Class Reflection #5

Today, one of the presentations discussed different types of food to eat and to avoid. In my preparation for our simulated business trip, one major concern of mine was food. Unfortunately, I am a very picky eater, so I am a bit worried about what types of foods will be available for me to eat. In order to prepare, I have been taking advantage of many of the authentic Chinese restaurants in Champaign (AKA not Panda Express) in order to get a feel for some of the dishes I may try there. I also did quite a bit of research on the internet about Chinese foods. One tip I got from several food and travel websites was to not ask what is in the food until after you try it. I think that psychologically, this is a good idea for me because I think I psych myself out when it comes to food I am not normally used to. I also looked up Chinese foods that I may enjoy and could be safe bets. One blog recommended sticking to simple meals, such as noodles, fried rice, and chicken. Hot pot is also another type of Chinese cuisine that many people enjoy, and I have also heard that there are lots of good vegetables in many dishes. In case I am truly starving, I also learned that a lot of the major cities have many popular American fast food restaurants like McDonald’s and KFC. I am going to try to avoid those, but desperate times may call for desperate measures. While studying abroad, I visited McDonald’s several times and was pleased with their offerings, especially their special menus that were only located in certain countries. Apparently in China, they have rice bowls at McDonalds!