Stomach Upsets While Traveling

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I can manage to pick up food poisoning or get stomach upsets at home in the United States. Everyone eats something, somewhere, that doesn’t want to stay down. But at least I’m usually in my own house with my own “white throne” to be deathly sick in.

It’s common knowledge that a smart traveler avoids: fruit that cannot be peeled; raw vegetables; unclean water; and raw fish/meats. Scrupulously clean hands are another important must. We all know these rules and I do my best to follow them.

Stomach upsets when traveling raises this problem to a whole new level. And, if you have the “stomach” (ha-ha) to read the following, I’ll share some of my worst (and most memorable) experiences and perhaps you can avoid the same mistakes.

Mistake #1 – There was this time in Ankara, Turkey…we were eating with our group of travelers in an extremely good restaurant. On the “starter” (appetizer) list was a stuffed green pepper and one other person ordered it beside myself. Very yummy…but it only took about four hours (a true indication of food poisoning) before the mad dash to the bathroom started. I spent the rest of the evening into the early morning, emptying everything in my body. Being nauseated is the worst thing that can happen to me. Have a great pain tolerance, shrug off other viruses and ailments, but nausea is literally the pits. The group was flying out after a museum visit the next morning and sure enough, the other green pepper eater had been just as ill! (We think the peppers weren’t refrigerated properly.) The two of us, lay on the pavement outside the museum like derelicts, drinking Cokes while the group toured. Made it on the plane to the next destination and spent the rest of the day and evening in bed with our Cokes, recuperating.

Mistake #2 – There was this Greek cruise on a very nice ship…Moussaka was one of the dishes being served on deck, as part of the daily buffet lunch. Moussaka is a famous Greek dish consisting of layers of ground lamb or beef and sliced eggplant topped with a cheese (Bechamel) sauce and baked. Delicious and another one of my favorites. What was I thinking? Eating something made with ground meat and creamy sauce, sitting out there fermenting in the sun? I deserved this one. Again, four hours later, I took up residence on the floor of our Cabin bathroom…a very tight fit…as you know if you’ve ever taken a cruise.

Lessons learned? Avoid ANYTHING that has the word “stuffed” in it unless you are super confident of the refrigeration – or made with ground meat on outdoor buffets unless it is cooked before your eyes… especially casseroles. This goes for cruises and resorts. Don’t take a chance but if you feel like living dangerously, remember who warned you…and enjoy!