Should you eat PAPAD before traveling?

 Papad is a tasty Indian snack with different flavors and a variety of different brands. Ranging from sweet to spicy, this delicious treat can sometimes be irresistible!

A common misconception in Indian cultures is the question whether you should or should not eat papad before leaving your house. According to a superstition, papad should NOT be eaten before leaving home, for simple reasons.

Interestingly, there is a scientific reason behind not eating papad before you leave home.

Papad is not very healthy and if you eat it in excess the dough of the papad will get stuck in your stomach. The bits of dough could get stuck into your intestinal lining and cause some unnecessary problems. This could be dealt with if enough water has been consumed, though, usually when you leave your house, there may not be fresh water to drink and therefore, when you eat papad it may get stuck in your stomach. Another reason is that papad can cause heartburn and uneasiness in the body. Due to the use of lentils like urad daal, papad causes a burning sensation near the chest area. Again, if you are leaving your home, there may not be as many resources or medicines to help combat these pains and you could be left without any power to do anything.

In conclusion, papad is an extremely tasty food dish - for eating at home. There could be many reasons why papad could harm you after you leave home, and whether you think it is just a myth, or a real scientifically proven debate, it is recommended that one should not eat papad before leaving home.

Contributed by, Shreyansh Daga

My name is Shreyansh Daga based out of Hillsborough, NJ. I am 13 years old and a 7th grader studying in Hillsborough Middle School. I love playing outdoor sports like tennis, basketball, cricket - tennis being my favorite.