It is absolutely safe to eat a wide variety of food in most countries. Even in cases in which it's not safe, it can be very pleasurable. Plan ahead and you can eat almost anything you want.

Restaurants

In first-world countries, restaurants are, by and large, clean and safe. In some developing countries, however, and especially in Asia, restaurants can have cleanliness standards that are well below anything we'd expect to see in America. In these countries, it may be safer to eat street food -- at least you can see the food being prepared!

Generally, you'll be safe eating most food if you carry something like Immodium, or another Loperamide-containing pill, with you. These will stop you up right quick if you eat something that disagrees with you. You may also want to carry some Tums.

If traveling in Asia, you should carry hand wipes to restaurants, because napkins may be rare.

Street Food

In many countries, street food is a real treat. Prepare yourself for eating street food by getting your Typhoid vaccine, which is delivered via pill and is in no way unpleasant to deal with.

Once you decide to eat street food, there are a few things you can look for to decide where you should eat:

• Locals. Locals know what is safe, and will stay away from places that make them sick. Go to a stand or cart with a lot of local-looking people eating there.
• Traffic. The faster the food turns over, the fresher it is, the less chance it has to grow unpleasant bacteria that'll make you sick.
• Cooked Fresh. If it's just been cooked, then it hasn't had the chance to sit out there and spoil.
• Cleanliness. Are they cleaning using hot water or soap? These are good signs.
• Heat. Are they keeping soup bubbling, grills lit, empty pans scalding hot? This will keep things sanitary too.
• Cold. Ice keeps things at a safe temperature, so food (usually raw ingredients) on ice is a good thing.
• Dried. Are there dried ingredients used? These typically don't spoil and are safe to eat.
• Fresh Ingredients. Does the lettuce look crisp? Is the meat bright red, or the fish transluscent? Go to these places, because the food hasn't had a chance to spoil yet.

Water

Water is safe in some countries, unsafe in others. In some countries, tap water is unsafe but ice is safe. Familiarize yourself with the country you're in and don't take any chances.