Traveling and eating out

This week I am flying to a conference for work.  In two weeks I will be on a road trip for about a week.  I have not ate out at all since surgery.  Trying new things makes me nervous and I don't eat a huge variety.  I have protein bars and shake mixes packed. I think I can take individual pre packaged dry protein shake mix on my carry on.  I plan on going to walmart once I get to the destination for my conference to buy tuna, RTD, (more if I have a microwave!) etc.  I have requested a microwave and fridge but am unsure if I will get it.  On my road trip I will have a cooler in the car and have a fridge/microwave for where we will be staying for 5 days.

I need suggestions as far as eating out.   Some will be fast food and some will be sit down restaurants.  I hope to eat some in the hotel room but won't always have the choice.  I see that many of you eat wendy's chili.  What other foods early out went okay?  I have had chicken at home (baked and marinated well) and meatloaf.  Have not tried a hamburger at home yet.  I am thinking tuna at subway would be a good option....lunch meat still doesnt taste so hot and sometimes sits okay and other times does not.  Also for those that get the protein coffee at starbucks what do you order?  I am clueless when it comes to fancy coffee drinks.

Can you tell I am anxious?  I keep telling myself I can work this out.  Before surgery I used to worry about how I would miss eating crap when traveling (used to LOVE that).......now just worried about not getting sick.  

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

~~Jennifer

p.s. my lame doggy is staying with my parents.  she is slowly mending and I try to not worry that i will be out of town.  Jen=anxiety!     

It is stressful in the beginning.  I know I went through trial and error when I started traveling again.

Wendy's small chili is a good choice.  Pack some powder protein and add to a McD's sugar free iced coffee.  The McD's snack wraps are good, but may be too much for you this early out.  Just order it without onions and pick it apart - eatthe burger and veggies.  I know I picked a lot of things apart early out. 

If you go out to eat with colleagues, and they aren't aware of your surgery, order off the appetizer menu and just say you aren't very hungry.  Order a salad (have you tried it at home yet?)  A cup of soup, etc.  I still eat soup a lot when I go out without anything else. 

I'm sure others will have some suggestions - good luck!  Don't stress, it will all work out. 

I had to travel as soon as I went back to work. First, insist on a refrigerator. Just explain that you need it for medical reasons. If you don't have a mini-blender, it is a good investment. I pack my powder in a baggie and bring along the scooper. I like to add strawberries so I usually bring a few just in case I cannot find them where I am staying. I typically ask the hotel where I can find the nearest grocer in advance so I have my action plan ready for shopping.

If you can handle dairy, plain NF greek yogurt is a great choice. I like to doctor it up with SF preserves.
There are Starbucks everywhere, and a NF decaf latte is good source of protein.

Shrimp has been my "go to" food since the beginning. I would suggest places like Red Lobster or Olive Garden. At Olive Garden, they will give you a little side of grilled shrimp upon request. I do better with moist foods so I ask for ****tail sauce.

I carry protein bars and protein chips with me. Another option is babybel cheese. It needs refrigeration but, due to the wax, it can stay in your purse all day and been fine to eat.

Good luck! I have found that with planning, you can lost weight on the road.

Amy

I'm traveling all week on business as well.  I have traveled a lot since surgery and find that I can find things to eat regardless of where we go.  It's all about my attitude and being mindful to stay the course.  I will be eating out 3x a day until Friday night when I'll be home in my own kitchen. 

Early out I took a shaker bottle and prepackaged Chike protein powder.  I just got soy milk and it was easy to mix up.  I also like Bodytech Dutch Chocolate protein pudding from Vitamin Shoppe because it's good even if it's not cold the way I like protein shakes.  This trip I'm taking some protein bars for the airplanes and also to keep in my purse.  Sometimes other really stretch meal time or forget to eat.  If my blood sugar feels wonky because it's been 6 hours between meals, I can leave the room and eat 1/2 of a protein bar to tide me over.

Later this month I'll be going to Spain for two weeks and I'm looking forward to small plate tapas.  I went to France for two weeks when I was almost 4 months out and it was easy to manage by taking the protein and vitamins with me.

My biggest challenge while traveling is getting in enough fluids and exercise.  I have to really focus on that.

Good Luck!!

Some things I would consider (& will be considering for a 4 day road trip myself next month)  Everything will be in a ziplock or a plastic watertight container:

Cheese Sticks
Cooked, peeled, shrimp - cut into bites & mixed with coctail sauce
Italian Meatballs from the freezer section
Greek Yogurt (Fage) mixed with protein powder
Hard boiled egg, egg salad, or deviled egg salad to make lettuce wraps with
Fresh cherries, Dried banana slices, S/F applesauce cups

At restaurants, I'll order a side of a cooked vegetable or a plate of fresh dipping veggies.

At fast food restaurants, I'll order chicken wraps and ditch the wrap (unless it's lettuce), for example, and stay away from the burger & bun or fried fish type of meal.  It was a storebought burger patty that caused my first case of foamies.  Wendy's Chile is always good and will make more than one meal.  It's so fat free that I even like it cold - straight from the fridge.

Take along a bottle of enzymes to help with digesting.  Over the counter Papain & Bromelain is a fair combination.  There are others that are stronger and geared toward meats... with protealase in them.  Ask an employee to help you if you go to a GNC or health food store.

Stay hydrated, have fun, and let us know what all you found that worked for you!!  :-))

You can do this and it won't be that hard.  I was 6 weeks out when I went to the World Equestrian Games for 5 days and I did fine.  First, I took all the stuff you are planning already.  That is a big help.

Wendy's chili is good.  Taco Bell, I get either a taco salad without rice and don't eat the shell or a taco, burrito thing and don't eat the outside.  I have gotten a burger and just eaten that  when there seemed to be nothing else around.  Subway, I get the tuna with whatever veggies and eat everything but the bread. 

At real resturants, I I try to get meat and veggies and take at least 1/2 if not 2/3 of it home.  If you have a frig, you have 1-2 more meals.  Nothing fried, grilled chicken, fish or steak.  At mexican places, I have just asked for the burrito filling, not bread.  Beans instead of rice.  It is always many meals.

The difference in fat levels is what is the biggest difference it seems for me.  Even grilled stuff, once you take it home and put it in the frig, you realize how much fat it has.  I don't dump on fat but I know it certainly changes my daily totals.  Even Subway tuna isn't made with light mayo so it ups the fat.

Something for all of you to consider investing in if traveling by car (or for just getting groceries home in the summer/hot weather) is a plug in cooler. Coleman & Koolatron make them and they have the lighter type plug for the car and an adaptor for house use. Igloo also makes them but didn't see the adaptor.

We have one, a Coleman (purchased ours at WalMart or Sam's can't remember which one) and honestly could NOT live without it.

We have a trip planned in late July, partly to see dh's surgeon for his 6 month checkup (late) and will have ours stuffed with things WE like to eat to 1) save money on buying fast food and 2) make it easier to stick to our eating plan.
Liz

I have really enjoyed Arbys Roast Beef , I will order a regular and just eat the insides. Settles very well (with me) Good Luck

Thanks everyone!  Ordering soup when out is a great suggestion.  It is time for me to try eating grilled chicken breast and this trip may help me cross the threshold!

I have my papaya enzymes with me just in case.  I only experience the foamies about every 10-14 days but they always seem to happen at inopportune times....once on the phone while I was extending bereavment support to a wife as her husband was dying and last week right before I had to sit down in an interview!  I made it through that so I can make it through the next episode I am sure.  Chew slow and make good choices!

It is good to know that you all have been through this before....I also knew we had a regular work traveler on here who had LOTS of experience with this so your suggestions are very helpful.

I will have my computer with me so I will re-read this thread if I get stressed!



Thanks again!!!

~~Jennifer

Jennifer,

It would be a good idea to try a couple things out before you leave for your trip. If it's going to make you sick, I'm sure you'd rather find out beforehand.

That being said, the small wendy's chili makes 2 meals for me and it's delicious. I've also ordered the grilled chicken patty from McD's (just the patty). At Taco Bell I get the chicken ranchero fresco soft taco and just eat the insides. Sometimes I get a side of beans instead. Boston Market has DELICIOUS roast chicken. Get it without the skin. It'll make several meals. At subway, I've gotten the chicken breast sub with veggies. Again, just eat the inside. Those tend to be my go to foods when I have to eat out.

Just remember to take it slow with the food and have FUN on your trip. This surgery is supposed to help us improve our quality of life, so try not to stress to much and just live it up!