2009
19
Good question!!
Carry your own food
The answer is not that simple. If you are blessed with a weak stomach, it is best to avoid roadside food and carry your own. But what can you carry?
Do note the fact that you will be driving and eating even though you would like to avoid that. Do also note that anything you carry should require minimal water usage to wash your hands after the meal. This brings us to easy consumables like Cake, Potato Wafers, Samosas, Kachodi etc.. these are food items that are primarily dry, devoid of any greasy watery content and easy to wash off after a meal. The next set would consist of Frankies, Patties, and other such fried stuff with stuffing in them. They also require minimal water usage to wash your hands.
A road side shop serving Aloo Bhajji and Mirchi Bhajji few Kilometers outside Vishakhapatnam
Duration of travel
The food you carry should last you the complete duration of travel without requiring refrigeration (unless you are fitted with a small fridge in your car). Avoid anything too oily as they tend to go stale very fast, very soon. Apart from going stale, they also emanate smell and in closed quarters of a vehicle that can get very annoying. So divide your food in parts that will last longer and those that will last shorter. Start with the ones that are more likely to go stale, and remainder to consume later.
Making a sandwitch
This requires time, and patience while traveling. Not to mention the ‘good parking space’ without any disturbance or danger from other traffic. Carrying Tuna, Cucumber, and other such ‘Sandwitchy’ ingredients is a good idea for the first day. Boiled eggs are great as well. They can last upto 2 days complete if left undisturbed in a cool dark place. Once you stop, chop some, fill in the bread slices and munch on. You can carry mustard and mayonnaise but they have the spill risk.
The roadside guy
If you do not have a weak stomach, then the roadside guy is ideal. Most arterial roads will have the regular supply of Aloo Bhajji (A fry made with stuffed potato), Mirchi Bhajji (same with mirchi or chilli), Aloo Puri (A curry made out of potato with Puri) and in Southern India you get ample supply of Idli and Vada Sambar. Not all are going to be tasty, but chances are 70% of them will be worth it, you will have to try your luck. Keep a bottled mineral water handy after the meal as it is likely to be spicy as well. In case you experience an unrest in your stomach after the food, have lots of water.. chances are, you will be ok.
The Punjabi Dhaba
A Dhaba is a roadside shack that serves food. A Punjabi Dhaba is one that serves North Indian food, like Butter Chicken and Roti with Dal. 90% of these are good targets for affordable food. If you happen to spot one, turn around and go back, it will be worth a shot. In extreme situations where bottled water is not available, go for a Cola or a Lime drink. It will help tone down the spicy nature of the food. The food will be served with a healthy helping of Onions, don’t worry about bad breath, have them.. they will help ward of the heat in summer (which we have 3 seasons of).
Eat well, drink lots of water!!