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Being in a new country calls for more than just a trip to the famous tourist attractions – you also need to take a trip to taste the local cuisine.  But with so many horror stories about how people get sick from eating what's on a new country's menu, how can you know what to trust?  At the same time, you don’t want to spend all of your money on bottled water and McDonald's.  There must be a way to eat like the locals do without getting sick like the tourists do. Here's what you need to know.

Why The Food Matters

The truth is that when you're in a new country, you should try the local foods.  These foods will give you a sense of the culture, a sense of the history, and a sense of the difference between where you are visiting and your hometown.  The food allows you to watch what the people of the country are interested in and what they do not like.  You will also begin to notice things about a culture just from the way people eat and the way they plan their lives around food.  For example, many European countries are quite focused on food, choosing to have very long and rich meals as a way to end their days.  Other countries tend to have lighter meals and have more of a focus on drinks and snacks.  Whatever the way of eating, try it out wherever you visit, at least once.  This will give you an experience a camera just can not capture.

What to Drink

Now, there are a few rules when it comes to drinking things overseas – or at any restaurant for that matter.  If the place looks clean, don't believe it to be so, unless it's a highly rated restaurant, then you're probably fine.  To be safe, make sure all of the drinks you order are ice free.  Ice machines are notorious for being dirty (in the states too), so avoid ice. Ideally, you should order drinks which are served in the bottles they came in.  This will ensure you get the cleanest and healthiest drink you can get.  Alcohol can be safer because the alcohol content can kill off some germs, though not all of them.

What to Eat and What to Avoid

In most developed countries where the water supply is good, you're going to be fine eating nearly anything.  But if you want to be extra careful, here are some things to do.  First of all, only order things which have been well-cooked or that do not include meat and are fully cooked.  Raw foods are far more likely (salads too) to have the possibility of germs and bacteria.  When foods are cooked, these germs are killed.  You will also want to make sure your food is cooked thoroughly.  If you're not sure about a dish, simply ask for it to be cooked more.Street vendor food is tricky.  Most of it is pretty good and if you see a lot of people eating from them, especially locals, you're probably fine.  But if you don't see anyone going to that vendor, there may very well be a reason.If you do get sick from a meal, the best way to handle it is to rest and to drink a lot of water to flush out your system.  This will help you pass the germs as quickly as possible.  If you're having troubles keeping things down after a few days, it's time to see a doctor.Most of the time, you're going to be just fine when you eat overseas, but it never hurts to be safe when you want to enjoy every moment of your trip.