Food! (it's making me sick)

Bruce V. Shrader says on Jun 20, 2005, 03:45:

food The weight loss has happened to me also.
I wouldn't worry too much about it though.
I think the reason is that they probably do not
"Enrich" the food like we do here in the states.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

kernow62 says on Jun 20, 2005, 03:55:

I have never thrown up from eating the food in Colombia. I do lose weight though, but I put it down to lots of excercise.

I don't normally throw up at all unless I drink sour milk that has lumps in it!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

kernow62 says on Jun 20, 2005, 03:56:

Perhaps you are eating too much and your system isn't used to it.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

we_love_colombia says on Jun 20, 2005, 04:02:

its horrible.
i HAVE to eat the food that my aunts make me, and i cannot refuse any of it.
the food is nice, but they make enough to feed the entire village and surrounding towns, its crazy!!!!!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Veronica22 says on Jun 20, 2005, 04:07:

its true what u say kernow62.
i do eat a lot but thats only because i have to. my family makes a lot of food and its rude if you refuse the food. i dont usually eat that much and my aunties complain to my mum that i look too skinny (not true!!!) so they all decide to fatten me up.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

fosth says on Jun 20, 2005, 04:30:

I've never been ill off Colombian food and i eat some cheap Almuerzos. Cheapest so far is under $1. I think smoothering food with Ajidoes the trick, killls off all the Germs that might be on the food.
I do lose weight though, probably due to all the walking but also all the fruit and the meals seem more balanced and not so much processed crap.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Victoria Maria says on Jun 20, 2005, 07:47:

I love the food been here now close to 4 months and was sick only once in Cartagena, I think it was because I was eating a lot and new types of food to the system.
I loooooooove the food here and learning about new vegetables and fruits, but I am half Colombian and I suppose it sits well with my system. If someone is full gringo with northern europeon blood roots I think your digestive system is not naturally inclined to process the strong flavors etc of South America. Maybe just takes time to acclimate?

Victoria

Victoria Maria

0 funny, 0 helpful.

fosth says on Jun 20, 2005, 07:56:

I wouldn't say Colombian food has particularly strong flavours. It's not the same as Indian,Mexican or Thai.
Maybe i wasn't ill because i'm british brought up on our national dish...Curry!!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

N2Aquatix says on Jun 20, 2005, 08:25:

Resturants I never got sick from eating the food there but I stick to eating in the resturants. I don't eat street food and stuff like that which obviously has no measures for quality control. For that matter, I wouldn't eat street food anywhere in the world. I find the food in Colombia to be very good. Most of the dishes that I ordered in the resturants were not bland or spicy, but somewhere in between. Steak, chicken, and seafood entrees are readily availible. For a cheap lunch there's hamburger and fried chicken joints all over down there. As for eating at someone else's house, I usually don't even do that here in the states. If I want home cooking, I usually cook it myself because I'm very picky. ;)

Jay

0 funny, 0 helpful.

kernow62 says on Jun 20, 2005, 08:25:

If we are ALL the same why do rolos feel cold in Bogota when I don't, and I live in Florida? Riddle me that.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

kernow62 says on Jun 20, 2005, 08:34:

I can't even say psychosomatic!

Try telling my wife, she thinks I am crazy to go swimming in the winter, such that it is in Florida. Psycho yes, but which sort.

I would like to think we are all the same, but it I don't buy into it.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Dan says on Jun 20, 2005, 08:49:

No problems I have never had a problem eating anything in Colombia, and I've had a lot of different things. But, I do when I get back to the US. My stomach is very uneasy for a couple weeks when I return because of the grease and junk food. I don't even buy many of the same things as I used to anymore.

I WANNA GO BACK TO COLOMBIA!!!!!!!!!!

God Bless America!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Cerealkiller says on Jun 20, 2005, 09:01:

I havent had any problems with the food here. But then again, Im a vegetarian so that explains a lot. Some of my friends from the states though lose a couple of pounds when they get here and same thing happens when they go to the UK, so i agree it must be something to do with the "enriching".
Also, food here tends to be quite heavy, everything is deep fried and lots of carbs are thrown into the same dish so I guess its always good to watch what you eat. Refusing to eat all that is on the plate is often seen as rude hahahaha, so just say "ahhhh I just came back from the mall and had this HUGE ice cream, can I eat the rest later on?" Always works!

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

0 funny, 0 helpful.

rona says on Jun 20, 2005, 09:55:

I got sick but there was a logical explanation . . . . . . did you drink the local water? or maybe you didn't drink enough water - I got sick on two occasions -
1. because I drank local water-I had the runs for a couple of days and then it cleared up and
2. I didn't drink enough water, I was eating a lot of heavy foods and I threw up; when I back-tracked what I had eaten, I realized I didn't drink water that day-I drank bottled water and gatorade and the next day I was fine

in CTG you have to constantly hydrate - I learned the hard way.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Cerealkiller says on Jun 20, 2005, 10:05:

Yeah tap water can always result in sickness...thats why you're not suppose to drink it. I never do regardless of my whereabouts...

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Colombiche says on Jun 20, 2005, 10:31:

I have no problem with the food When I go back home to Colombia. What I can't cope with are the freaking pulgas! What's up with those bichos, you see none of them in Canada, and when I get to Colombia I think they find my blood tastes like Canada Dry Ginger Ale or something.

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

adrimm says on Jun 20, 2005, 12:13:

No probs Only once when our "arrival celebration" included a bunch of bad (imho) takeout chinese. My relatives all boil their tap water prior to drinking or using in juice.

My biggest problem with the food is the pulpy juice. Juice to me is liquid, not mush.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

caslug says on Jun 20, 2005, 13:51:

only had one problem.. in 3 trips to S. America(2 to COL). It was my first trip. I suspect either water(ice cubes) or Salad at one place in Cali. Didn't have problems again. I read somewhere that to prepare your stomach for "exotic" food, eat yogurt couple of weeks before travelling. I did it, i don't know if it help, but i didn't get sick other than one time.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

lockheed says on Jun 20, 2005, 15:16:

COLOMBIA FOOD Food in Colombia was good, it was not that diffrent for me since I live in the Antilles (by the way they haven't found Nathalee yet)and
we eat alot of spicy food. One time I went to Medellin and I was so fking thisty, and I saw this cold water jar in the hotel mini bar at the lobby and I gulped it down, after that anything I ate went in from the top and out the bottom, terrible cramps at night.
But you guys know what I would like to eat for some time now? "Arroz con Coco, my X Santa Marta girlfriend use to cook me this.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

lockheed says on Jun 20, 2005, 15:33:

To Veronica 22 He Veronica when I was living in Holland for 5 months I use to eat like a pig, I use to smack down a loaf of bread with eggs, Holland has excellent pastry shops and I use to go in like Tazmanian devil, and I still lost weight, I think 2 things contributed.
1. When it's cold your metabolism speeds up to keep you warm
2. In Holland I had to use alot of walking and public transportation so there goes more calories.
These are the conditions we usualy experience in Colombia.
Now I am here in the tropics and still gaining weight. When my girlfriend goes to Colombia and stays a little long she always comes back skinny and she eats alot.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

utopiacowboy says on Jun 20, 2005, 17:32:

"If someone is full gringo with northern europeon blood roots I think your digestive system is not naturally inclined to process the strong flavors etc of South America." Personally I think Colombain food is very bland and yes, I am full gringo. My wife was at a party on Saturday and tried some dip and then her eyes started bulging out and she was frantically looking for water. I wouldn't have even derscribed the dip as hot or spicy. I drink the tap water everywhere in Colombia and eat everything even from street vendors and guys selling stuff through the windows of the buses and at the toll booths. My mother-in-law can't resist that stuff and neither can I.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

adrimm says on Jun 20, 2005, 17:47:

"If someone is full gringo wi Nothing to do with your roots or origin. Depends on what you normally eat 24-7.

It's like comparing what you buy at Safeway (large grocery retailer in North America) in the winter time to what you buy at a farmer's stall in July and August, or grow at home. Or factory-farm white eggs to free-run brown eggs. Full intense flavour.

imho depends on who does the shopping and cooking but market produce is more readily available in most (not all) parts of Colombia.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Rubiazo says on Jun 20, 2005, 19:27:

No problems here either I even ate chorizo from a street vendor and deliberately asked for it half-cooked!! (I love rare and raw meat). Come to think of it, i hope the pork in Colombia isn't allowed to root around because if so, i REALLY shouldnt have done that :PPP

The tap water in Bogota is fine. Some other places maybe not. There are no federal standards for drinking water but there are local ones. I've had REAL bad problems in DR every time, but nothing in Colombia.

I may be gringo but I have the biggest taste for spicy food you've ever seen. I bitch at most Jamaican restaurants for not having it spicy enough. Colombian food is a little on the bland side for me, but they have some excellent hot sauces and most restaurants have a bowl of aji if you ask for it :) I usually end up using half the bowl :P

As for the losing weight thing, US and Canada food definitely fattens you up more, it's much more high-calorie. I've heard this talked about time and time again so there must be something to it. Perhaps the huge proportions are whats causing all the throw-ups.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

big kugz says on Jun 20, 2005, 19:42:

ice cubes had some in a vodka/redbull at VC in barranquilla. Buenisima discoteca but i got sick as all hell on the plane a causa del heilo.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

lpdiver says on Jun 21, 2005, 08:56:

Altitude Can make you lose weight and appetite...where in Colombia do you go?

T

"cook some rice!"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Veronica22 says on Jun 24, 2005, 02:50:

i go to boyaca, to a town called villa de leyva. i dont drink the water beacause i was told not to but i think the reason i do get sick is because even thought i do eat colombian dishes, its all well prepared and in colombia its a bit more organic. if you want some corn to eat, you just go out and pick it from the corn field!!!

0 funny, 0 helpful.