What can you eat anywhere?
When traveling abroad, there are many questions that continually plague a person in a new country. Where to stay, what the currency conversion is, whether to bow, kiss, or shake hands when introduced. But there is nothing as universal as food. Business or pleasure, short trip or long, seeing family or going alone, all travelers must eat.

Eating is one of the great pleasures of travel. A hearty adventurer is always excited to try local fare, but sometimes a hearty adventurer is rewarded for his or her bravery with what may euphemistically be called traveler’s belly. Every part of the world has its own bacteria. A person might have the antibodies and the tough stomach to eat all kinds of things in their home country, but the tables turn quickly when they step off their home court.

In places where a traveler cannot drink the water, the question of eating becomes complex. It’s not simply a matter of not drinking out of the tap. Not drinking local water also means no ice, no cold soups, and no fruits or vegetables that may have been washed in local water. If, in your travels, you limit yourself to places where you can drink the water, you will keep yourself out of half the world. So, if you find yourself in a place where you cannot drink the water, or if you are not sure what you can eat and drink, it is a comfort to know that there are three things that are almost always safe to consume: beer, bread, and bananas.

Because bananas have a thick skin, their fruit is not washed. They are also one of, if not the most, popular fruits, so when traveling you can often find them.

Bread is ...