts. Keep building them into your weekly shopping list, he says, and you’ll stay on the road to good health.

Mushrooms

One food you want to eat each week is mushrooms because they have strong anticancer properties and are also a great meat substitute in spaghetti sauce and soups. Mushrooms have an aromatase inhibitor effect, which reduces breast cancer occurrence and recurrence.

Dried plums

Dried plums are high in boron, a mineral that is important for bone structure, and high in polyphenols, plant nutrients that may have anti-inflammatory effects.

Many scientists are also looking at how eating prunes might improve bone mineral density. Furthermore, they’re also nature’s best digestive aid. What could be better?

Mixed Nuts (Unsalted)

To combat the craving for chips, make sure you eat unsalted, mixed nuts on a daily basis. Just 1/4 to 1/2 cup provides a nice dose of heart-healthy fats, some protein, and a decent amount of fiber.

Bananas

When it comes to nutrition, bananas are an affordable fruit option that taste great, are filling and offer potassium, fiber, vitamin C, B6, and manganese.

Sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes have significant amounts of healthful nutrients, including antioxidants and minerals, in a package that’s full of long-lasting energy.

Leafy Greens

Romaine’s mild flavor and crunchy texture allow you to dress it up with many varieties of foods – other vegetables, fruits, meats, cheese, nuts, and seeds, to create combinations of savory or sweet dishes, not to mention make a balanced meal.

Furthermore, seasonality allows for better pricing and better quality. You can eat fruit at meals and as snacks, so you should always have one or two bowls in the refrigerator. Consider having salad as an entree or as a part of the meal several times per week, as it is a fantastic way to obtain nutrients and fill up your stomach while keeping calories in check. You can also add carrots, celery, and onion to most meals, both raw and cooked. It’s all just a great way to add flavor, fiber, and antioxidants.

Our blog deals with every topic to do with food—– the good, the bad, and the ugly. 

Today we’re touching on an ugly subject. That is, legal chemicals in food packaging. Specifically, we’ll be chatting about chemicals that are forbidden by EU law, but somehow still managed to pass the FDA product approval process in the US. 

Want to know what chemicals are currently contaminating your favorite takeaway? Scroll down for the nitty-gritty. 

What’s the FDA’s Approval Process? 

In the US, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is the official organization for product approval. The FDA website is even classified as an official US government website. Nothing enters the US without first being scrutinized by the FDA— and passing the administration’s product approval process is key.

In light of the recent news that US food packaging contains 154 hazardous chemicals, the FDA’s process might not be as watertight as we first thought. Despite the administration’s high-profile presence, expert commentary on drugs and food and its advocation from the US government, plenty of recent news articles have surfaced that serve to question the FDA’s legitimacy. 

The FDA claims that for a product to get a green stamp of approval, the administration must determine the product on trial as safe and effective. The FDA also bases its decision on whether “the benefits to users will outweigh its risks.”

Is all food packaging safe? If we went off the FDA’s word, the answer would most likely be yes. However, we urge you to ask yourself some questions after learning about the potential dangers of some of America’s legal chemicals and see if you still trust the FDA’s judgment. 

The Benefits, Risks, and Safety of Food Packaging 

Food containers are a simple yet relatively common product— and their popularity is measured by the constant criticism of food packaging’s impact on environmental waste. According to the NRDC — an American earth safeguarding charity—– food and beverage packaging is a prime source of the estimated 269,000 tonnes of plastic pollution. Plastic is the biggest contributor to landfill waste, and although this material is a convenient way to mass-produce items like food packaging, it’s packed full to the brim with potentially harmful chemicals.  

As you’ll know, food packaging has a pretty simple benefit— the storage of food. But is this a necessary benefit? Most people would say no, and it’s a topic that’s widely debated — again because of the environmental impact of packaging. We can see where The Guardian is coming from when they write about the ridiculousness of supermarket packaging. After all, fresh fruit and vegetables having their own natural, protective packaging. 

Yet, we can also see how plastic packaging can serve to preserve food and keep consumption hygienic. Even in environmentalism, this practice helps to minimize unnecessary food waste, suggesting when we think about food packaging, we should stop and think about the bigger picture. Plenty of authoritative sources argue this idea, urging others to think about the consequences of living completely package-less. 

Now you know the very clouded benefit of food packaging, what about its risks? Well, amongst the 154 chemicals that have slipped by the FDA’s test are two dangerous substances: Tributyltin and Perchlorate. While the names are impressive and could pass as villainous, you’ll be convinced of their bad nature after we break down their associated risks. 

Tributyltin — This pesky drug is linked to both breast cancer and poor fetal development. What’s worse, Tributyltin is difficult to spot in packaging as it’s often not listed as a source material. The compound was originally used for enhancing ship performance before it found its way into the packaging industry. 

Perchlorate — It turns out that this chemical has been tested in the US numerous times because of the risks it poses to human health, including reduction of hormone production in the thyroid gland. Despite our skepticism about it during several studies, Perchlorate is still completely legal for product use. The chemical is used in food packaging to control static electricity, but that doesn’t stop it from contaminating food and water. 

From these facts, the safety of American food packaging is unclear. And remember, we’ve only covered two of the 154 chemicals the EU forbids due to associated risks. While you might think enjoying a Chinese takeout on the sofa from a plastic container is only bad for your diet — it could be even worse for your overall health. 

How Can You Control Your Chemical Consumption?
If even the FDA is getting it wrong, then is there any hope for the rest of us? Maybe. 

There are a few actions you can take to avoid consuming harmful chemicals, which might lead to severe health conditions in the long run. Listen up: 

• Avoid Plastic — It’s better to avoid plastic where you can. You should also get clued up on it, so you don’t get caught out. For example, polystyrene — often used for hot food containers — is a form of plastic (and a harmful one at that). Plastic doesn’t always mean transparent containers. 

• Choose Sustainable Alternatives — There are plenty of environmental alternatives, whether you’re storing food at home or eating out. An obvious way to avoid chemicals in packaging is to store loose foods and grains in glass at home, so your pantry isn’t a breeding ground for contamination. What about if you want to have a sneaky cheat meal on the weekend? Make sure you’re picking up pizza from a responsible provider. If you do your research beforehand, there are plenty of fast-food providers with eco-friendly food packaging. Instead of using plastic, these vendors might choose to use renewable resources like paper or even sugar cane to solve storage issues. 

• Watch Where You Shop — You need to cut your harmful packaging consumption at the source. It isn’t enough to buy a plastic-packed product and then remove the transparent sheath as the dirty work could already have been done. Chemicals contaminate food or drink when warm. This doesn’t just pose a problem when re-heating takeout food, as warm weather and long distribution journeys can mean the food is unsafe even before purchase. So, make an effort to shop in local farmers markets where food is fresh and sold without packaging in the first place.