How to Eat Healthy While Studying Abroad
One of the hardest things to adjust to when you are studying abroad can be the food.
This might come as a shock, but they do not have Chili’s or Taco Bell on every street corner, like we do in the States. And let me tell you, when you get done dancing at 4:00 in the morning, nothing sounds better than some T-Bell.
One of my biggest concerns when I studied abroad in Costa Rica was how healthy the food would be. When I got there, I was slightly upset to find that everything was cooked in butter. And I mean everything: the meats, the breads, and even the fruit, sometimes.
Talk about a weight loss nightmare.
Fortunately, things are healthier here in Spain. Most Spaniards follow a Mediterranean diet: fish, fresh veggies, and lots of olives and olive oil. Combined with all of the walking I do here in Spain – my house is a good 30-minute walk to class, four times a day- I am not worried about gaining weight.
However, this is not always the case for study abroad experiences. If you are planning on studying abroad and are worried about how to eat healthy and stay in shape while living in a foreign country, I have some tips for you.
1. Portion control.
2. Walk whenever you can, as long as it is safe.
3. Avoid unnecessary condiments.
4. Eat slowly and concentrate on absorbing the culture around you.
See Also:
- Let’s Go to Spain!
- La Lonja in Valencia, Spain
- Staying Safe While Studying Abroad
- Staying Connected When Studying Abroad
- Living Abroad with a Host Family