Things to buy while I'm in USA

Hey I'm going to Florida next week and to save a bit of cash and to eat well I'd like some ideas on foods worth buying that I can eat in the hotel. I have access to a Publix store mainly. I'll prob eat dinner out so foods for breakfast, snacks ideal...really just want to know best brands, eg, cottage cheese, yogurt, cereal etc. not sure I've got a cooker but defo got a fridge a possibly a microwave. Also be good to get ideas for drinks as I get sick of drinking fizzy drinks...in uk I prefer water and diluted sugar free drinks.
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Replies

  • shelleycolton
    shelleycolton Posts: 400 Member
    Oh im interested in peoples answers cause i'm off to Florida in September.
  • Try to find a Whole Foods; it was the highlight of my trip to NYC this year. (Unhelpful in terms of brands, but have an awesome time!)
  • FireBrand80
    FireBrand80 Posts: 378 Member
    jimmy-dean-pancake-sausage-chocolate-chip-736804.0.jpg
  • richx83
    richx83 Posts: 334 Member
    pretzel M&M are sooo good
  • DizzyLinds
    DizzyLinds Posts: 856 Member
    Very funny guys....i'm already going to be hitting the cheetos, anything Reeces and a couple of naughty breakfasts at Village Inn....however....80/20 remember!
  • netchik
    netchik Posts: 587 Member
    I can recommend bringing back flavoured Coffeemate - it's awesome! Brought back a load from my last trip and only have 1 container left :(
  • AlphamaleBAMF
    AlphamaleBAMF Posts: 373 Member
    lutherburger.jpg

    Luther burger.
  • DizzyLinds
    DizzyLinds Posts: 856 Member
    what the F is that!?
  • kat5556
    kat5556 Posts: 164 Member
    Hello, I hope your time in Florida is a good one! I love it here. Publix carries Friendship Cottage cheese and I think it's the best. Keeping my sodium lower is important to me so I choose the "no salt added" one but all their varieties are made without all the junk added. They have many kinds of yogurt, I prefer the Greek yogurt and Chobani is my favorite. Most of the newer Publix's carry a nice selection of natural and organic foods too. Check the city you are going to and see if they have a Whole Foods or Trader Joe's. You'll find some awesome choices at either of those. I only drink water, tea and coffee so I'm not much help on the drinks. It's hot here so drink lots of water!

    And wear sunblock when your out. People don't realize how burned they can get here. People go into the sun and it's not until hours later that the sunburn starts to show. We see tourist all the time walking around like little red lobsters.

    If you have any other specific Florida questions, feel free to message me. I was born and raised here (50+ years) and have lived on both coasts.
  • AlphamaleBAMF
    AlphamaleBAMF Posts: 373 Member
    A Luther Burger, or doughnut burger (among several naming variations), is a hamburger or cheeseburger with one or more glazed doughnuts in place of the bun. These sandwiches have a disputed origin, and tend to run between approximately 800 and 1,500 calories (3,300 and 6,300 kJ).
  • thebigcb
    thebigcb Posts: 2,210 Member
    How about an apple, an orange, some Almonds, few carrot sticks. Couple of packets of turkey

    As for the Sausage Pancake(Choc Chip) on a stick, that has to have been invited by Homer, for Homer
  • Shrinking_Moody
    Shrinking_Moody Posts: 270 Member
    Water - lots of water. I somtimes add a flavor enhancer (Mio) to mine. Just a small squirt is great. When we are out of town - I tend to have a ton of produce for breakfast/lunch - and save cals for dinner. Some hotels offer breakfast on site - where I go for Special K cereal w/ skim milk and a banana. Not sure what you trip entails - but you'll probably do a great deal of walking - so don't forget to log it. And the sunblock comment above is accurate. We went to Disney in November - and I was a lobster - and I've lived in FL before so there was on reason for that. I knew better.
  • Brooke_26
    Brooke_26 Posts: 204
    Hello, I hope your time in Florida is a good one! I love it here. Publix carries Friendship Cottage cheese and I think it's the best. Keeping my sodium lower is important to me so I choose the "no salt added" one but all their varieties are made without all the junk added. They have many kinds of yogurt, I prefer the Greek yogurt and Chobani is my favorite. Most of the newer Publix's carry a nice selection of natural and organic foods too. Check the city you are going to and see if they have a Whole Foods or Trader Joe's. You'll find some awesome choices at either of those. I only drink water, tea and coffee so I'm not much help on the drinks. It's hot here so drink lots of water!

    And wear sunblock when your out. People don't realize how burned they can get here. People go into the sun and it's not until hours later that the sunburn starts to show. We see tourist all the time walking around like little red lobsters.

    If you have any other specific Florida questions, feel free to message me. I was born and raised here (50+ years) and have lived on both coasts.

    Yes, can always tell tourists here by the "lobster look" :( Sunblock a must..drinking plenty of water a must.....That's definately some great ideas!! :smile:
  • haylz247
    haylz247 Posts: 435
    i have no idea :) but please take me with you!
  • Erisad
    Erisad Posts: 1,580
    Big Mac, large fry and a diet soda from McDonald's. That way you get the American experience in one artery clogging meal. :wink:
  • DizzyLinds
    DizzyLinds Posts: 856 Member
    Thanks for the replies so far. The hotels i'm staying in are lovely but to save cash too it'll be nice to get fresh produce and maybe indulge a bit more for dinner.

    Last time Sweet Tomatoes won me over for lunch!

    I admit too i love the coffee in 7/11 and am tempted by a glazed donut....minus the filling!!!

    As for the heat and sun...i'm naturally quite dark so don't get the 'lobster' look! Still careful though! Funny really as wherever i go abroad people tend to speak to me in the local language. When i've been in Florida before it's generally Spanish as they think i'm Mexican!
  • Erisad
    Erisad Posts: 1,580
    Yes, can always tell tourists here by the "lobster look" :( Sunblock a must..drinking plenty of water a must.....That's definately some great ideas!! :smile:

    Sadly, no matter where I go or how much sunblock I use I burn. I'm not a tourist! I'm just pale. :(
  • A_Shannigans
    A_Shannigans Posts: 170 Member
    lutherburger.jpg

    Luther burger.

    I gained 30 pounds and developed a sugar intolerance just looking at those pictures. :wink:
  • aewalk07
    aewalk07 Posts: 51 Member
    How about an apple, an orange, some Almonds, few carrot sticks. Couple of packets of turkey

    As for the Sausage Pancake(Choc Chip) on a stick, that has to have been invited by Homer, for Homer


    LMAO. By homer for homer. so true. DOH!
  • aewalk07
    aewalk07 Posts: 51 Member
    Will you have a stove? Could you make eggs? If you don't have a stove, but have a microwave you can make eggs in a cup or bowl in the microwave if you have to, they cook very quickly though so don't blow up the microwave. Get some frozen diced veggies and add those to the scrambled eggs and you have a fast easy omelette. Pick up some yogurt ( Dannon light and fit vanilla and put your honey nut cheerios in it) Drink lots of water. I don't like to put anything in mine to sweeten it. I do like to cut up a cucumber and put it in the water. ( cucumber water) or Lemon, or watermelon. Naturally sweeten it. :) Pick up fruits and veggies and zip lock bags and come individual peanut butter cups and you can carry a healthy snack with you anywhere you go. Oh and some string cheese. YUM.
  • JenniferNoll
    JenniferNoll Posts: 367 Member
    Bob's Red Mill hot cereals are great.
  • chuisle
    chuisle Posts: 1,052 Member
    If you can find an aldi I am always surprised at some of their selection. Nice produce and fage greek yogurt (my favorite - add fruit and some stevia and it's the best in terms of sugars etc). Its super cheap too (not sure you have them in the UK).

    Trader Joe's and Whole Foods are excellent as well. Most any grocer will have a health food section - a good place to start.
  • therealangd
    therealangd Posts: 1,861 Member
    I'm sure the fruit will be incredible. You can't get much fresher in Florida then Florida fruit.

    We were in the US in April and I found a yoplait greek yogurt with fruit on the bottom. Holy HELL! it was good. I can't get it here, and I've been dreaming about it since. It's a convenient alternative while travelling.
  • NCchar130
    NCchar130 Posts: 955 Member
    If you don't mind artifical sweeteners, both Propel and Crystal Light make individual packs premeasured to add to a 20 ounce bottle of water. I use them sparingly because of the bad press artifical sweeteners get, but they definitely pack a good flavor! I like the Crystal Light lemonade and the berry Propel.
  • neverstray
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
    Chik-fil-A
  • amy1612
    amy1612 Posts: 1,356 Member
    jimmy-dean-pancake-sausage-chocolate-chip-736804.0.jpg

    Who on earth comes up with these things!
  • jgarf4me
    jgarf4me Posts: 33 Member
    i live in south florida right outside of fort lauderdale. Whole foods is the healthy stores and some of the whole foods(boca raton) will cook foods for you and they have prepared foods. also, there is a place called josephs in palm beach and boca that has ready made dinners healthy and good. Otherwise stock up on sweet potatoes and get some healthy nuts.
    Also florida has an abundance of farmers markets that you can buy stuff and lots of places you can go to barbeque since its always warm. Dont barbeque between 5-6 because that usually rain shower time
    Where in florida are you going?
    Jeff
  • jgarf4me
    jgarf4me Posts: 33 Member
    i live in south florida right outside of fort lauderdale. Whole foods is the healthy stores and some of the whole foods(boca raton) will cook foods for you and they have prepared foods. also, there is a place called josephs in palm beach and boca that has ready made dinners healthy and good. Otherwise stock up on sweet potatoes and get some healthy nuts.
    Also florida has an abundance of farmers markets that you can buy stuff and lots of places you can go to barbeque since its always warm. Dont barbeque between 5-6 because that usually rain shower time
    Where in florida are you going?
    Jeff
  • FireBrand80
    FireBrand80 Posts: 378 Member
    jimmy-dean-pancake-sausage-chocolate-chip-736804.0.jpg

    Who on earth comes up with these things!

    U.S.A! U.S.A!
  • RBXChas
    RBXChas Posts: 2,708 Member
    I live in South Carolina, but we have Publix. In fact, it's where I do the bulk of my grocery shopping, since it's practically a stone's throw from my house! (I promise I don't work for the company or anything, but I love the store - customer service is wonderful there!)

    Anyhow, Publix is your typical American supermarket, but it is one of the nicer ones, in my opinion. They have a good natural/organic foods section (usually opposite all the yogurt and such), and my Publix carries a great selection of Greek yogurt. I recommend Fage (my favorite), Chobani (a close second), Stonyfield Oikos (which is the organic version - Dannon Oikos is the non-organic version), and Liberte (accent aigu on the last e - MFP does not recognize accents for me). Publix also carries all the Kashi cereals and oatmeals (dry cereals are usually opposite the oatmeals, so the Kashi dry cereal and Kashi oatmeal will be in different places). If you are into eating oats, Quaker is the go-to brand for most people, but I find that the Publix oats (generic) are just as good and usually end up cheaper, unless Quaker happens to be on sale.

    They've got plenty of drinks, but since you are tired of fizzy drinks and want diluted juice-like stuff, I recommend the Mio, which Publix sells in lots of flavors. It's a little squeeze bottle-type thing that fits easily in a purse, and you add as much or as little to your water as you want. It is made with artificial sweeteners, though, so if you're trying to avoid those, then I suggest just buying fresh produce (berries and peaches are definitely in season here) and adding them to your plain water.

    Whole Foods is also a good store if you can find one, but they specialize in organics/natural foods (they don't sell anything that's not). As such, it is generally more expensive, so if you're ok with eating "regular" stuff, then Publix is your place.

    Oh, and Publix's "buy one get one free" promotions basically mean half-price. You don't have to buy two to get the deal :smile: Not all stores do that, so it's good to keep in mind if you're only in town for so long.

    Have fun in Florida, and welcome to the States!