You haven’t truly lived until you’ve experienced new cuisine in a foreign country. There’s something so satisfying about breaking bread overseas and indulging in new scents, authentic flavors, and rich culinary experiences. Considering that most people usually eat three meals a day, food is a pretty important aspect to consider when making your travel plans. If you love food, why not devote your getaway to experiencing cultural meals in different parts of the world? If you’ve never traveled for the food before, read on for our favorite reasons why you should! Bon appétit!

1.) Discover new flavors

The number one reason why people should travel for the food is the discovery of new flavors. You don’t necessarily have to be a “foodie” to enjoy a local culture’s cuisine, though.  Everyone eats and you’d be denying yourself some amazing flavors if you don’t indulge in some local foods while you’re traveling the world. Some fruits, spices, and grains are only found regionally in small parts of the world so you’d never get to experience them outside of traveling to those areas. And every region seems to have its own special delicacy. You can’t travel to Poland without sampling their delicious perogies or head to Greece without at least tasting an authentic gyro. Once you indulge in those local specialties, you’ll wonder how you ever ate the Americanized version. And speaking of American food, even eating foods that you normally have at home can be enhanced by eating them overseas. Things just have a way of being additionally flavorful in other parts of the world. Sometimes even the textures are different depending on how a dish is prepared. It’s very eye-opening as far as how much of our cooking is influenced by our culture.

2.) Make new connections

Meeting new people while traveling in another country can be difficult, but not if your trip is centered around good meals. In other countries, there’s no such thing as dining alone. If you want to eat by yourself, consider takeout. But, this is one of the most fabulous aspects of traveling with a focus on food. I’ve met some of the most interesting people by sitting down in a restaurant halfway across the world by myself. I’ve had owners approach me with friendly conversation and locals strike up conversations about where I’m from and how I’m liking their neck of the woods. I’ve met a professional bull-fighter this way and had the honor of treating a well-known local hero to a delicious meal. Eating is a culture on to itself and you can meet the best of people by sharing a meal with them. 

3.) Learn about a culture through their food

You can tell what a country is all about just by experiencing their food. Whether you dine in only Michelin rated restaurants or you stick to places the locals frequent, you’ll still find the same style running through all of the dishes. Some cultures have rich palates that are well-suited for their desire for the finer things in life. Other cultures pride themselves on their colorful presentations of food that complement their free-spirited countries. Regions that lack wealth often serve meals that are focused on an inexpensive ingredient, which is then seasoned to perfection. Often, you can also learn the history of a culture through the ingredients used. In India, certain spices are considered delicacies due to them being scarce ages ago and some dishes in Mexico use a local plant called Maca, which comes served with the fascinating story of its evolution. 

4.) You’ll step out of your comfort zone and grow as a person

Some of the best food I’ve ever eaten was at a corner market in Mexico where everything looked a bit…dirty to me. But, I was starving and decided to be brave and take my chances. I’ve never looked back since. I’ve stepped outside of my comfort zone so many times when trying new foods in other parts of the world and I’ve only regretted a handful of those experiences. The rest of my gambles paid out big-time; they were delicious finds that I still dream about when my stomach is rumbling. Trying new foods that seem odd (or sometimes even downright terrible) will not only make you feel brave, but you may find some great new dishes to add to your recipe list!