Do you believe that fast food is the sole option for eating when traveling? Are you reluctant to leave your cozy surroundings and abandon your healthy eating practices in favor of whatever you can find on the road? You have every right to worry!
We’ve passed through long lengths of land and food tours where the only eateries are fast food joints, and rest areas are stocked with a ton of chips and other junk stuff. I completely understand if you’re worried that your kids will become accustomed to eating burgers and fries and refuse to eat meals you make for them when you get home.
How To Find Premium Local Food Options While Traveling
When you’re traveling, it’s not always simple to find wholesome cuisine. So I’m going to share all of my advice with you today on where to locate wholesome meals when traveling. To enjoy a healthier vacation, abide by these recommendations!
Whatever your appetite, you can find ways to reduce the cost of each meal while on vacation. Use these cost-effective ideas on your next trip to save money on food.
Let me quickly summarize our family’s healthy food options before we continue. Alternatively, you can skip down to the tips by doing so.
Discover Local Restaurants/ Hotels That Offer Free Breakfast
Free breakfast is a typical hotel bonus, and it’s not just available at the luxury 4- and 5-star hotels that the majority of tourists only seldom stay at. At otherwise forgettable roadside motels, I’ve never had to pay for hearty continental breakfasts.
The continental breakfast transforms into a lavish hot-and-cold buffet with waffle makers and omelet stations as you move up the quality scale to chains like Hampton Inn.
Most hotels proudly advertise complimentary breakfasts. However, phone ahead if you’re unsure.
Look For Lodgings With Access To Kitchens And Meal Service.
The term “kitchen” does not include a hotel mini-fridge.
Check out trusted short-term rental websites like Airbnb and Vrbo whether you’re traveling alone, with a spouse or partner, or with a bigger group of friends. It’s frequently preferable to book a rental than a conventional hotel room if you can find one that is reasonably priced, highly rated, and conveniently accessible.
You can make complete, nutritious meals in short-term accommodations that have a working kitchen. Paying a premium for this kind of lodging is frequently worthwhile. By allowing you to do things like buy at a nearby grocery store to cut down on eating out and do laundry so you can pack, they can help you save money on all of your travel-related expenses.
Take A Lot Of Shelf-Stable Food With You
You could get hungrier than you should not just in airports. Bring enough wholesome, shelf-stable snacks for the duration of your vacation. Consider dried fruit, sugar-free peanut butter, granola bars, mixed nuts, energy bars, and whole-grain crackers when choosing a snack.
This tactic could be constrained on lengthy vacations by your cargo space. Wait until after your flight to go on a snack run if you’re flying to your destination, aren’t expecting to check a bag, or have little room in your checked luggage for your food.
Don’t Eat At The Airport
You may anticipate paying much more at the airport for any type of food, grab-and-go, whether it be a fancy sit-down or everything in between.
Avoiding airport food is one of the simplest ways to save money there. With a lengthy stopover ahead of you, that is easier said than done.
Instead, have a substantial meal before going to the airport, and pack enough snacks in your carry-on to last you until you arrive. Simply avoid bringing any snacks that could be considered liquids.
Employ Local Coupons
Look for daily specials and social coupons at appetizing-looking eateries there before you get there. Depending on the generosity of the vendor, the proper Groupon deal can cut your bill by 40% or 50%.
Additionally, you can try sector-specific coupon websites like Restaurant.com, but I’ve had mixed results with that one. It’s not enjoyable to argue with a server who vehemently denies that Restaurant.com coupons are honored by his job.
Develop A Taste For Street Food
If the prospect of eating a $7 burrito from a random food truck makes your stomach turn, let alone a $2 noodle dish from a decrepit cart that looks like it’s about to catch fire, you might need some persuading.
When in doubt, adhere to the “local popularity rule”: if enough locals frequent the location, it’s generally okay. In Thailand, where I consumed more street noodle lunches than I could count on two hands, this rule served me well.
Food truck enthusiasts are advised by Harvard Medical School to read internet reviews for any potential cleanliness-related red flags and, if they’re still unsure, search up the inspection records of their local health authority.
Pricing Fixed-Price Meals
The multicourse Prix-fixe menu does not necessarily represent a better bargain than the à la carte menu. Restaurants frequently use smaller, more straightforward portions to make up for multicourse diversity.
To make sure you make the appropriate choice, speak with waiters about the prix-fixe value and study reviews on Yelp or Google.
Can A Bar Hang Onto Your Credit Card Legally?
Even though each bar’s open tabs policy varies depending on management preferences, most bars demand patrons to present a credit card before opening a tab. A bartender frequently keeps the customer’s card on file until the tab is paid in full.
What Is The App Foodspotting?
You may discover delicious dishes in your region and share mouthwatering platters of food with others using the Foodspotting app, which is available for both iOS and Android devices. Similar to Foodily, but without the recipes, is Foodspotting. Or just use Instagram for food-related posts.
