Raw food & travel. Help.

[amanda]

Hi everyone!

I might be going to Central America sometime soon & was wondering if anyone had any suggestions as to what to eat... Has anyone on here ever been there? Can I eat the produce without getting sick? Can I drink the water? Can I drink the bottled water? How do I be polite when/if people make me meals that are not raw vegan? What do I do?

thanks

[Elouet]

Hey there! I've been to Bolivia, and from my experience there the answer to both your questions is no. Water and produce are unclean. You must boil water to use it and boil food also. I would say pack produce in plastic bags and tupperware, and bring lots of dried fruits and nuts. Hope this helps!

[amanda]

Thanks elouet! Did you like Bolivia?

Idon't think you can take produce & nuts & things like that on a plane outside the US, can you?

I've been 100% raw vegan for 7 days now. I'm thinking of travelling next month.

If I go 30 whole days of being raw-vegan and then switch to whatever food there is there will my body go in shock?

Will I be sick, miserable, in the bathroom all day? I don't want to appear as a purest freak, but I also don't want to get sick.

haha.. if anybody can help me that'd be great.

[veggie]

Hi Amanda,

That's exciting you will have the opportunity to travel to Central America! Provided that you will have access to some purified water, I would suggest bringing BarleyMax, CarrotMax and/or Beetmax with you. They come in canisters and can be purchased online at www.hacres.com.
The BarleyMax is helpful in curbing the appetite and providing amazing nutrition to your cells including live enzymes, and it's a raw organic food. The carrotmax and beetmax are intended to be "juicing" supplements--so if you can't juice carrots or beets, you can mix the powder with water. You can actually mix all three I would assume.
Additionally, you can take lara bars and some bananas, apples, pears and oranges. Those are usually easily portable.
Have a great trip!

[Abigail]

You can take fresh produce on the plane, but you won't be able to get it past customs in your destination country. Ditto when you return to the US. You can take packaged foods with you, though. I'm going on a trip to Czech Republic myself in 3 days. I'm taking dried fruits, raw nuts, lara bars, and commercial raw crackers with me. Don't open the packages until you have gone through customs, otherwise the products will be considered non-commercial/unpackaged. Some airports (Heathrow in London if I remember correctly) have signs that say you can't take bottled water past customs if you have already drunk some of the water. The seal has to be intact for products to be allowed through customs.

[amanda]

Thanks Veggie & Abigail! Very helpful info. I hope your trip (Abigail) to the Czech Republic goes well.

I'm just worried that if I go, since I might be staying with a family & if they ever made me any food and I didn't want it it would be rude.. :(..

[moonstone523]

Being 100% raw will be difficult, especially if you don't want to break face.

Do you have access to a market where you can buy foods to prepare at the family's home? Do you speak the language so you can explain your diet?

Best of luck! :)

[amanda]

Thanks moonstone... I guess I'll just see what happens, try to eat as much fresh fruit as I can that shouldn't be too bad and I'll boil my water. I don't quite understand the language, but I hope that won't be too much of a problem. My friend understands english somewhat, so maybe I'll be ok :)

[robertandenith]

what part of central america? where? I am from Panama. There are some countries that sell organic like Costa Rica and Salvador. Maybe there should be another country that sells organic... not sure. But maybe bring a produce wash with you? Don't drink the water though!!!!

If you want to say no to cooked foods, just tell them that you are vegetarian - lactose/wheat intolerant! lol!!! that may do!

in Spanish - Disculpa soy alergica! Necesito comer comida especial!

They will understand :) You can google: 'comida organica' or verduras organicas' and the name of the country you may find something. In Panama there is only one place that sells organic produce which I think is in Chiriqui a Panama province but it not the main city though :( If you can't find organic, heck just bring the veggie wash with you and wash away that food! oh well!

[robertandenith]

about the water... could you bring a filter with you? There are some great brita jars that you could bring with you for those days...

[amanda]

It'd be NI. not 100% surei'm going yet. I have a friend that I might be staying with his family & he pretty much said I'm a freak hahah.. well I don't know if he was jk, but I said well see I've been trying to eat all raw foods.. "i'm a freak" and he's like yes you are.. hahahaha. :) I don't know what I'll do. :p

[amanda]

they probably have bottled water & I can maybe boil the water 30 mins, & bring iodine tablets or w/e they are for emergency.

[robertandenith]

a healthy freak! lol :p :D

[amanda]

yep... I always have been just more so right now.. hahaha

[moonstone523]

You don't have to boil the water for 30 min.

A 2 minute rolling boil is enough. And you don't have to have iodine tablets either if you boil.

Believe, I know. I live in Thailand. I am drinking tap water right now that I've boiled for tea. :cool:

Also, I just went to a camp where I brought all my own food to make salads, and it was a HUGE issue among the Thais. Finally towards the end they started to get it, and bought me salads from the market (not 100% raw though).

I ate 2 meals with them. I cried because they made such a big deal about my diet. And it was my birthday too. :( :D :cool: