Advice on hotel living please

Every week for 4 months you'll be in a hotel? I'd invest in a tiny $50 microwave then and tote it back and forth. Buy some Nordicware microwave cookware and some instant oats, microwave-in-bag rices, mac n cheese, mashed potato bowls, etc.

Bring a cooler for your cold stuff and replenish with ice from the ice machine down the hall. Bring cold cuts, make sandwiches.

If you must eat something out every night, portion it and put it in your cooler and save for a snack later.

I agree with the others... buy a cheapie microwave and bring a cooler to store your stuff in. I'd expense a meal or two to the grocery store, too. Ask the waiters if you can order a half meal when dining out or save the other half for the next day.

No fridge or microwave is going to make it really tough. I survived a month on those ramen noodle cups, fresh fruit, peanut butter, bread, and tuna "lunch kits" and it was MISERABLE. Looking back I could really have done without the ramen. If you could get your hands on a microwave it becomes a little more diverse since you can add hot food into the mix. I learned a lot about microwave cooking in my travels for work.

I would start planning ahead, look at online menus when they are available and look at the nutrition information. Use this in your meal planning process. Many restaurants have "lighter" or "healthier" options marked on the menu and if you've already looked at the nutrition info you should be ready to go. My downfall with restaurant eating is that even when I plan I always have that weakness towards something on the menu be it a burger or even worse something like carbohydrate stuffed with carbohydrate, fried; bonus kryptonite points if it is perogies or covered in something sinfully sweet.

It looks like lunch is not covered. I would plan bag lunch ala school days. PBJ, fresh fruit, packaged tuna which can make sandwiches or eat with crackers. There are options in shelf stable condiments, mayonaise is a surprising one. I really don't recommend shelf stable milk/soy milk options unless there is a cooler available at work if you don't like to drink it room temp. Some vegetables keep ok for a few days without refridgeration if they're not cut. Tomatoes, small onions, mixed with tuna makes a tastey option. I also found that quick oats ("instant" "minute" what ever your preferred brand calls them) can be added to this to make it more substantial, it is also good on crackers. I also kept in my room "treats" like trail mix with dried fruit and a little bit of chocolate, to keep me from raiding the hotel vending machine at night.
If you're not meeting your desired/needed calorie limit you might try supplement shakes if you're into those.

Good luck!

Fruit, fresh and dried! Keep some packets of peanut butter and tuna (not to eat together) so you have an option if you don't want to go out at night.

Typically hotel restaurants have healthy options though... I think you'll be fine. I agree with asking for the nutrition information first thing if possible, I mean they're going to see you a lot, lol. And don't hesitate to ask for grilled meat instead of whatever they make if needed, no sauce, no butter, dressing on the side etc... I think it's definitely doable. I'm actually a bit jealous, not having to cook for 4 months... Heaven.

I like the idea of taking some protein powder with you, so you can have more variety and still have some protein (put it in oatmeal etc). Hotels typically have eggs for breakfast though, so you can have some of that... Counting calories is going to suck though.

I used do travel arrangements at my last job. We had some vegetarians who would insist on a room with a small kitchen. They would usually find the hotel themselves & I can tell you they always came up with something less expensive than what the company allowed. We would expense groceries & that was also cheaper. So shop around you may find something to your and the company's advantage. Make up a story, they don't need to know you're on a diet. Good luck

Many hotels offer microwaves and/or mini fridges upon request. I was "on the road" for a year...living off restraunt food killed (that and the drinking). If you end up eating out for dinner on a regular basis maybe consider chain restaraunts that offer "lighter" menu options or going to a diner as breakfast food can be healthier and easier on the waistline and I personally love breakfast for dinner.

Good call on joining the local gym!

Hi
So starting this weekend I am going to be living away from home in a hotel Sunday evening until Friday for work. This is going to be at least a 4 month assignment and its really exciting in most ways but I'm really worried its going to be really hard to not gain weight let alone lose any.
I can expense my evening meal to my company if I buy it in a restaurant (and can't afford to pass that up!), breakfast is also covered and there is no fridge or microwave in my room even if I did pass that option over and buy my own food elsewhere.

I am going to join the local gym to try and increase my daily calorie limit as much as I can but that's not really a solution to the diet/nutrition problem.

Any advice would be really appreciated, thank you.

Do some research on the restaurants in the area. If work is going to reimburse the costs I would use them. Several restaurants I have gone to have a symbol in the menu by lower Calorie meals. Grilled chicken and fish are typically decent meals you can find almost anywhere...... If it is possible you could pick a restaurant you can walk to from the hotel

I like to buy in bulk because I have 6 kids. Then I measure the dry items into daily serving ammounts for work. You can get fresh fruit to snack on.

You can invest in an electric cooler for around $100 ( see if work will pay for it??) That would give you a lot of options for drinks and cooled items you can heat up for lunch.

https://www.google.com/search?q=electric+coolers&oq=electric+cooler&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l5.8921j0j7&sourceid=chrome&espv=210&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8

Every week for 4 months you'll be in a hotel? I'd invest in a tiny $50 microwave then and tote it back and forth. Buy some Nordicware microwave cookware and some instant oats, microwave-in-bag rices, mac n cheese, mashed potato bowls, etc.

Bring a cooler for your cold stuff and replenish with ice from the ice machine down the hall. Bring cold cuts, make sandwiches.

If you must eat something out every night, portion it and put it in your cooler and save for a snack later.

I did this for 6 months once. Small fridge & microwave in room. Then I bought a single electric burner for soups, eggs, steamed veggies, etc. Worked out well for me as I still have the burner as a fifth for my stove top!

Eat lots of fruit. You can buy a bunch and keep it in your room. That will definitely keep your calories low for the day then you can enjoy a normal and free meal for dinner.

^^^

Not a good idea.

I live out of hotels often and have no trouble hitting my calorie and macro goals. Just have to familiarize yourself with the nutrition data.