The fruits of the earth
Rob and I traveled to Thailand in 2014, and as previously mentioned this is where our traveling goal was born.
The largest difference we have seen between 2012 and 2014 is in ourselves and our perspective of what is around us. Thailand is renowned for its fresh fruit and even more so its fresh fruit shakes which typically consist of fresh fruit whizzed up in a blender with a load of ice, water and a “dash” of sugar (lets get into the S word a little later). We have found it so interesting that when we were here last time we totally looked passed the fresh fruit and opted for Cornetto’s and cans of coke zero to cool us down. This being because I myself left fruit out of my diet completely (apart from the odd banana) and would prefer to use the calories fruit holds on something like a slice of bread or a couple of rice cakes.
I have never really counted calories to be honest but I do have an understanding of diets such as Weight Watchers where because of the sugar and carbohydrates fruit holds if you are tracking points a large apple potentially may hold the same amount of points then a slice of white toast with marmite smeared across it. I chose to take no interest in how processed, salt induced and nutritionally empty a slice of white bread is in comparison to a bowl of fruit salad. I felt that if I was hungry having fruit would only half fill me up and leave me still needing to eat something else so I might as well forget the fruit all together.
How things have changed…
The fruit shakes here in Thailand have become my best friend, I am mad for them!! Any chance I get to indulge in fresh fruit during our travels I am as happy as a pig in mud, and what is even better that opting for these type of unprocessed, clean food’s my insides must be doing a little happy dance too. I am only hoping that the South American countries we are visiting are on a similar wavelength and fruit in all its forms can remain as one of my go to’s during this six month trip.
We have also taken to purchasing fruit to take home with us where we will add this to our breakfast or simply rely on for snacks during the day, so much to choose from mango, watermelon , banana’s, pineapple and most recently rambutan, which is like a lichee but way more worth the effort as it is much more fleshy once peeled.
Tip: The Thai LOVE their sugar, so you have to be aware that if you don’t state “no sugar” from the get go they will happy dunk a couple of spoonfuls in your smoothies or iced coffees. At one street stall when I asked the woman, “no sugar please” she was quite perturbed and even had to get a 2nd opinion from a younger girl which she told me, “no sugar, no flavor??!”. Fruit flavor will do me fine thanks!
