You’re good at planning your vacations and business trips. But did you remember that planning what you’ll eat can be an important part of any trip away from home?

Being on the road can be rough on even the healthiest travellers, and nothing can spoil a vacation more than stomach upset — or worse yet — food poisoning.

Travel Insurance Can Help

Travel medical insurance provides emergency medical coverage when you are outside your home province or country on business or on vacation. It provides coverage for medical emergencies, accidents, emergency evacuations, and repatriation. Travel medical plans can even be used for long-term work or study abroad.

If you do experience traveller’s tummy or foodborne illnesses while out of province or out of the country, your travel insurance is there to assist you. Having adequate travel medical insurance for your trip is an absolute must; you don’t want to be hit with a whopping bill for medical costs which can run thousands of dollars.

When severe symptoms strike, you can contact your insurance company. They can help you by recommending a hospital or clinic, contacting your family on your behalf, and even organizing repatriation if it is required. Travel insurance is not just peace of mind, it’s real assistance when things get rough.

That’s why it’s important to look at where you are traveling, what food and drink is available, and what could potentially happen to you. Then select travel medical insurance that will provide you with adequate coverage.

Tips on Avoiding Traveller’s Tummy

You may be able to reduce the risk of even minor symptoms by taking precautions.

Eating away from home can mean grabbing a sandwich from the supermarket deli counter for lunch, ordering take-out for dinner, or splurging on a special meal at a restaurant.

person-holding-white-plate-with-cheeseburger-and-salad

Meals away from home make it harder to control the ingredients and how that food is prepared and stored. The following tips can help you enjoy eating out on vacation (without abandoning your efforts to eat well).

  • Ask how the food is prepared. Making informed decisions on what to eat or drink is vital. Before you order, ask about the ingredients and how the menu selections are prepared. Try to choose dishes made with whole grains, healthy oils, vegetables, and lean proteins. Meat that has been broiled, poached, baked, or grilled is a more health-conscious option than raw or fried foods, or dishes prepared with heavy sauces.
  • Look for less. Don’t be tempted to overeat. Your eyes are the perfect instrument for sizing up portions. Use your estimating techniques to assess the food on your plate.
    • 1 thumb tip = 1 teaspoon of peanut butter, butter, or sugar
    • 1 finger = 1 ounce of cheese
    • 1 fist = 1 cup cereal, pasta, or vegetables
    • 1 handful = 1 ounce of nuts or pretzels
    • 1 palm = 3 ounces of meat, fish, or poultry

    If you have access to safe cold food storage, plan on eating half your meal and take the rest to enjoy for a snack later on.

  • Order an extra side of veggies. Non-starchy vegetables, such as green beans, broccoli, asparagus, or summer squash will help you fill up and most are served cooked, which can eliminate bacteria.
  • Tap or bottled water? With a little homework, you can discover the food standards of your destination and whether you should drink bottled water or if the tap water is OK. A lot of travel sickness comes from the water you drink.
  • Take it easy on the alcohol. It can be easy to get carried away while you are enjoying yourself on vacation, so watch your alcohol intake.
  • Get vaccinated to give yourself the best chance to avoid being sick. Remember the old adage an ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure! It’s better to stop something bad from happening than to deal with it after it has. Do your homework and find out about any viruses and diseases you may encounter at your destination. Then, 4–6 weeks before your trip, talk to your doctor about the vaccinations you will need — and get them.

Let Us Be Your Partner in Good Health

If you would like to find out more about travel medical insurance options to help take the risk out of your vacation, we can help! With travel medical insurance to take care of you when serious and emergency medical situations arise — including food poisoning — you can have a worry-free adventure abroad.

Call us today to learn more ways we can help you safely enjoy your favorite activities, at any time of year. We’ve got you covered! And remember, eat safely and have a great trip!