We are thinking of spending a few months in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico next winter. We have friends who spent several weeks there and ate nothing but canned goods. They were not sure if they could eat the local meat and produce and didn’t want to take a chance. I can’t live on soup and beans for months on end…does anyone here have experiences that they could share? What can we eat and what should we stay away from? The water? Do we need shots before we go and if so for what?..Thanks
I’ve traveled extensively in Mexico and Central America and never really had any problems with the exception of a chicken mole gone very wrong. And that was at the airport.
Note to self: when construction is going on around the restaurant and the electricity keeps going in and out- do not, repeat do not, eat the chicken.
In my experience, many gringos get sick south of the border because they fail to exercise common sense.
Wash your hands well before you eat.
Select fruits that can be peeled.
Avoid drinks with ice if you’re not sure of the water.
Make sure that your don’t become dehydrated.
Stick to bottled water.
If the restaurant looks clean and there are lots of locals eating there, you’ll probably be fine. I like funky little places where you can see into the kitchen.
Even if you get the trots for a day or so while your stomach adapts, a big bottle of the pink stuff and some good toilet paper will see you through. Have fun
How sad to go to Mexico and only eat canned food! jlzania is spot on. Regarding drinks, sometimes it’s the ice cubes, but a well-run restaurant will use bottled water. Until you adjust, what can get you is the tap water used for washing and rinsing. Peel the fruit, and you might want to pass on that salad!
One last thing, keep your mouth closed while showering and swimming in the pool, too. One of my friends is sure this is how he got sick, since he was paranoid careful about food. He spent the afternoons spitting water at his friends in the pool, though. Served him right.