Traveling abroad can often lead us to skip healthy choices and move towards high-caloric fatty snacks. While traveling can slow down fitness expectations and goals, maintaining a healthy lifestyle on the road doesn’t have to be difficult.
Thailand is truly a magical place that is full of beautiful sites and wonderful flavors that cannot be found elsewhere. Even the fresh dishes are so delicious that you wish you can
Here’s how to keep a healthy lifestyle when traveling to Thailand.
Explore the variety of foods
Thai food can be very complicated as the dishes contain a variety of different spices, herbs, and methods of cooking that is used to create the ethnic Thai cuisine. Most Thai people will even say they have a favorite vendor who dedicates their entire life practice to perfecting a single dish. Thai locals take pride in their fresh ingredients, and you can certainly taste it.
For example, Durian is one of the most iconic food staples in Thailand. It may be one of the strangest fruits you may ever come across, but the locals swear it is healthy for the body and is a must-try.
Eat Smaller Meals
In Thailand, families are known to eat their meals as a family. They often use a small bowl with various meats and vegetable dishes to be passed around. For Thai culture, it is considered rude to add more than a single meal to your dish at a time. This habit allows you to slow down on eating and lead you to eat less naturally.
Skip the added MSG, Sugar, and Vegetable Oil
The Thai cuisine involves a LOT of sugar and MSG (monosodium glutamate). This means that they love to sweeten everything with cane sugar or palm sugar. Added MSG is also frequent in many of their sauces including their staple, fish sauce. It is a standard topping for most dishes to boost an increase in umami flavor.
Another food item to consider is the tradition oils such as palm, and coconut oil is replaced with vegetable oil. As vegetable oil is high in omega-6 fatty acids, try to eat plenty of fresh sea foods. One of the healthy lifestyle supplements you should include in your diet is fish oil. They will provide a boost of omega-3 oil intake.
Eat the local fruits and veggies
Thailand has amazing coconuts filled with flavor at a very low price. The markets are filled with bowls of fresh fruit and vegetables that are “snacks” to the locals. They offer a light, energetic meal to start your day touring the country. You can also try their congee for a hearty meal – white rice porridge and poached eggs.
Consider the fat in their diet
Believe it or not, Asian countries eat more fat than westerners. Their meals contain higher carbohydrates and protein. The fat in their diet is healthy as they often include sources like nuts, coconut milk, oils, and seeds that are used sparingly.
Stay Active
The Thai menu is paired well with the activities of the locals. That is most likely that Thai people are 50% less overweight and four times less obese compared to the US population. Of course, there is junk food just like any cultural cuisines.
Wear Extra Repellant
One factor of Thailand’s tropical climate is the insects that thrive in it. These insects include mosquitoes that carry infectious diseases like Dengue. Keep yourself protected in exposed areas, especially in rural regions to prevent the risk of infection. Apply insect repellent regularly and wear loose fitted clothing that will cover your body. Check for mosquito-proof nets and screens in your hotel, especially during the rainy soon.
Tour the City on Foot
There are plenty of places to visit in Thailand. From stunning beaches to temples, you can spend an entire day exploring the temples of Bangkok. Be sure to visit the local markets, parks, temples, and scenic views.
Beware of the roaming animals
Thailand is known to be home to a variety of exotic animals both big and small. However, there are many animals such as bats, dogs, and monkeys that are likely to carry potentially fatal diseases like rabies. Be sure to reduce your risk by avoiding any contact with those animals such as playing, feeding or petting these animals to help you reduce your risk of scratches or getting bitten.
Have you discovered your favorite Thai recipe? Feel free to share your favorite in the comments below!
