Feast for Your Eyes: Eye Health and Food Travel

One of the best ways to get to know the place you’re traveling to is by delving into the local cuisine through an in-depth food tour. Food tours can benefit your health because instead of just sitting down at a restaurant, you’ll be walking around for a couple of miles, having small bites from a tasting menu, and socially interacting with fellow foodies.

All in all, a food tour is a feast for the senses, but don’t forget about your eyes amid all the culinary delights. Whether you are savoring street food or diving into fine dining, taking care of your eye health adds an extra layer of enjoyment to your gastronomic adventure. From indulging in eye-friendly foods to staying hydrated, this article explores simple tips to ensure that your eyes stay as happy as your taste buds during your food tour.

Tips for maximizing your eye health on a food tour.

Opt for eye-healthy foods and cuisines.

There are certain foods and cuisines that are especially good for eye health. For instance, studies have shown that the Mediterranean diet, consisting of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and heart-healthy fats, can help manage and prevent various age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration. If you are able to make requests on your food tour, opt for fish like omega-3 fatty acid-rich salmon, go for grilled foods rather than fried, consume lots of vegetables, and choose dishes cooked in extra virgin olive oil instead of butter. Including these options in your food tour not only adds diversity to your culinary adventure, but it also ensures that you are nourishing your eyes with nutrients vital for maintaining clarity and visual comfort amidst the feast of flavors.

Protect your eyes with a hat and sunglasses!

Some of the best destinations for food tours are places like Thailand and Spain which have rich cultures that are highlighted in their cuisine. But another thing that these countries have in common is an abundance of sunshine, which means that eye protection is crucial. The sun emits ultraviolet (UV) radiation that can severely damage the eye’s surface tissues as well as the cornea and lens.

This can be avoided by donning UV-blocking sunglasses, so you can enjoy your food tour while lowering your risk for potentially blinding eye diseases. To get the most protection from your sunglasses, choose a pair that provides 100% UV or UV400 protection from trusted brands like Oakley or Ray-Ban whose sunglasses are travel-friendly, impact-resistant, and polarized to cut glare. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Iris Rubin also recommends wearing hats that offer UV protection like the ones from the brand Coolibar, to shield you from the sun’s harmful rays.

Wear sunscreen and stay hydrated.

One of our staple locations for food tours is Encinitas, a century-old coastal district that boasts historic architecture, sidewalk cafes, delicious food, and beautiful beaches. As our food tours consist of walking to get from place to place, it is best to come prepared with a tube of sunscreen and a bottle of water to stay hydrated. As we mentioned above, sun protection is essential to enjoy food tours, and part of that is slathering on a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least thirty to protect you from sunburn and long-term sun damage. Moreover, staying hydrated is important for preventing heat exhaustion and eye irritation, which may result in blurry vision and other symptoms.

Exploring new places through their cuisines relies heavily on visual experiences. We eat with our eyes first! By safeguarding your eyes, you not only enhance your overall travel experience but also guarantee that the memories of each culinary adventure remain as vivid as the first bite.

If you’re interested in going on a food tour that’s a perfect feast for the eyes and stomach, visit the Carlsbad Food Tours website!