Vacation eating advice

I am originally form Illinois, right on the border of Iowa and every year at Thanksgiving time we go back home to visit my family. My entire family is still there, only live here in Florida for the hubby, but anyways onto the question. In the past it has seemed that we always plan our time when we are visiting around eating. There are specific restaurants that we like to eat at so we would actually plan our time there around those meal times. Any ideas on how to change the thought process around this? I don't want to go up there and sabotage myself. Granted there are 2 things that I will absolutely have to have while I am there (Happy Joe's Taco Pizza and Maid-Rite Midwest food that I can't get anywhere else, but I figure moderation is the key. I just don't want to plan the vacation around eating again.

i had never heard of Maid Rite before...but on the Food Network they had a "special" about them last week.......evidently they are as good as they say? Dont ask me about vacations i........i go with good intentions and tend to fail miserably.......

Try doing a little internet research and find some community events that you could all get together to attend to make that more important than the food events. There must be some interesting historic home tours or a fun-run or two? We have an annual walk/jog event here called the Turkey Trot. I'd plan on having a few special foods that you can enjoy in moderation and then balance it out with other things. Maybe you have a favorite park that everybody can meet at, bring a good camera and a tripod and have a group picture. Are there any crafty folks in your family? You could have a family event where you all make a special orament to commemorate your Thanksgiving this year and hang it on your Christmas tree. Or maybe you could get together and then go to a local nursing home to deliver the cookies to the residents. There has to be some non-eating stuff to do and still be enjoying time with your family. Molly

Ok I am an Iowa girl so I know about Maid Rites! Yum! Do you want my honest opinion what I personally would do at both of these places? Maybe not but I am gonan tel ya anyways.. haha.. Maid Rite sells their loose meat by the cup if you ask.. get a small cup.. add your condiments.. skip the bun, wala. Pizza.. pick the topping off and get a side salad.. still getting the taste skipping all the empty cals from the carbs. Or just limit to a bite of crust if u can do so. I have gone out for pizza before and I always pick off the topping of one piece and get a salad with FF dressing and some cheese.. I love that i can do that. It is all about choices.. any where you go you can still participate but just modify a bit. I personally don't feel deprived when I do these things. Enjoy the conversation.. enjoy the surroundings.. leave feeling good about the decisions you made.. remember food is fuel.. as my friend who is also an RNY patient says "it isn't a party for your mouth" haha... god I love that. hugs, you will do great!