The Curiosity Compass

By Sarah Curless

Travelling can be overwhelming at the best of times. After all, you’re completely thrown out of your routine.

Adjusting to a whole new food palette is difficult for anyone, but when food is something you already struggle with, it can feel impossible.

In the past I had believed that stepping on a plane would magic away the food noise and I’d be ‘cured.’ As long as I was in Paris, of course I’d just be able to eat the croissant, right?

Unfortunately, it took me holding back tears near the Eiffel Tower to realise that it is not, in fact, that simple.

I wish I could shake that younger me and scream, “Look around, you’re in Paris!”

Whilst I can’t change the past, I can shape a brighter future where food noise no longer controls my travels.

I owe this future to my younger self, and I owe it to her to help others in my situation. 

That is why I have decided to share my top tools and coping strategies, in hopes of making someone else’s travels that little bit easier.

Have your safe foods

When all food seems unfamiliar and scary, It’s so important to have a few ‘safe’ foods that you know you won’t have an issue eating.

I know what you’re thinking, doesn’t this feed into the disordered thoughts? Isn’t it important to challenge yourself and try the new foods?

The answer is: yes. It is so important to fight the voices and try new foods.

But the reality is, sometimes this can just be too much. When you’re in a rush, you’re really overwhelmed, or you’re struggling to find a place to eat: challenging a new food can just be a step over the edge.

In these moments, it is crucial that you still eat and nourish yourself. 

If you have to have something that your brain considers ‘safe’ to do so, then that is what you have to do. The main thing is that your body gets nourishment.

Before you even step on the plane, take some time to consider what these foods may be. Perhaps these are foods readily avaliable in that country that you can stock up on, or maybe you need to bring something with you. 

It’s so important to challenge yourself and not let the disordered thoughts win, but nourishment should always be a priority. If that has to come from something that feels familiar to you, then that is completely okay.

Make people aware

If you’re travelling with other people, you have access to a transformative tool. The only condition: you have to have the courage to access it.

It can be daunting, but making sure that at least one person you’re travelling with is aware of your struggles can be a game changer.

When I had my first trip away with my friend, I did not make her aware of my issues. I thought that I could simply hide it and that all would be okay.

But the more the trip progressed, the more an unspoken tension began to build.

She could tell that something was wrong, and wondered why I was acting weird at times, which only made things difficult for both of us. 

When I eventually opened up, it was like a huge weight was lifted off my chest. Not only did it make the trip more comfortable and enjoyable for both of us, but it dissolved all the tension.

At the end of the day, your friends are there to help you, and they cannot support what they aren’t aware of.

You can tell your friends how to best support you in the hard moments, whether that is a hug, a distraction, or just patience when it comes to food. Communication really is key; your needs cannot be met unless they are voiced.

Voicing my needs has never once been a bad thing. For example, my sister knows that I struggle with buffets and so she will always portion out my food to make it easier for me and ensure that I’m getting the right nourishment.

Remember, you are never in this alone. 

Find your system

Every individual is different, so no matter what you choose, it is important to find a system with food that suits your needs.

For me personally, I found that the uncertainty of not knowing what I was going to be eating was very anxiety inducing.

I also found that when it came to meal times, we wasted so much time wandering around trying to find places to eat, which only intensified the anxiety.

I solved this by always booking things ahead of time. That way, I knew that at the end of the day I had food sorted and there was something I could eat.

This took extra stress off my chest and meant that I could enjoy the day with one less thing to worry about.

However, what works for me could make another person even more anxious. I know that for some people knowing what you’re going to be eating and having a set time could instill rigidity and make you panic about the meal all day.

In this instance, the opposite could be useful. Instead, you could focus on one second at a time. If ever you worry about food, bring yourself completely into the present and focus on what you crave in that moment. 

It’s all about finding what works best for you. However, what I will say is that it is always important to at least have an idea of what you’re going to eat. The last thing that you want is to be so spontaneous that you end up with no options and therefore no food.

As a bare minimum, always have potential options in your mind and make sure you’re in a place with access to food.

Research, research, research!

Researching before you go to a new country enhances your experience and allows you to learn so much about the culture.

But when you struggle with food, this can be even more crucial.

Before your trip, look into what kind of cuisine they have and what food is available.

This way, when you go, it isn’t a complete surprise and you know what to expect.

You can make a note of the food that you would eat so that in overwhelming moments you know that you have something to turn to.

It could even be useful to try some of the food beforehand so that it exposes you to it already and you realise it is nothing to be afraid of.

Carry reminders

When you’re struggling, it can be hard to see the bigger picture. Food anxiety can quickly take up all of your brain space and try to take the steering wheel.

The good thing is: you have the power to take back control of your mind.

The best way to do this is by coming back to your reasons for recovery; which are easy to forget when things feel extreme.

To ensure that they don’t fade from memory, having a constant reminder on you at all times is key.

This can be whatever works best for your brain: quote cards, pictures, vision boards, or even a piece of meaningful jewellery.

When you’re struggling, this can be a quick way to come back to yourself and remind you why you’re doing this, and what really matters. 

People watch 

The good thing about travel is that you’re exposed to so many new surroundings and people.

When you’re cooped up inside and sucked into the world of social media, food can seem like the be all and end all.

But the beauty of being out in the world is that you realise it isn’t that deep.

So if ever you feel anxious, simply people watch. I can guarantee if you’re out in a city, you’ll see people eating.

No matter the time of day, there will be people grabbing a bite to eat on the go, sitting in restaurants enjoying a meal, or queueing for a sweet treat. 

By noticing this, you realise that for so many people, food is just a normal part of their day. It serves as an important reminder that food is never the enemy.

Remember where you are

Whilst being in a picturesque location will not cure all your thoughts and you cannot simply ‘snap out of it’ because you’re in front of the Eiffel Tower, your surroundings can be a tool.

If ever you feel guilty, scared, overwhelmed; take a moment. Pause, breathe, look around, and surrender to the present moment.

You are in a whole other country. 

If it wasn’t for the food on your plate, or for your body, you would not be having this amazing experience.

The food is fuel for you to experience the world. Your body is merely a vessel that allows you to see the beauty this planet has to offer.

So if ever you feel guilty, take the focus off your body and try and really ground in the world around you. Focus all of your senses on your surroundings, rather than yourself.

Remember that there is so much more to life than food or your body.

Have a baseline

Travelling can easily throw your everyday routine out of the window.

This can be a beautiful thing; being sponteanous can be so freeing and liberating.

That being said, its important to make sure you stay consistent with nourishment.

When things are busy, or you’re in new routines, the voices can be louder and it can be an excuse to skip out on eating what you normally would.

No matter where you are in the world, what you are doing, you need consistent nourishment.

It doesn’t have to be too rigid, but having at least a baseline of what you have to eat in a day can be so helpful.

No matter what happens that day, its important that you always stick to this, and make sure that you are eating at least the baseline.

Travelling should expand your world, not make you fall backwards.

A final reminder

If you’ve made it this far, I want to remind you that food is not the enemy.

It is not just fuel, but a way to immerse yourself in culture. 

It is more than okay to eat differently to how you normally would, to eat more than usual, or to try new foods.

You will never regret eating the dessert or new food, but you will regret any second you spent restricting.

Food allows you to fully immerse yourself in a new culture and experience your trip to the fullest.

When I look back, I will never say, “I should never have had that ice cream in Italy on the 2nd of July 2023.”

In fact, I reflect and wish more than anything that little me joined in and enjoyed the ice cream with her family in the sun.

If you take one thing from this article, remember that you deserve food. 

As a final reminder, never beat yourself up if you still struggle along the way.

Life comes with highs and lows, but anything you do to take a step in the right direction is a huge win.

The fact that you have made it to the end of this article shows that you are taking initiative, and for that you should be immensely proud.

Food noise can be difficult, but it should never stop you from experiencing the world.

You deserve to travel, and you deserve to eat all the delicious food along the way.