Food Tips for Volunteers Who are Picky Eaters

Is food one of the first things you think of when you know you are going to a new place? If you have a limited number of options in terms of what you like to eat, then overseas adventures that involve staying in a country that doesn’t have supermarkets stocked full of all the things you like to regularly purchase can be a sticking point.  

It’s not the end of the world though. Yes, for anyone who struggles with food, knowing that you’ll be able to eat food you actually like while you’re away can be a big deal – sometimes even make or break – but we want you to focus on the positives here.  

Daunting it may be, but, this is your chance to transform this volunteering experience from a stressful situation around mealtimes into a new dawn and the perfect time to broaden your horizons. Taking this approach can be a challenge, but it could well help you for the rest of your life! Embarking on a volunteering programme opens up the chance for you to expand your life skills and develop as a person – taste buds included! 

If you allow the culinary side of the trip to be part of the adventure, it can become more fun and far less scary. Here’s how you can manage the situation as best as possible… 

Do Some Food-Based Research

Before setting off on your volunteering adventure, take some time to learn about what food you can expect to find locally. Various cultures and traditions are part and parcel of life in a foreign country, and that includes the cuisine. For volunteers staying in accommodation through their selected charity, you’ll often find that the meals on offer are slightly more Westernised, so try not to fret too much! 

For example, in Kenya, breakfast usually consists of such things as; tea, cereal, toast and scrambled eggs. You’ll probably be out when lunchtime comes, so here is when knowing what you can get to eat comes in handy, while at dinner, stews, beans, bread etc., are often used to make basic meals. 

Explore a Local Restaurant

If at all possible on your trip, try and experience an ethnic restaurant that specialises in the food of the destination. You might want to go with others so that you don’t feel too pressured if you don’t like something you’ve ordered.  

Give yourself the chance to sample what’s on offer and if you don’t like it, well, at least you tried! You never know, you might find something that you fall in love with and want to make all the time when you arrive home from your trip. 

Another helpful pointer is to help out with food prep in your guest home. This is a great way to explore flavours and learn about exactly what goes into certain meals. You can then get an idea for what you want to add in or take away if you know you specifically do/don’t like something.  

Pack a Snack

In some countries, you are unable to bring certain foods in with you. However, if it is perfectly okay to do so, then go ahead and pack some of your favourite snacks so that you can rest assured you have a go-to for a little bit of comfort eating.  

If you are in Africa, the fruit sold locally will taste incredible and you should get your hands on some. But, you might like to have some sweets, cookies, crisps etc., just for when you feel like you fancy a familiar taste.  

You might get the opportunity to go to a shopping centre in the nearby city, depending on your location and there are typically many well-known brands there that you can purchase. It’s worth remembering that even international brands do sometimes have different tastes, so don’t be surprised if there’s a slight difference.  

Build Up to Meals

If you know that you like a certain type of food in a meal, say pasta of the veg that’s in the dish, then begin by eating the things you do like and trying a little bit of what you are unsure of.  

This is an effective way of staying included but also “building up” on your familiar foodie experiences. 

Always Be Polite

Keep in mind that when you are eating abroad, styles and habits may differ from what you are used to. If something is served up that you don’t like, or you are unsure of, do your best not to complain, and simply leave it to the side of your plate while eating the rest.  

Guest homes will have people running them on limited resources and they are trying to give you the best, most nutritious food with what they have to work with, so be understanding of this.  

Make it Fun for Yourself

Sometimes, you just need to give yourself that little bit of motivation to try new foods. Giving yourself an incentive to have a tasty snack that you have in your suitcase can often be a helpful way to try new foods.  

The first bite is always the biggest step, but just go for it! When you are in the company of new people and new surroundings, everything can be more fun and you let your inhibitions go. This might sound far-fetched for a person who doesn’t worry about food, but it’s definitely worth reminding yourself of if you struggle with new food and flavours. 

Don’t be too hard on yourself and just do whatever you feel most comfortable with.