Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do. Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil. Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love all the days of your allotted span of life that have been given to you under the sun

Ecclesiastes 9:7-8

Food can be one of the most fun, the most unpredictable, the most expensive, and the most difficult to regulate features of travel.

Fact is, I have a love-hate relationship with eating on vacation. It’s fun to get out of our food comfort zone when we travel, but often the effect is – quite literally – discomfort. It’s exciting to see new choices and unusual menu items, but then we’re so often disappointed. It’s invigorating to feel freed from some of the dietary restrictions that keep us balanced and healthy at home, then it’s soon time to “pay the piper” and ante up the consequences.

When I was younger I used to actually look forward to airplane food! I would also laugh at some of my relatives who complained about portion size at restaurants (too big). Now I would rather brown bag my lunch on a plane, and I honestly have a little trouble sometimes when it comes to cleaning my plate when we’re eating out!

But one thing that hasn’t changed the commitment Rebekah and I own to eating “local” whenever possible. I remember our epic family vacations when Andrew and Naomi were kids. We’d get off the Interstate and find obscure communities that were often no more than crossroads, looking for one-off cafés featuring local “flavor”. The kids would roll their eyes and beg for a franchise restaurant!

I love food, and I love good nutrition, eating balanced and healthy meals as much as possible. Sometimes travel can make this a challenge, but these ongoing “adventures in eating” are absolutely one of my favorite features when it comes to being away.

So here is a selection (when I remembered to grab my camera) from eating out during our trip to the mountains and then Florida. Each image should have a description at the bottom.

Remember then what “the Teacher” wrote in Ecclesiastes: “Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do…”

Happy travels, and Bon appétit – DEREK