7 Ways to Avoid Getting Sick from Street Food

Eating street food without getting sick

 

think of myself as a culinary traveler – while some eat for the energy to travel, I travel with a main motivation to eat.Food not only provides energy and is one of the components of life, it also is one of the most essential parts of any culture around the world.

Of course, food tastes awesome, but it also is the vessel to which you can open doors to a completely new country and build relationships.Growing up in East Africa, my stomach was exposed to the germs and bacteria of eating outdoor street food from a young age.When I moved to southeast Asia I couldn’t believe my eyes at the amount and availability of food (it still enthralls me daily).As a connoisseur of all forms, shapes, sizes, and levels of sanitary conditions of street food, I often get asked “how do you not get sick?”Well, one of the main reasons is that throughout the years I have developed a tolerance for street food germs – it’s something that anyone can get used to with time and eating experience in whatever location you’re in.I remember as a kid going to a street fruit shake stall in the Central African Republic where we would guzzle down concoctions that my father referred to as “amoeba shakes.”I have a number of key suggestions and things to avoid or take note of so you don’t get sick whiletaking advantage of street food.Of course, your stomach is different from mine and from someone else’s — so when you’re about to eat, it’s important to know yourself and determine if you have a weaker stomach or a stronger stomach before eating all kinds of street food.Here are a few suggestions for avoiding stomach issues (mostly pertaining to parts of Asia, Africa, and South America).

1. Water

10 Most Unusual Delicacies From Around The World

JUNE 1, 2010 by James Massoud in FOOD

What’s your favourite food? A straightforward question which will probably gather straightforward answers. Now imagine telling someone from the otherside of the world what you favourite food is and you’d be surprised if they reacted with an upturned nose and a nauseous look. Yet that is exactly how many of us would react if we learned of some of the more unusual delicacies from around the world. Probably even more so if we were in the foreign country, the unfamiliar dish was placed in front of us, and lots of expectant faces were waiting for you to try a bite…anyway I digress. Here is the list – bon appétit!

1. Criadillas, Spain

Image source - zomgfood

What is this tasty looking treat? Some crispy prawn tempura? Some of the finest chicken nuggets Captain Birdeye can dish up? Wrong on all counts. This, my friends, is Criadillas…or what we would understand to be deep fried bull’s testicles! So this is what gives the matador’s of Spain their bravery…or their cojones…literally.

2. Scorpions, China

10 Strangest Looking Buildings in the World

MAY 30, 2010 by James Massoud in ART

Architecture has come a long way in modern times. We live in a generation with some of the finest man-made buildings, landmarks and structures ever seen. As advanced as our architecture is these days, it’s not to say that architects cannot have fun building them. Some of the finest buildings in the world are indeed the most original concepts, which completely stand out from anything else in the world. There are loads of bizarre looking buildings around the world but here is a list of 10 of the strangest looking buildings in the world. Enjoy.

1. The Crooked House (Sopot, Poland)

Image source - Wikipedia

A first look at The Crooked House would be enough to make you think you were drunk or had taken a knock to the head. As impressive as it appears what’s more impressive is that construction began in January 2003 and finished in December the same year! The architecture was based on pictures and paintings by Jan Marcin Szancer (a famous Polish artist and childrens books illustrator) and Per Dahlberg (Swedish painter living in Sopot).

2. The Basket Building (Ohio, United States)

Image source - My.Opera

Those crazy Americans! What will they think of next? Next you’ll be telling me they’ve designed a building in the shape of a wicker basket! What? They have? It’s the home of the Longaberger Basket Company, stands at 180,000-square-feet, cost $30 million and took two years to complete? Wow, now I’ve seen everything!

Emotional Intelligence: The New Aspect in Hiring

According to a CareerBuilder, employers are beginning to change what they look for in future candidates. Due to the fact that the economy is under such uncertainty these days and companies are getting smaller, 34% of hiring managers said they are placing greater emphasis on emotional intelligence when hiring and promoting employees post-recession. Another major statistic is that 71% said they value emotional intelligence in an employee more than IQ. This blog post will give a summary of Jennifer Grasz’s story, but to check out the full version click here.

Emotional Intelligence or EI is an evaluation of person’s ability to remain in control of their emotions, use their senses to understand and react to other individuals’ emotions, and how they deal with relations. This was a national survey that was conducted from May 19 to June 8, 2011 with more than 2,000 HR professionals and hiring managers. This assessment revealed that EI is a vital trait for getting a job. With these statistics it is apparent that IQ is suddenly no longer important when it comes to hiring future employees – 75% said they would most likely promote the person with high EI.

Top 9 Malaysian Foods To Die For

Malaysia is hands down one of the finest destinations in the world to satisfy any culinary yearning.

The dynamic mixture of Malay, Chinese, and Indian cuisines are just a few of the popular influencing flavors.  Throughout my stay in Malaysia and a number of recurring visits to Kuala Lumpur, I developed an acute addiction to the powerful tastes of Malaysian foods.                          

1. Roti Canai

A roti canai is made from thin dough, cooked into a pasty like bread, and dipped into a fragrant curry sauce f