What foods do should we not go near to avoid getting sick?

"don't eat anything which grows below your knees"

I don't think so - this cuts out lots of foods such as potatoes, spinach, cauliflower, root veg etc which are very important in a vegetarian diet and in all the years we have been going to India (20) I have never heard this before and mostly eat this kind of food. I have only been ill once and that was in the 80's when I ate at a 5 star hotel in Jaipur and we spend at least 3 months each year in India.
As far as lime soda goes - my doctor in India told me never to drink more than 4 per day as the acid in the lime does not do your stomach any favours.
Clean hands and trying to be careful where we eat are the best we can do for ourselves and hope others do the same although we do know they don't. Immodium type medicine is freely available in India along with re-hydration drinks which we take each week as a matter of course although we drink lots of bottled water every day.

what is VIOLA?

A viola is just a violin that burns longer.
A sitar would burn even longer.

I too have only been sick after eating in fancier restaurants. When you don't see the food being prepared, anything can happen.

As to the "below the knees", could they mean animals?

hey hey hey,

be gentle with me will you?
i am just bitten by the indiabug so i don't know that much and my english isn't all that well

already.

so ... a violin that burns longer you say ....

greetzzzz

VIOLA . . .It's French as remembered from high school by a 52 year old

I know that this may be a dumb question, but that is what I am here for. Anyway, I was planning on having Xmas dinner at the Spice Route at the Imperial Hotel and I was looking at their menu and saw some good food selections, especially meat entrees. I had intended on refraining from eating any meat while in India but I would like to try some of these meals. Anyway, I know that some people have said that some food at even the big hotels can be unsafe. Does anyone know if the same applies for this restaurant?

Is the food safe in Minneapolis? All those burger bars!

Hmmm, there is no need to get cranky about it . . . I already apologized about it being a dumb question, what more could you possibly want.

I think It's all the luck of the draw,
You can take all the sensible precautions yourself, but If you're in the wrong place at the wrong time,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Personally I wouldn't eat at any outside catering establishment at xmas even here in the uk, peoples hearts aren't into what they're supposed to be doing on that day, ie who wants to be working,food is brought in days earlier to allow for the holiday & then the food is cooked earlier than it should be to accomadate everyone at set times, etc etc,
But It's all the luck of the draw,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I had a really great vege burger at the Imperial once. Bottom line is if you want meat at a place as good as that then make sure it comes sizzling hot like the Mongolian stuff, that should even the odds hopefully in your favour. If it is not flaming when it arrives it ain't safe. Bon appy teeth.