Traveling - how to eat

Hi everyone; I travel A LOT for business and since I've been in this job, that's when I've noticed the weight gain.  When we have meetings they tend to run the whole day and meals are brought in.  These meals are great for anyone who is NOT concerned about their weight, but dunkin' donuts just doesn't work for me y'know?  I know that breakfast will be bagels, lunch will be sandwiches, and dinner will be out.  Snacks will be cookies or brownies or lemon bars.   Has anyone had success with travel and meals?  Do you bring your own?  I'd love some suggestions. I bought a great book called The Calorie King and it has been very helpful.  I just wi**** tracked sugar as I don't tolerate it at all. Anyway, y'all are always so helpful, that I thought I'd ask here.  P.S.  I completed the 5DPT and it was extremely motivating and helpful.

I don't travel that much, but enough to understand exactly what you're saying.  When I do, I pack a small martini shaker and some protein powder and have that before I leave my room.  Then I usually find a Starbucks and get a Venti skinny latte, they will fill me up.  For normally catered, often box lunches, I do the best I can.  I usually eat the sandwich, but only one piece of bread.  I take along a few protein bars, just in case.  Dinners we normally get to order from menus, so that I can control. I usually have a hard time getting my water in at home, but at meetings I drink all day.  That helps as well.  Don't forget to take advantage of the Hotel gym! Good Luck! Michele

I don't travel nearly as much as you, but can understand the struggle.  If I'm not sure what options will be available for me, or if I know it will be carb-heavy, I bring food with me.  I almost always bring a protein bar or two, and if I can I'll bring some yogurt, cottage cheese, low-fat cheese w/ crackers, fresh fruit w/ peanut butter, etc.  I try to make smart choices based on what's offered, then supplement with my packed snacks.  At dinner, there's almost always good options available, so that's about making smart choices.   It's all about balance and moderation.  If you're doing a lot of travel, you need to plan as much as possible and focus on making good choices.  Take advantage of the fitness equipement and/or the pool if you have time.  Don't use the "it's business" excuse to eat differently or to drink empty calories.  Although I tend to think that other people are paying lots of attention to what I'm eating, honestly they don't care.   Good luck on your continuing journey -  Kellie

Pack some good choices for yourself.  I try and keep foil packages of tuna handy,  canned chicken,salmon ect.  String cheese,  Protien drinks, hard boiled eggs,  Water.  I can eat anything so I really have to be careful when I am in situations where the choices are not that good for me.  I hope this helps.

Some quick protein snack ideas ~Beef jerky (a little salty and I always wan****er with them) But still they make a good protein snack ~Almonds (I carry these in snack bags everywhere) ~Dried Soy beans, soy crisps, boiled soy beans (edamame)  ~High protein cereals make a great crunchy snack in snack bags ~Peanuts...or peanut butter in small storage container. (If I mix whole peanuts in peanut butter...It takes longer to chew and eat and stays with me longer too) I sometimes make a trail mix of all my protiens (not the jerky) and add some of my favorite dried fruits like banana chips or cranberries or gogi berries. Those gas station minimarkets have great individual snacks and lunches too....I find cheeses and salads with meat and pepperoni and cheese cups...or cottage cheese singles...Plus they usually have roll up and sandwiches and fresh fruits.  Before your next trip...find a good healthfood or grocery store that has a large variety of grains and nuts "self serve" bins. They have AMAZING cool things you can hide in a handbag without refridgeration like all the good proteins need.  The only problem with dry protein is thirst. But....It helps during a long meeting when the alternative is doughnuts. Good luck... I wish companies would higher health conscious caterers...My husband has this trouble. He can hardly wait to get home so I can help him lose the "ring around the doughnut" he gets on those trips and meetings. Then he gets to take a crock pot of my 16 bean cajun soup to work. (everyone loves it) You might think about investing in a small crockpot and bring your own soups to heat up!  Even if you hea****er and put bring a canned soup to put  in the ho****er....Then you eat out of the can and no messy clean up!  I know...I love food way too much...Don't have to worry about me ever finding myself hungry! haha Anita

I'm 4 years post op.  Until I retired recently, I traveled for work monthly (from 1 month post op).  You don't mention about yourself, but I was diabetic (on meds) before WLS.  So, technically -- I AM DIABETIC.  I use this even now when I travel.  When I make a hotel reservation I let the  reservationist know that I an diabetic and ask for a medical accomodation (no charge) -- a refrigerator.  When I have had to, I pay for it as this makes all the difference.  After I check in I find the nearest grocery and buy 1 or 2 of  the 4oz fat free cottage cheese packs, some low sugar yogurt , hard boiled eggs if they have them in the deli, and whatever cheese I feel like.  I usually carry a couple of the low calorie Bumble Bee flavored (love the Thai Chili) tuna & cracker packs in my suit case.  I also carry protein supplement drink powder and crystal lite drink flavors for the water.  Oh yeah, I bring a box of my favorite protein bars. For breakfast - In the room, I have coffee protein drink within 30 minutes of getting up.  Before I leave the room, I have a cottage cheese.  I take a baggie of vanilla protein powder with me along with a yogurt.   This usually will allow me to pass by the donuts cuz I'm stuffed from the cottage cheese.  Some of the places I've gone I don't like the taste of the water so the crystal lite straws keep me drinking the water.  I try to eat something every 3 hours to keep me from getting hungry so the yogurt helps.   Unless the lunch is mandatory, I go back to my room for the tuna and crackers or I have eaten it when everyone else is eating their sandwiches and just said I didn't like the kind of sandwiches being served or was just honest and said I was watching my calories so I could have a great dinner.  Most folks understand this.  When everyone else it eating the brownies, I pull out my protein bar and I don't feel deprived.  If I just have to have athe brownie -- I allow myself 1 bite and throw the rest away. For dinner, if I'm going out with the group, I try to steer folks to a seafood restaurant.  Lots of choices there.  If not, I usually order from the appetizers or depending on if I know one of the others well I have asked if anyone wants to share a meal.  A lot of the time someone does so we split.  If I really want something from the entree section, I eat what I want and just leave the rest.  If it is something that I can eat cold the next day for lunch I might take it back to the room (since I have a frig). I hope this helps. Cathy