You can travel, do 5:2 and still enjoy the cuisine. I’ve done it several times now. Enjoying the different foods is one of the interesting things about travel for me.

Here are some suggestions.

1. Self-cater where you can and buy your ingredients at the local shops, markets, supermarket.

2. Don’t eat breakfast. If you can’t manage being there then don’t go to breakfast.

3. Drinks : Switch from coffees made on milk eg capuccino, flat white to teas; make every second drink water at night; sparkling water with lemon or lime slice.

4. Morning tea/afternoon tea – share something not 1 each.

5. Dinner – share a dish, have 2 entrees or starters instead of entree and main. Share dessert if you have it.

6. Have vegies or salad instead of hot chips.

7. Drink plenty of water through the day.

8. Do your 2 FDs a week. Just say ‘No thanks, I’m fasting today’. And continue whatever conversation you were having. Treating it as normal, no big deal means others will accept it easier I’ve found. People abroad also understand that various religions use fasting as a component and accept it easily. There’s no need to explain what you’re doing unless people ask specifically. You might say then ‘I’m fasting for health reasons.’

9. Make a decision before you leave about what you’re going to do,

10. Keep to as healthy foods as you can. When something is for eg deep fried, have a small portion to taste it, not a whole meal.

11. Whatever you do, don’t let people hassle you about it.

12. If you are a daily weigher there are small travel scales, about 5-600gms, that you can take with you.

13. Soups – choose the clear soup or tomato based option rather than creamy ones. Pasta – tomato based sauce rather than cream sauce.

14. Straight back to your routine 5:2 when you get home.