Festival food
Booze, bands and food. Large music festivals aren't always renowned for their quality cuisine, but remember food equals fuel for your poor frazzled body. If you don't eat, you'll feel rubbish.
Morning-after pep-ups
An alcohol binge will leave you flat out with lowered blood sugar and maybe an upset stomach. You've got to get your sugar levels back up, but without setting your guts off. The age-old remedy of coke (not the diet variety) and painkillers will help to perk you up if there's nothing else around. The relief can be short-lived though, because sugary food and drink gives you a boost, then another low afterwards.
One way round this is to eat something starchy instead. There's a reason why pie and mash has become the festival meal of choice for those in the know - it's easy to get down, contains some vitamins and will sort out that belly quick-smart. Failing that, mooch around the festival food stalls and grab some bread, rice, noodles, or a baked potato.
If you've really offended your stomach lining, it will jump at any opportunity to get its own back on you, so avoid anything very acidic (e.g. undiluted orange juice) or greasy. Have small, light meals that are easy to digest when you're feeling poorly. Part of the reason hangovers hurt so much is dehydration, so get your fluid levels back up with water or weak juice and avoid caffeinated drinks for a while.
Avoiding artificial additives
Heavy partying takes its toll, placing extra demands on your body. To go towards repairing the damage you need to get some quality nutrients down your neck. Whatever trendy vitamin and mineral drink your mate swears by, remember that the body absorbs the natural substances found in food much more efficiently. Lay off the junk food and try to eat unprocessed, additive-free stuff instead.
Small meals containing both protein (e.g. fish, soya, chicken) and starch are kindest to your metabolism if your body has been feeling the strain. Even if you don't feel hungry, which is quite likely, try to eat some fruit - there are always giant watermelon slices and fruit kebabs around and they are really easy to digest.
Festival food on a budget
Food quality at festivals is improving, but it can be horrifically expensive. Even if you're skint you shouldn't scrimp on food. Take these essentials and you won't go hungry:
- Camping stove and pans
- Dried noodles and tins of beans, making sure you heat all food through properly in clean pans
- Muesli bars and dried fruit - nutritious and easy to carry around and snack on during the day
- Cheese packs well, but won't last past the first day if it's hot
