- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Food is very important when you’re traveling—one wrong meal can strand you in your hotel room, far from the tatami mats and beach-front heavy bags you were planning to spend your time on.
One of the most common food-related maladies that can sideline you is traveler’s diarrhea. It’s estimated to affect 30 percent of those who spend time abroad. Although it’s often mild, the affliction can be quite severe, which is all the more reason to pay attention to the details of your meals.
The rule is basic: If you’re in a country where drinking water is not safe, stick with cooked foods. Remember that raw fruits and vegetables have probably been exposed to the same water you’re trying to avoid. When in doubt, rely on heat treatment to kill those nasties.
IF YOU’RE LIKE MOST martial artists, you keep track of the protein, carbohydrate and fat content of your meals. Visiting a foreign land can force you to alter the ratios you’re used to based on food availability. If the culture you’re in leans toward exotic foods you’ve never tried, eat more carbs (bread, rice and potatoes); they’re digested easily and will keep you feeling full.
If you’re planning to train heavily or compete, you’ll need to pay extra attention to dietary details. Your energy needs never change, so strive to keep the same percentages of protein, carbs and fat in your diet, if possible from the same sources.
Don’t try a new and exotic “fun food” right before an important performance because you never know how it’ll affect you. Example: Many people are allergic to jackfruits and exotic berries, but they don’t know it because they never eat them at home.
If your schedule permits, arrive in your destination country four to seven days before you’ll start your training or step into the ring. That will give you time to determine if your body is sensitive to local foods. Bonus: You’ll be more accustomed to the environment, too.
If you think caution is keeping you from consuming all the nutrients you need, grab some Pedialyte from a grocery store. Intended for babies, this nutrient-rich drink has been used by traveling fighters for years. Other brands of baby beverages can serve the same function, as well as provide energy before a fight.
MY FINAL BIT OF food advice for martial artists about to leave their home country is to remember that respecting a culture isn’t just about bowing and gesturing; it’s also about how you accept and eat food.
In Japan, if you put down your chopsticks incorrectly, it can be seen as an insult. In Africa, some tribes expect you to eat with your hands. In Russia, it’s impolite not to drink with your hosts. In Greece, it’s rude to refuse an invitation to dine in someone’s home. In Israel, mixing dairy and meat may conflict with religious beliefs. In many traditional countries, men eat before women.
When you’re outside your homeland, you’re a representative of not only your country but also the martial arts. Attention to detail will go a long way toward being accepted and getting the most out of your trip. You can learn much of what you need to know from a good guidebook.
The rest you can pick up from watching the locals and doing as they do—even if you’re not in Rome.
