Going on a trip and having a tough time planning an appropriate diet card for your group trip? My experience will help you learn exactly how you can create the perfect diet plan for yourself and your peers.
Immersed in Pakistan’s wonders, I crafted a diet plan for a 35-person group trip. I was happy with my task in the group, but little did I know how challenging it would become!
A well-balanced and thought-out diet needs to be energy-sufficient and should contain vital nutrients. Planning a diet before a group trip is integral, as food plays an important role in having a healthy journey.
The first step was to consider everyone’s preferences. Gathering the diet preferences of the group was like looking at a mosaic of tastes. Most of my group members strictly wanted Pakistani traditional dishes, while some were open to a diverse variety of international cuisines. This diversity was fundamental to the diet plan.
Though our journey was about the wonders of Pakistan, the Pakistani cuisine’s eccentricity also became a significant part of our trip.
After reading lots of “how to prepare a diet card” articles, the most integral step I learned was to respect everyone’s preferences and always ask for allergies. I decided to conduct a survey for all my group members. Surveys are more convenient and time-efficient to fill in than to call everyone individually. The survey helped me be more specific with what I picked for the group, as some were allergic to peanuts, soy, and sesame seeds.
Foundation of The Chart:
To lay a foundation for the chart, I started with the specialties of the Big Three: Karachi, Islamabad, and Lahore. Foods like Nihari, Biryani, Halwa Puri, Chapli Kebabs, Pulao, etc. were approved by each group member so they were made staples of the diet chart.
A Balanced Diet:
Creating a diet chart does not only revolve around flavour. It is also necessary to add whole grains like roti and healthy fats like nuts. I went for walnuts as some of the group members had a peanut allergy. Other than that, I also added dairy, vegetables like spinach and okra, and seasonal fruit. Since we were travelling in the scorching yet somehow serene summers of Pakistan, adding fruits like mango, watermelon, lychee, and peaches was a must.
Chef’s Insight:
To get more insight into what needs to be added to the chart, I engaged with some local chefs. Their advice helped me create a more authentic and culturally enriched plan for the trip. The chefs gave me the following suggestions:
All of the chefs were keen on keeping a balanced level of spices in all foods because not everyone can handle it. They also insisted on incorporating regional superfoods like Moringa leaves and Fenugreek for nutritional benefits and seasonal fruits and trying to be as authentic as they can by using traditional cooking methods. These insights helped me create a diverse diet chart with a variety of flavours to explore.
A Cost-Effective Diet Plan:
While creating the diet plan, I was also really determined to save as much money as I could. Collaborating with the local chefs, planning cost-effective meals, using simple preparation techniques, and balancing out the expensive and inexpensive items properly helped me reach my goal.
Though I planned everything thoroughly, there was always still a chance of something unpredictable happening. Adaptation is the only solution to unpredictability. While preparing the diet chart, I knew there was a possibility of something not turning out as planned. For this, I prepared each of the group members so they could be ready to adapt when we were not in the most convenient situation.
Upon arrival at Pir Chinasi, we faced the challenging weather conditions of the region, which threatened our planned meals. Initially concerned, I decided to explore the local markets, hoping to find a solution. To my surprise, I stumbled upon ready-made meals that saved the day and became the team’s favourite throughout our entire Pir Chinasi adventure.
Conclusion
The diet chart was a practical way to manage the meals on our incredibly beautiful trip. It helped us not only get our necessary nutrients but also united our group in exploring the rich cuisine of Pakistan. The food also became one of the most memorable parts of our unforgettable journey.
Therefore, I would suggest everyone create a diet chart for them, specifically considering the locations they are travelling to. A well-planned diet allows everyone to focus on the adventure at hand without unnecessary worries about dietary needs. Safe travels and bon appétit!
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