Question:
Traveling with this diet. Suggestions?

I just returned from a week's bus tour. It was a nightmare to eat right. I found trying to eat 5 times a day and drink enough was impossible. I had to sit down to a multi-course meal and ate what I could. Everyone thought I didn't like the food.    — shotseyrudi (posted on January 3, 2010)

January 3, 2010
I have done quite a bit of traveling, but have been fortunate that I purchased a "tote" lunch bag that looks like a purse. I kept 4 oz containers of cottage cheese, tuna salad, etc. in it. Then when I need a snack I just pull it out and eat! When I do have to sit down to a "large" meal I usually just ask for a to go container before I even eat.
   — Amy Smith

January 3, 2010
My family and I drove 950 miles to south Florida when I was 3 months post-op. Eating at resturants, I managed by either getting appetizers for the meal or getting a baked fish entre and eating 1/2. A bigger problem was while driving we would stop at the big travel stops that are part gas station, part collection of fast food places. There was nothing for me at the fast food places so I would get a small package of beef jerky and verrrry carefully chew it. I've also gotten the foil packets of tuna or chicken to have in the car while travelling. Anything to keep the high protein low carb low total calorie mantra going. I work in a busy hospital emergency room but I moonlight in small not so busy ERs where I cover extended shifts ( 24-48 hours) During these shifts I have a break room to sleep, watch tv etc between seeing patients. Luckily they have a small 'fridge and microwave. So the day before a 48 hour shift I'm preparing my meals for the whole 48 hours so that I can stay away from the hospital cafeteria. Travel challenges are difficult but you can do it. As for what the other people think about what you choose to eat off of the multi-course meals, just tell them your in the process of losing/maintaing weight and this is how you choose to eat and if they don't like it----too bad. Hang in there. Kevin. (lap rny on 3-9-09 with 164lbs lost so far)
   — hapkidodoc

January 3, 2010
At 6 months post op (rny) I always travel with a bag of nuts...whether it's to work or to a relatives house. Whenever I get hungry I grab a handful of nuts. When it's time to eat I sit down to the table with a small amount of food and just eat slowly while participating in the socializing during the meal.
   — browngathers

January 3, 2010
I travel on a weekly basis for work and eat out more then I like. I always carry protein bars, beef jerky, and nuts with me. I will stop and pick up cheese at gas stations. You can also get can chili at the gas stations. I also carry bottled water with me. It does take some planning but well worth the time.
   — dsquire

January 4, 2010
I just returned from a 4 day trip to the other side of the state, plus, I've gone on a two-week trip to Yellowstone since I had my surgery. In both cases, I have a pretty sizable lunch tote with two separate sections (top and bottom). In each one, there is room for the "blue ice" goodies... and stuff like yogurt, cheese, etc. I always make up a fairly large-sized container (maybe two cups worth) of tuna or chicken salad - or both (with chopped egg, lite mayo and dill relish) and will eat maybe 1/3 to 1/2 cup for a meal, with or without a half of a "double-fiber" Oro-Wheat English Muffin, piece of Low-Carb whole grain bread or a La Tortilla Factory Low-Carb Whole Grain tortilla. I get Weight Watchers string cheese, and Mini Babybel Light cheese, and a package of WalMart's Great Value fat-free turkey breast lunch meat. For snacks, I cut a piece of the string cheese in half long-ways, and then in half thickness-wise, and wrap it in a piece of the turkey lunchmeat. I have maybe 4 of those at a sitting. I pack Kroger's CarbMaster yogurt, along with little Tupperware containers of ground flax seed to mix in for added fiber. I take along little snack bags with an ounce of almonds measured out. Jerkey, of course, is a staple in my "traveling meal tote". If I'm going to be somewhere that I can cook or use a microwave, I'll also bring along my "standard" breakfast food - a small carton of EggBeaters, with a snack bag full of diced musrooms, little Tupperware midget containers with 15 grams of Weight Watchers 4-cheese Mexican shreds, and snack bags with half a piece of the fat-free turkey lunchmeat diced up... along with a microwave safe bowl, and I'll mix up all that stuff and microwave it for breakfast. Dinners are usually at restaurants, and as someone else said, I usually order a "side" of something (fish, shrimp, shredded chicken or pork) or an appetizer that at least half-way meets my nutritional requirements. I've found that even in a Mexican food restaurant, I can order a side of carnitas (shredded pork), or a side of shredded chicken, both seasoned quite nicely.
   — Erica Alikchihoo

January 4, 2010
At restaurants I aske the waitress to bring me just half servings. They don't understand so I tell them i'm on a diet and can't eat all the food that's served. We've stopped at Subways where I will order a sandwich (tuna) and asked them to hold the bread.
   — Muggs