don't eat train food?

julesa · Dec 15th, 2006, 11:51

i've heard not to eat food prepared on trains (e.g. overnight trains). one person who told me is a friend who is currently in India, and just got out of hospital after doing just that.

what's the consensus? and if it's not advisable, what's the alternative other than going hungry?

jyotirmoy · Dec 15th, 2006, 11:58

The food served on the Rajdhani & Shatabdi Expresses are good & it is ok to eat that. Foods sold on railway platforms may not be of high quality. If you are travelling by other mail & express trains on overnight journey you can carry your own food. Pick it up from your hotel or some good restaurants. A couple of sandwitches & some fruits will see you thru.
Good luck.

capt_mahajan · Dec 15th, 2006, 11:59

It may be better to avoid train food till your stomach confirms it is used to Indian conditions. So, maybe not the first week or two in India.

Alternatives... depends where you are getting on the train, and where you are travelling. Chennai station, for example, has excellent clean places to pick up food for the journey.

Else you can always carry sandwiches or whatever from the hotel or the city.

And water. That you should avoid completely.

julesa · Dec 15th, 2006, 12:12

thanks guys. so confusing... basically the jist of it seems to be that food from reputable places, like expensive hotels, is likely OK, at least relative to some grimy street stall.

ladyvetphd · Dec 15th, 2006, 12:24

Yes avoid train cooked food. You can buy fruits and peanuts etc.
I think like others have suggested where ever you are just get some lunch packed from some decent hotel. And if you are into Indian food, try getting Indian dishes like idlis/vadas packed or some rotis (not naans and kulchas which get rubbery if not eaten hot). Rice items will spoil soon. However curd rice will keep if you like the taste. Get Amul masti dahi or chaas and fresh fruits. Or get the usual sandwiches packed. Also avoid greasy items like pooris which are always nice eaten hot!

steven_ber · Dec 15th, 2006, 12:35

I wonder if it depends on the food a person is used to?

Meaning, if you are eating at top class restaurants all the time, train food (or platform food) might not be for you.

I rarely eat at mid-range restaurants (and never at top class places), and I've only ever had a slightly upset stomach once when eating platform food (I don't eat train food as I love the platform food), and I've probibly eaten platform food about 200 times.

A good idea is to buy a stainless steel tiffin carrier and fill it with food from your favourite restaurant.

SANJAY_DEL · Dec 15th, 2006, 12:40

New Delhi railway station has an outlet of Wimpy's where you can pick up burgers and the like.

jyotirmoy · Dec 15th, 2006, 12:41

I love to carry good food with me in an insulated tiffin carrier & have a picnic type meal.

ladyvetphd · Dec 15th, 2006, 13:20

I just wanted to add something to the subject of food. Right now in all big towns and cities in India, you have caterers who supply home cooked meals. So if you can get some listing from the local newspaper or ask some one local, you can avail of home cooked food to take with you in tiffin carriers on journeys or even if you tire of eating the std. hotel food.

jyotirmoy · Dec 15th, 2006, 13:43

Lady these home cooked food business is mostly available at areas where a lot of offices are situated or in some residential areas. Most travellers may not have access to this.
Another idea is to buy bread, butter, cheese etc. and cans of things like Tuna, luncheon meat etc. It is easy to find vendors selling boiled eggs, buy some in shell. Make your own sandwitch in the train. For families travelling with kids buy a tetrapack or two of milk, some disposable glasses. Once you have gathered sufficient immunity go for the goodies sold on the platforms. I remember a thread was created to list such goodies available at various stations.

icetea · Dec 15th, 2006, 13:49

It all comes down to how tough your immune system is; if you are used to traveling to odd places or if you have grown up in a diverse environment (rural, for ex.), rather than the sterile city environ., then you should have no problem. I always eat train food while traveling and never had problems. But then I generaly never had any stomach problem in India (although I occasionally indulge in street food), and I know that this is far from being the norm.

To play safe, just carry your own food, snacks, biscuits, water and bananas (you can buy these on train platforms as well).

edwardseco · Dec 15th, 2006, 14:16

I don't know how many train journeys I did over a couple of decades. But, I never had a problem with train food and I love the weird salty yogurt..

ladyvetphd · Dec 15th, 2006, 14:24

I don't think I have fallen ill after eating train food. Anyway one advantage with most outside meals in India is that the rice, dal etc are all boiled so any chance of microbes surviving are slim. But then apart from the food that you get on Rajdhani and paschim, which are OK in taste, the others are simply awful-taste wise. Same goes for that awful coffee that they bring. Chai most times is better than coffee.

Yes while home catering can be available in select areas, point to be noted is that times are changing and with booming economy you have people delivering to your location where ever you may be. SO it is not impractical.

freenote · Dec 15th, 2006, 15:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by icetea

It all comes down to how tough your immune system is; if you are used to traveling to odd places or if you have grown up in a diverse environment (rural, for ex.), rather than the sterile city environ., then you should have no problem. I always eat train food while traveling and never had problems. But then I generally never had any stomach problem in India (although I occasionally indulge in street food), and I know that this is far from being the norm.

To play safe, just carry your own food, snacks, biscuits, water and bananas (you can buy these on train platforms as well).

I have eaten countless meals on indian trains and never had a problem ,i think it is as icetea suggests ,if you generally live in a sterile environment as opposed to rural etc (a bit of dirt don't hurt) till your immune system adjusts a bit of caution might be worthwhile . In comparison to British rail catering the indian system wins every time .At least the food has some taste and variety ,and it is always available

icetea · Dec 15th, 2006, 15:24

I don't think train food is bad or tastless, it's more than reasonable. And as about caterers delivering home-made food, I guess another alternative would be to go to a decent restaurant just before starting your journey, order something that is easy to carry and will not get easily spoiled, have them pack it up and voila, your train food is ready.

Dec 15th, 2006, 11:51	#1
julesa Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: melbourne australia Posts: 297	don't eat train food? i've heard not to eat food prepared on trains (e.g. overnight trains). one person who told me is a friend who is currently in India, and just got out of hospital after doing just that. what's the consensus? and if it's not advisable, what's the alternative other than going hungry?

Dec 15th, 2006, 12:35	#6
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: London, England. Posts: 9,572	I wonder if it depends on the food a person is used to? Meaning, if you are eating at top class restaurants all the time, train food (or platform food) might not be for you. I rarely eat at mid-range restaurants (and never at top class places), and I've only ever had a slightly upset stomach once when eating platform food (I don't eat train food as I love the platform food), and I've probibly eaten platform food about 200 times. A good idea is to buy a stainless steel tiffin carrier and fill it with food from your favourite restaurant. __________________ . How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions. Train information.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Is Indian food like Indian food in America?	AmPreneur	Indian Cooking and Cuisine	53	Jun 22nd, 2007 10:10
Home food vs Restaurant food. why???	zenkris	Indian Cooking and Cuisine	2	May 7th, 2005 23:53
food??	AK74	Indian Cooking and Cuisine	26	Mar 31st, 2005 00:37
raw food	yogivivek	Indian Cooking and Cuisine	14	Mar 19th, 2005 08:34
Will I Get This Train?//train wait list code confusion..	solsurf	Indian Railways	3	Nov 18th, 2004 16:57

Dec 15th, 2006, 11:58	#2
jyotirmoy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 4,659	The food served on the Rajdhani & Shatabdi Expresses are good & it is ok to eat that. Foods sold on railway platforms may not be of high quality. If you are travelling by other mail & express trains on overnight journey you can carry your own food. Pick it up from your hotel or some good restaurants. A couple of sandwitches & some fruits will see you thru. Good luck.

Dec 15th, 2006, 11:59	#3
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,509	It may be better to avoid train food till your stomach confirms it is used to Indian conditions. So, maybe not the first week or two in India. Alternatives... depends where you are getting on the train, and where you are travelling. Chennai station, for example, has excellent clean places to pick up food for the journey. Else you can always carry sandwiches or whatever from the hotel or the city. And water. That you should avoid completely.

Dec 15th, 2006, 12:12	#4
julesa Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: melbourne australia Posts: 297	thanks guys. so confusing... basically the jist of it seems to be that food from reputable places, like expensive hotels, is likely OK, at least relative to some grimy street stall.

Dec 15th, 2006, 12:24	#5
ladyvetphd Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: mumbai, india Posts: 326	Yes avoid train cooked food. You can buy fruits and peanuts etc. I think like others have suggested where ever you are just get some lunch packed from some decent hotel. And if you are into Indian food, try getting Indian dishes like idlis/vadas packed or some rotis (not naans and kulchas which get rubbery if not eaten hot). Rice items will spoil soon. However curd rice will keep if you like the taste. Get Amul masti dahi or chaas and fresh fruits. Or get the usual sandwiches packed. Also avoid greasy items like pooris which are always nice eaten hot!

Dec 15th, 2006, 12:40	#7
SANJAY_DEL Account Closed Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NEW DELHI, INDIA Posts: 1,351	New Delhi railway station has an outlet of Wimpy's where you can pick up burgers and the like.

Dec 15th, 2006, 12:41	#8
jyotirmoy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 4,659	I love to carry good food with me in an insulated tiffin carrier & have a picnic type meal.

Dec 15th, 2006, 13:20	#9
ladyvetphd Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: mumbai, india Posts: 326	I just wanted to add something to the subject of food. Right now in all big towns and cities in India, you have caterers who supply home cooked meals. So if you can get some listing from the local newspaper or ask some one local, you can avail of home cooked food to take with you in tiffin carriers on journeys or even if you tire of eating the std. hotel food.

Dec 15th, 2006, 13:43	#10
jyotirmoy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 4,659	Lady these home cooked food business is mostly available at areas where a lot of offices are situated or in some residential areas. Most travellers may not have access to this. Another idea is to buy bread, butter, cheese etc. and cans of things like Tuna, luncheon meat etc. It is easy to find vendors selling boiled eggs, buy some in shell. Make your own sandwitch in the train. For families travelling with kids buy a tetrapack or two of milk, some disposable glasses. Once you have gathered sufficient immunity go for the goodies sold on the platforms. I remember a thread was created to list such goodies available at various stations.

Dec 15th, 2006, 13:49	#11
icetea 'sort of hate India' club member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Chennai, via Romania Posts: 917	It all comes down to how tough your immune system is; if you are used to traveling to odd places or if you have grown up in a diverse environment (rural, for ex.), rather than the sterile city environ., then you should have no problem. I always eat train food while traveling and never had problems. But then I generaly never had any stomach problem in India (although I occasionally indulge in street food), and I know that this is far from being the norm. To play safe, just carry your own food, snacks, biscuits, water and bananas (you can buy these on train platforms as well).

Dec 15th, 2006, 14:16	#12
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 4,142	I don't know how many train journeys I did over a couple of decades. But, I never had a problem with train food and I love the weird salty yogurt..

User Name		Remember Me?
Password

Dec 15th, 2006, 14:24	#13
ladyvetphd Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: mumbai, india Posts: 326	I don't think I have fallen ill after eating train food. Anyway one advantage with most outside meals in India is that the rice, dal etc are all boiled so any chance of microbes surviving are slim. But then apart from the food that you get on Rajdhani and paschim, which are OK in taste, the others are simply awful-taste wise. Same goes for that awful coffee that they bring. Chai most times is better than coffee. Yes while home catering can be available in select areas, point to be noted is that times are changing and with booming economy you have people delivering to your location where ever you may be. SO it is not impractical.

Dec 15th, 2006, 15:24	#15
icetea 'sort of hate India' club member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Chennai, via Romania Posts: 917	I don't think train food is bad or tastless, it's more than reasonable. And as about caterers delivering home-made food, I guess another alternative would be to go to a decent restaurant just before starting your journey, order something that is easy to carry and will not get easily spoiled, have them pack it up and voila, your train food is ready.