Traveling to the UK

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  • beckarini
    beckarini Posts: 78 Member
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    'English Breakfast' isn't typical here at ALL! I have eaten maybe 5 in my life? Plsu I hate most things on the typical English Breakfast menu anyway, too fatty and fried for me.
    I'm sure your hotel will be able to rustle up some eggs, oatmeal/porridge or cereal for you. It's London so will have SO many options! Places like Costa coffee do takeaway porridge with berries or honey.
    As for supermarkets, just look at the labels and make wise choices - the food might be slightly different but as long as the carbs and cals are printed you can't go far wrong.
    Cinnamon on Brick Lane is great! London is a hub of multicultural eateries - lots of Nepalese and sushi places which are just divine :)
    Enjoy my beautiful country! :)
  • RosscoBoscko
    RosscoBoscko Posts: 632 Member
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    As others have said for currys can still have great food at lower cals. For me personally, i order chapati, sag bhajji (spinach and onion, and chicken tikka bhuna (or some other dry variety like others have suggested). Never really been too much into rice with curry so just a case of replacing my beloved sag aloo, and switching garlic naan with chapati. could also throw in a lentil dahl to bulk up meal if needed.

    a great lunch from M+S (again as others have suggested this already) is cold salmon salad, really tasty and filling and only about 250 cals. from both sainsburys and m+s spincah and feta parcels are quite low and tasty, and houmous with veg to dip or falafels etc is quite a good option.
  • girlinahat
    girlinahat Posts: 2,956 Member
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    No!!!

    Don't stay in London and eat from chain restaurants!!! Sure, get your lunch from M&S if you like, but there a million great little independent restaurants/cafes you could go to. There's a lovely French bar near chinatown (sorry, I wish I could remember where exactly) although it won't be low calorie it still tastes great.

    Think about what you are eating from the menu - stay away from heavy sauces, choose lean cuts of meat or fish and have plenty of vegetables.

    And most hotels ask what you want for breakfast - an 'English Breakfast' can have as much or as little as you like - a couple of pieces of bacon and some scrambled egg will keep you going nicely and won't fill you with empty calories like some sugary cereals will.

    Enjoy your stay.
  • Veganniee
    Veganniee Posts: 460 Member
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    If your in London and like a curry, then suggest you get on the District Line (Underground) and head to Aldgate East and take the 2 min walk to Brick Lane. Tons of fantastic restaurants to choose from and all willing to offer you something different to entice you in.

    Hah!!!!!!! Brick lane ruby's taste like any other ruby house! Save your train fair and stay local to covent garden!

    No, the original poster is correct, go to Brick Lane. Most Brick Lane curry houses have much wider menus than your bog standard curry houses, and are quite cheap. The Standard curry house is a good one.

    and much better value too.
  • kathyms13
    kathyms13 Posts: 497 Member
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    i live in the UK and often stay in hotels with work, one thing ive learned is just because the foods free you dont have to eat it, a boiled egg for breakfast sarnie for lunch low call options for evening meal its easy were ever you are, we are not the usa we dont just do mountains of junk foods.
    now must say ..... i love Soho Old Compton St. have a fun time .
  • ladyraven68
    ladyraven68 Posts: 2,003 Member
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    I'll be staying in London on business for 10 days starting this weekend, and would like advice/suggestions on healthy eating options there, restaurants/chains/foods to avoid, interesting things to try, and whatever else you can think up. I am not one for a typical English breakfast (aka heart attack on a plate :smile:), and most mornings prefer a cup of tea, a banana, and something with protein in it, such as a smoothie, peanut butter toast, scrambled eggs, bacon, etc.

    Lunch is typically a sandwich or a bowl of vegetarian or lean protein-type soup and a roll.

    I love me some Indian food, but know that my favorite meal of chicken tikka masala, rice, and naan is waaaay too many calories to consume regularly (but sooo yummy!). Any good nutritious ethnic suggestions?

    For what it's worth, I'll be staying in the Soho/Covent Garden/Leicester Square neighborhood. AFAIK my hotel room won't have a refrigerator, but I could always pop into a Sainsbury's and bring back some non-perishables. What do you like from there or Tesco's or other British supermarkets?

    Thanks in advance for your help!

    Not sure what you thing an English Breakfast consists of as you have called it heart attack on a plate, but then say you will eat toast, bacon and scramled eggs, which are all basics of the breakfast.

    The hotel will usually have a buffet breafast which will include cereals, fruit juice, fruit, yogurts, rolls, toast, and then the cooked breakfast which will include scrambled eggs, bacon, tomatoes, mushrooms etc.

    There will be enough variety there for you to make a healthy choice.

    Do you know what hotel you are staying in?

    As for the restaurants in the evening, again you will be able to make healthy choices wherever you go. You will find the portion sizes a lot smaller than in the States, and not everything comes automatically with fries, there is nearly always an option to change the chips for salad or jacket potato.

    God luck, and enjoy the trip :)
  • acpgee
    acpgee Posts: 7,718 Member
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    There are a lot of Asian restaurants in Soho. Korean, Vietnamese and Japanese are low calorie options. You're not far from Chinatown, just on the southern side of Shaftesbury avenue, though that will be greasier.

    There's a strip of three or four Koreans on St Giles High St, which is an 5-8 minute walk from Soho Square, but plenty of others dotted around Soho. It's a big city and you are staying in the centre of town. Restaurant selection is comparable to West Village in NYC.
  • Livingdeadgirl44
    Livingdeadgirl44 Posts: 264 Member
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    I moved out of London up north 2 years ago and the one place I really miss is Kulu Kulu sushi on Brewer street near Picadilly circus/covernt garden. If you like sushi I really recommend it and they do a nice range of salads and sides to go with your sushi/sashimi.

    It's also good because you don't have to feel like such a loner when your sitting at the sushi train :)
  • morenita71
    morenita71 Posts: 137 Member
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    Some of the chain restaurants do calorie controlled meals - check out Strada (Italian) (some dishes under 600 cals), Pizza Express plus also Wagamama, Yo Sushi and Ping Pong (dim sum) have calories on their website. there's a burrito place on Charing Cross road called Chipotle and again on their website you can find cals and work out a burrito's calories for yourself. Where I can't count cals I also opt for Japanese, Korean or Vietnemase - obviously ordering lean meats, fish or seafood and avoiding anything fried, Taro on Brewer Street or Old Compton St are good i always have Salmon teriyaki Don and of course there's always sushi. (also for quick bites, Eat, Pret a manger, Costa coffee and Itsu all show calories so you can work out your daily count very easily.) Also use website walkit.com to work out walking routes, You can get a lot done given where you're staying - will be easier to walk than take buses, tube etc...Have fun - I ADORE London!
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,811 Member
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    Charlotte Street and surrounding area has loads of nice places and just about any cuisine you can imagine.

    Google Maps - "restaurants near Charlotte Street, London"

    Second the Brick Lane suggestion for authentic curry by the way.

    Very interesting food market just south of London Bridge - Borough Market, open Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Loads of specialist/organic/farmer's foods to nibble and try plus a very historic part of London to explore while you burn of the calories.
  • KarenJanine
    KarenJanine Posts: 3,497 Member
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    Look up Holland & Barrett as there is bound to be one nearby. It's a health food store where you can pick up healthy snacks and protein shakes etc.

    I love Wok to Walk where they make stir frys fresh to order made with your choice of ingredients. They have a branch in Soho which I've not been to but imagine it's just the same as branches I've been to.

    For basics there are supermarkets everywhere, smaller branches of Sainsburys (Sainsburys Local) and Tesco (Tesco Express) where you can pick up essentials and pre-packed sandwiches etc.

    Higher end supermarkets include Marks & Spencer and Waitrose where you will get good sandwiches etc. at a slightly higher price.

    If you eat at chain resturants most will have nutritional info available online.
  • flabbytofabby
    flabbytofabby Posts: 40
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    It's not hard finding healthy eats in London but be prepared to spend. Most English people don't regularly have an English heart attack breakfast. So you'll be fine
  • fatty_to_fitty
    fatty_to_fitty Posts: 544 Member
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    jump on a tube, go to Brick Lane (the East End) for a curry

    go to Edgeware Road (Hyde Park and Marble arch join the bottom of this) got to Maroush (they all seem to have this name so give one a try)

    Bella Italia is a good price with a good menu but probably carb heavy. Have the arabiata.

    You will also be quite close to China town you can get nice food there. You could walk there easily.

    But also there are a lot of chains that do mexican etc so you can have high protein low card options. I love Nando's when I am on the go.

    Enjoy London =)
  • MacDHH
    MacDHH Posts: 34 Member
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    You've gotten some great tips here. I was living in London up until six months ago, and I miss it terribly. My only other suggestions is if you are going to break the caloric bank by having things like a curry, make it worth your while :) Take the Northern line south to Tooting and go to one of the places there. It's not touristy London, but the food is great! Also, on one of the Sundays, find a pub and have a roast. Roast and curries are the two things I miss the most.
  • mfs1011
    mfs1011 Posts: 8 Member
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    Further ideas:

    Branches of Waitrose sell good quality food similar or better to Marks and Spencer or Sainsbury. You'll find diet options easily available. There are branches across London.
    http://www.waitrose.com/content/waitrose/en/bf_home/bf.html

    A West End of London institution is The Stock Pot - if London food prices are hurting you should find a good meal at a reasonable price. Its not five star, just good value.
    http://www.stockpotlondon.co.uk

    Another chain for a quick spicy meal is Wagamama which started in London and has gone global
    http://www.wagamama.com/restaurants

    Just because you're dieting doesn't mean you shouldn't have some fun at the original Hard Rock Cafe. They serve salads!
    http://www.hardrock.com/locations/cafes3/cafe.aspx?LocationID=91&MIBEnumID=3

    Enjoy!
  • queenhiphop
    queenhiphop Posts: 286 Member
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    I work in central London (10 mins from where you're staying) and have to buy lunch every day. If anyone wants to add me feel free, I know the City very well and I can advise re. food.
  • acpgee
    acpgee Posts: 7,718 Member
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    Brick Lane is an interesting experience, but some say you can get better food off the strip.

    If you are willing to make the trek to East London, two iconic places for Punjabi food are Tayyabs http://www.tayyabs.co.uk/ and Lahore http://www.tayyabs.co.uk/, both close to Aldgate. Expect to queue for a table at either place if you don't go early or reserve. To control calories I would go for the Tikka, salad and plain rice. The grills are amazing at either place. The aubergine and lentil dish at Tayyabs is great too. Very cheap by London standards. You can bring your own wine to Lahore as they are unlicensed. Tayyabs too probably, but I am not entirely sure.
  • 04hoopsgal73
    04hoopsgal73 Posts: 890 Member
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    Bump for May travel. Great tips, thanks.

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