If you keep kosher and are very particular about your food choices, it can be difficult to navigate your meals when you are overseas or traveling to different cultures where it can be hard to find certified kosher options. Here are a few tips to work out the challenges of keeping kosher especially when you are in transit.
A Kosher Map & Itinerary
Before you travel to an unfamiliar destination or visit a new part of the world, you need to do your research beforehand. Construct a map in a notebook or on your phone or computer about all the certified kosher outlets, shops, and restaurants near the hotel or the venue where you’ll be staying. Make an itinerary of your activities, planned sightseeing, and where you’ll eat so that when you land it is easy for you to access kosher. For some hotels and restaurants, you can even contact them online to inquire about whether or not they offer kosher choices on their menu or on special demand.
Carrying Food With You
Plenty of kosher food like certain dairy items, nuts, canned goods, and even packaged noodles are fairly easily transported especially if your flight is not very long so consider carrying some snacks and quick meal options with you. Always confirm beforehand with your airlines if they allow flying with edibles and also call the hotel where you will be staying about their room refrigerator charges for storing your food as some places charge extra for those privileges.
The Right Grocery Store And The Right Aisle
In most countries, there are large supermarkets that have an exclusively ‘American’ products aisle where it is relatively easy to find certified kosher products like brands of chocolate. If you are looking for some quick options on the go, search online for large global supermarket chains in the city you are staying in and peruse their American aisle for some well-loved and familiar favorites.
Not to mention in most countries the supermarket staff is very polite and open to answering questions about the needs of customers so you can always ask which kosher items they have in stock at any given time. The staff can also point you towards supermarket outlets that may carry products you wish to buy.
Home-Cooked While In The Air
While many airlines do offer kosher, especially on special prior demand for their passengers that is not something to bank upon. Just to be on the safe side pack a home-cooked meal to eat on your flight and that is popular with people traveling with children. 16-hour flights and longer can be incredibly uncomfortable if you are not well prepared with a full meal and a reasonable amount of snacks. When packing it is helpful to use the food options and choices you normally utilize in Purim gift baskets such as coffee, kosher treats, chocolates, nuts, dates, cookies, fruits, candies, and so forth so it is easy to munch your way through an uncomfortable flight.