You've been counting down the days to your big getaway and have finally arrived at your destination when it happens — your stomach starts to rumble, the nausea sets in, and you break into a cold sweat.

After all the planning, nothing dampens the excitement quite like a bout of food poisoning during your vacation. You can minimize your chances of getting ill, however, by avoiding certain foods and drinks. Some may be obvious, but there are several sneaky culprits that could cause foodborne illness.

To stay on the safe side, it is best to avoid these eight food items while traveling, as listed by Reader's Digest.

1. Raw shellfish. It may be tempting to dig into the seafood platter but registered dietician Elizabeth Ward stressed that raw oysters, and any raw shellfish, "can make you really sick and ruin your vacation." Cooked shellfish, on the other hand, should be relatively safe, provided it is prepared properly.
2. Tap water. Traveling to new regions could be trouble for your stomach. This is because the water may introduce microorganisms that are foreign to your gut. The water in certain developing countries may also be contaminated with parasites, bacteria and even fecal matter. Niket Sonpal, MD, recommended rather sticking to bottled and filtered water.
3. Raw produce. Fruit and vegetables with thick peels are safer to eat but other raw produce including apples, grapes, strawberries, uncooked tomatoes, onions, and peppers found in salads are all foods to avoid when travelling. At issue is the water that they may have been washed with. If it is contaminated, you can fall ill.
4. Ice. If you get sick the last thing on your mind might be the ice cubes that were in your drink, but they may actually be the culprits. "Research shows that many people who develop traveler's diarrhea from E. coli don't contract it from the local water but from the ice that their drinks are chilled with," said Sonpal.
5. Buffet food. It may be hard to avoid the delicious buffet but it helps to exercise caution when approaching the spread. "You should definitely be wary of dishes that are part of a buffet spread that has been sitting out for a questionable length of time at unsuitable temperatures," said Nesochi Okeke-Igbokwe, an internal medicine physician in New York City. Food that has been standing out at room temperature may become contaminated.
6. Fountain drinks. Anything made from tap water can lead to food poisoning when you are traveling. Especially when visiting countries where the water is unsafe to drink. In this instance, carbonated water, which may have been made from tap water, is combined with flavored syrup to create fountain drinks. Opt for a canned soda instead.
7. Melon. Registered dietician Heather Steele warned that cut melon is another food to avoid when traveling. This is because the rind of melons may have been exposed to E. Coli, which could make you sick if it's kept at room temperature.
8. Alfalfa sprouts. Pay close attention to the menu when you are ordering. If your dish contains alfalfa sprouts, ask that they be left out or order something else. Nutritionist Cheryl Mussatto explained that it is difficult to clean sprouts thoroughly and they are the perfect breeding ground for microbes such as Salmonella. This is because they are grown in warm, wet conditions. A salad without sprouts is far better than having food poisoning while on vacation.

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