Many people gain weight when they travel and I can’t blame them because who wants to cook when on vacation? Here are some ideas on what you can do to avoid it:

• Don’t wait until you are starving to go to a restaurant but if you already are you can always have a snack, like an apple or an oatmeal bar.
• Ask for healthier options but make sure to talk to the manager because he is the one that knows about everything that goes on in the restaurant, if you ask a waiter they will simply say no.
• If you still want to have what’s in the menu you can always ask for a smaller portion. This will allow you to enjoy the food you like without gaining weight.
• Another good thing to do is to personalize your order, for example you can ask for a salad instead of smashed potatoes. Most Restaurants will be willing to do it.

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So you are traveling to Central America and concerned about what foods are safe to eat? Well this week’s tip is more of a suggestion on what is best to eat when you leave your country.

I’ll start by saying that any foods that have been boiled are generally safe, as well as fruits and vegetables that have to be peeled before eating. Avoid eating uncooked or undercooked meat or meat that is not cooked just prior to serving.

You should also stay away from foods that require a lot of handling before serving. This is because even if the food is good the hands of the people handling it may not be a 100% clean.

One of your favorite foods at home is on the safe list on the road. Pizza, because the dough, sauce, and cheese are foods that are less likely to spoil than others, and the high heat of a pizza oven tends to kill any harmful bacteria in the food.

You’ve probably heard that you shouldn’t drink the water in some countries overseas. This is why: Water supplies in many developing countries are not treated in the same way as water supplies in developed countries. I would suggest you drink only bottled water when traveling. Even if you’re brushing your teeth, rinsing contact lenses, drinking a small glass of water to wash down pills, or adding ice to your drink.

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Central America is home to some of the world’s most fascinating ancient sites that include Mayan ruins, church ruins, old buildings form its colonial days and much more. So where’s the point in staying in the in the urban areas? That’s why this week’s travel tip is:

• Go out, explore, there are hundreds of new things to do waiting for you out there.

Part of the fun of traveling is trying to communicate with the local people and learning their traditions. In Central America you will always find nice people willing to let you know something interesting about their culture.

So whatever Spanish you know, use it! In these beautiful countries you will always find a smile and warm people willing to give you a hand.