how do you deal with business trips?

brattyworm

So next week I'm going on my first business trip ever. I don't know what it'll be like but if its like the meeting we host, the food will be crazy bad for me. I know the hotel I'm staying at will have a work out area of some sort so I will do that, although still debating whether to get a swimsuit and do the pool thing...

But I was wondering how others who travel for business keep the eating relatively healthy when they're away? Especially when the lunch is brought in, not sure who it will be by but it won't be healthy whatever it is.

27strange

I have this same problem coming up too! Business trip to Vegas and LA the end of the month. Gone 6 days. The food choices will be horrible. Steak restaurants out, catered breakfasts, and lunches. My plan is to eat as few as calories possible at breakfast and lunch grabbing just some fruit or a bagel for breakfast and eating small portions of whatever is served at lunch (not finishing the meal stay away from high carb stuff and sweets). This way my main caloric intake will be reserved for dinner when we have to go out as a group and there is a lot of shmoosing and it wouldn't be polite to not partake at dinner. Going to limit myself especially on drinks, sipping on a ultra light beer or 2 just to slightly partake in the camaraderie. The calories will be a lot more than the 1,000-1,200 I have adjusted my body to but will work out early every morning in the hotel fitness centers. Hopefully the end result will not be much of a set back.

Pebble321

Portions and choices!

- Eat a healthy breakfast at your hotel, as you can probably control this better than other meals.
- Say no to cookies/cakes at breaks if you can, if you are lucky they might have fruit as an option.
- Pick and choose what you eat at lunch. If it is sandwiches/wraps then look for something with grainy bread and lots of veggies. If it is a lunch buffet, go easy on the pasta/rice and have more of the chicken/meat/veggies.
- If you have an option at dinner then choose something that is a little more plain (like grilled fish or steak) with salad and ask for sauce and dressing on the side.
- If there is no option at dinner just eat whatever is there, but remember that in spite of what your mum told you, you don't have to finish everything on your plate!

Mostly, don't worry too much about it. If you go over on one meal or for a few days, your body will get over it when you get home and start eating well again. It's better to focus on your work and just make the most of whatever choices are there.
In my opinion it's better not to complain about the unhealthy choices at the meals (unless you think the organisers will be receptive to feedback and might makes some changes!) as this makes other people uncomfortable and makes you look like a whinger.

Or, if the people there don't know you, you can fake an allergy or intolerance and ask for special meals, but remember that you will have to carry this through for future meetings/contacts!

Jenscan

Excellent blog entry about this issue:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/secostley/view/how-to-get-some-when-you-re-not-at-home-112253

immacookie

I agree with Ruby.... most importantly, try to stay away from the "afternoon cookie break"... and if you do indulge, just take one. If the dinner is plated they usually come with some sort of side salad (typically already waiting for you at your seat when you sit down). You can often ask for extras of the side salad. The "vegetarian" option may sound tempting but in most hotel kitchens that usually = something that is cheese laden, it's usually a "less healthy" option than just eating the dry "conference chicken".

If you know the hotel you will be staying at has in-room fridge you can either pack some snacks or stop at a store nearby to stock up on some fruit, string cheese and things like that. Most rooms have one of those tiny 4 cup coffee makers... you can use those to brew hot water to make instant oatmeal. Also take some granola or protein bars with you.

melsinct

I encounter this all of the time. Depending what you are doing (meetings? conference?) it can be fairly tricky to navigate. Conferences are easier, since meals are generally provided and it is up to you to make good choices, end of story. I run into trouble when I fly out to meetings and the client provides lunch (last time I was down south and they provided a pile of fried chicken. Yikes.) or business dinners at a restaurant not of my choosing. Besides the client provided lunch, usually it is all on me to make the good choice and just do it. I haven't screwed up too badly and I have done quite a few trips since starting MFP. Even the fried chicken day, I chose a smaller breast pieve (white meat = less calories) and it didn't work out too badly calorie-wise. Sodium is another story...

One life saver for me is Starbucks (since they are everywhere)- they have an "artisan protein plate" that has saved me from disaster in many airports. It makes a great breakfast or lunch. Here is the nutrition info:
http://www.starbucks.com/menu/food/fruit-and-snack-plates/protein-plate

Also, generally my work puts me at hotels that provide breakfast. While the sausage, egg, and cheese sandwiches may be tempting, I always stick to the fruit and cereal, or toast, or oatmeal (though some hotel oatmeal is fatty, go figure).

immacookie

I should also add... if you will be in a hotel or convention center for meetings... and they have those pitchers of complimentary ice water set out on the tables... please don't drink that. :noway: :huh: :sick:

Get some bottled water to carry with you!!

brattyworm

One life saver for me is Starbucks (since they are everywhere)- they have an "artisan protein plate" that has saved me from disaster in many airports. It makes a great breakfast or lunch. Here is the nutrition info:
http://www.starbucks.com/menu/food/fruit-and-snack-plates/protein-plate

Ahhh yes, i have utilized that before, when studying for a final and my tummy was like feeeeeedd mmmmeeee now. thanks forgot about that though.

I should also add... if you will be in a hotel or convention center for meetings... and they have those pitchers of complimentary ice water set out on the tables... please don't drink that

um? why? do they do something to the water? is it scary water? this concerns me as i've drinken that water before....

Barneystinson

I encounter this all of the time. Depending what you are doing (meetings? conference?) it can be fairly tricky to navigate. Conferences are easier, since meals are generally provided and it is up to you to make good choices, end of story. I run into trouble when I fly out to meetings and the client provides lunch (last time I was down south and they provided a pile of fried chicken. Yikes.) or business dinners at a restaurant not of my choosing. Besides the client provided lunch, usually it is all on me to make the good choice and just do it. I haven't screwed up too badly and I have done quite a few trips since starting MFP. Even the fried chicken day, I chose a smaller breast pieve (white meat = less calories) and it didn't work out too badly calorie-wise. Sodium is another story...

One life saver for me is Starbucks (since they are everywhere)- they have an "artisan protein plate" that has saved me from disaster in many airports. It makes a great breakfast or lunch. Here is the nutrition info:
http://www.starbucks.com/menu/food/fruit-and-snack-plates/protein-plate

Also, generally my work puts me at hotels that provide breakfast. While the sausage, egg, and cheese sandwiches may be tempting, I always stick to the fruit and cereal, or toast, or oatmeal (though some hotel oatmeal is fatty, go figure).

I love Hampton Inn because their breakfast options are pretty consistent. I can get scrambled eggs, lo sugar yogurt, and a piece of fruit. Works well.

Eating isn't so bad watching calories, but in my case, avoiding gluten, it can suck. Everyone looks at you like you have two heads when you eat a sandwich sans-bread. Oh well. So I'm weird

Airports are hit and miss. The larger international airports are usually pretty consistent with options but breakfast options can be absolutely terrible. Starbucks protein plate is good, minus the bread on it for me. I've gotten so used to Philly and Newark I know exactly which places to eat and which to avoid.

So much depends on the area you're traveling to. Some areas are AWESOME for healthy food options and markets (Vancouver) and some, not so much.

h3h8m3

I just got back from a 5 day trip last night. It was pretty rough... way way too much sodium. I was pretty careful about what I ate, but there's just no way to avoid the sodium when someone else is picking the restaurants.

My plan was:

Go to the grocery store when I got to town and buy protein shakes for breakfast, protein bars for snacks and bread and lunchmeat and PB&J for any dinners or lunches I might get along. I also got carrots and broccoli to go with any meal as my veggies. I brought some almonds in a bag so I'd have a quick easy way to eat 100 calories with no sodium whenever I needed it (12 nuts).

The breakfast and snack part of the plan worked perfectly... lunch and dinner didn't work well at all.

I had to eat lunch in the office with everyone each day. We ordered from local takeout menus. I tried picking the healthiest looking thing on the menu (tuna wrap, grilled chicken salad, etc), but I know they had a ton of sodium, and none of the places listed the other nutrients on their website.

For dinners I went out with the team the first three nights. Two of the places had relatively healthy options, which I picked, but the last place was simply horrible. Nothing good on the menu. I got what was closest, and I'm sure it was still way too many calories. I should have eaten a 1/4 of it.

Anyway, I got home and got on the scale this morning, having gained 6 pounds. I'm pretty sure it's going to be mostly or all water weight... I tried to drink a lot of water there, but my schedule just wasn't consistent enough. It's hard when I don't know where I'll be.

Good luck to you, and remember, we're in a marathon, not a sprint. A few days isn't going to kill either of us.

melsinct

Anyway, I got home and got on the scale this morning, having gained 6 pounds. I'm pretty sure it's going to be mostly or all water weight... I tried to drink a lot of water there, but my schedule just wasn't consistent enough. It's hard when I don't know where I'll be.

I am sure it is all water. Sodium is a killer when traveling because no matter how good you eat, the sodium will be high. There is no way around it. It usually takes me a day or two to normalize again.

And seriously, what is the problem with water pitchers supplied at a conference or meeting??? Is there some dirty secret here I am not aware of?

immacookie

And seriously, what is the problem with water pitchers supplied at a conference or meeting??? Is there some dirty secret here I am not aware of?

*Some* hotels use a large "community" bin of ice water to fill all of these pitchers (dip the pitcher in to fill it up) throughout the meeting space (it rolls from room to room).... and occasionally they have been seen dumping the half empty pitchers back into this community bin and then refilling the pitchers from the same water

As I said above this is SOME hotels, if you work at a hotel and know that your property would "never" do that... good for you... I worked with the industry for a number of years and saw it at some very large very well known chains (which would never admit to it I'm sure). :sick:

alslau02

I've had 3 business trips since starting MFP and it is very difficult. I packed my own 100 calorie packs and muscle milk for breakfast and snacks. Only take small portions of lean meats and large portions of steamed vegies. But most importantly don't stress about not being able to count the calories exactly. I logged what I could and listened to my body. I was happy to find that I stayed on track during each of my three trips. Good luck and please don't starve or stress out about it.

brattyworm

this is great. I wish i could say I did great, but I can't... I got there and tried to find a store, as well as where my meeting would be, I ended up there around rush hour and got the anxiety level way to high, to a point I gave up when back to the hotel and did room service.
The second day went better, I went to the fitness room and I had brought oatmeal for breakfast, my room had a microwave, that worked great, lunch wasn't too bad - kabobs with lots of veggies, and i only ate some of the carb sides rice, etc. That night though it all went to hell, my mom called with the news that my grandpa was gone and that was it. The motiviation to care went out the window. I again ordered roomservice and indulged in some pick me up food.

Third day I didn't go to the fitness center, I did pay attention to what I had at lunch, but indulged in too many soda's to try to stay awake from being up all night. But at least, I have an idea on how to better work things next time I go on one of these..

Now for next week........ sigh....... going to texas for the funeral...