There is nothing more exciting than traveling half way round the world to get to an exciting destination like Bangkok or Hong Kong. It makes you feel invigorated, alive… that is until the jet lag kicks in. Oh and it will! Trust me on this.
Most travelers to Asia lose an entire night sleep just getting here. So despite the excitement, despite the adrenaline of arriving, most of us just won’t have enough energy to truly enjoy the destination. Simply put we need fuel. And I have the solution.
Most of the issue of jet lag is a deprivation of sunlight. The key is taking in a few hours sitting out by the pool to absorbing as much sun as you can. This will boost your vitamins, make you feel happier and gives you more energy than anything else.
When we lose sleep our body has a natural instinct to crave the energy that we get from carbohydrates and sugars and honestly that’s not a good thing to go for . However I have always found that having fruits and vegetables is the perfect way to give you the nutrients, vitamins and natural sugars that you crave without the highs and lows normally associated with carbs or sugars.
When I get to Hong Kong my body craves energy after such a long flight. So rather than reaching for a something unhealthy I make sure I have a steaming hot pak choy with oyster sauce. It’s a Chinese cabbage and it is loading with vitamins.
I’ll never forget the most comforting anti-jet lag meal I’ve ever had. It was in Hong Kong, on the Kowloon side many years ago. I was tired so I went to the coffee shop and had a simple, piping bowl of noodle soup with wontons and oh my goodness it hit the spot. It wasn’t too much but it filled me and I went to bed and slept the best I ever have.
So now my advice is take it easy and if you feel like you need a little bit of asleep take an hour here or there. If you can sit by the pool and get some sun, and then when you do want to get into bed at the normal time it’s okay to take a melatonin every now and again on your travels as it can help guide you into asleep for a longer period of time. Melatonin is a natural hormone that is fine to take occassionally. And it works.
So try and relax and not think about it too much enjoy the place and the destination you’re in but have a little bit of food that helps you along the way and e.g. from natural sugars like fruit and also most proteins keep us filled up for longer . In the morning no problem having a big breakfast eat like a king and then we have energy for the whole day. Remember this phrase. Eat like a king for breakfast, a prince for lunch and a pauper for dinner.
Now when you return home and can cook. Follow this recipe and you’ll be back to normal in no time. This recipe is the best way of getting energy and vitamins without the sugar.
Greens Energizer (Serves 4)
400g broccoli
200g kale
1 cup shelled pistachio nuts
½ dried cranberries
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
Bring a pan of water to the boil. Cook the broccoli for 2 minutes, take out and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Now boil the kale for 1 minutes and drain the same way. Place in a large mixing bowl along with the nuts and cranberries. Mix in a separate bowl the mustard, oil and lemon juice. Dress the vegetables and toss well.
Daniel Green, the Model Cook is a Celebrity Chef known for his healthy approach to food and living well. With TV, books, magazines and live appearances, Daniel spends his time helping fans to cook better, feel better and live better. He’s also an avid traveler and a self-confessed Foodie.
To contact Daniel or learn more visit www.themodelcook.com or follow on Twitter @themodelcook.
