One Month America Trip

I am lucky enough to be going to America (from Australia) for one month in January this year. We will be staying in basic hotels/motels which do not have cooking equipment (microwaves, or fridges or kettles). I have worked extremely hard to get

First off, have a wonderful time. I was lucky enough to live in Australia for almost 5 yrs. I hope you enjoy the USA half as much as I loved being there.

Even the most basic motels have coffee makers and microwaves these days. Not sure where you are getting the idea you won't have those available to you. The fridge is pretty common these days as well. but even if you don't have those, there are inexpensive strofoam coolers. Eskies here are more pricey but for a month trip you might want to invest in one. A Walmart will probably have an affordable one. Assuming you will be traveling by car mostly. Flying with them can get tricky.

i would suggest passing on the buffets as the food is usually not that great. Stick to local cafes or a chain that has decent foods like Panera Bread, Sweet Tomato, Salad'n'Soup, and similar type chains.

Keep walking. You sound like you will have plenty of hills and even mountains to be climbed. You should get plenty of exercise playing tourist. I always lose a few lbs when I travel to Europe because I walk so very much more.

So relax, sample local specialties when you have the chance, and have a great time. As for logging just keep a paper log and note what you are seeing and experiencing along with your food choices. Enjoy!!

I go to the US 1/2 times a year and always put on weight, it's not an option. Enjoy yourself, don't deny yourself new foods and experiences. I always lose a few extra lbs before I go to compensate for the lbs I'm going to gain whilst I'm there.

You'll get free wifi in most places across the US........ just don't roam.

Check the menu .... the calorie count sould be listed as per the US standard. Pick the the right choice and you will be fine

This may be a silly question. Do fast food restaurants in the US show calories on their menus? Do chain restaurants show calories on their menus?

For the most part, only if it's the law, like NYC.

You should take your phone if it's a smart phone. WiFi is available in a lot of restaurants. I would also advise against buffets.

For fast food, Panera Bread posts calorie information on the menu and they are a relatively healthy sandwich cafe.

Use what you've learned. You know what portions should look like. You know which foods are calorie-dense. Order meals with lean meats, plenty of vegetables, and whole grains. I like to use a pie chart to visualize what I should be eating when I go out: half my plate would be vegetables, a quarter meat or protein, and a quarter carbohydrate.

Enjoy yourself. I don't think the food will be much different from Australia honestly. I'd splurge and have the American stuff (guessing ribs, cheesecake) once though. But other than that, if you stick to chains, they often have lower calorie options on the menu. Some fast food places have calories, others don't, but as long as you're smart in your choices (avoid things with sauce, fried etc) you should be fine.

most grocery stores here have salad and food bars. Whole Foods chain has some wickedly, variety packed ones so search those out in the towns you are visiting. Au Bon Pain is another sandwich chain here that displays calorie counts on their website and their menu boards. You can get a surprisingly large green salad w/a huge scoop of tuna for 340 cal. at ABP. Enjoy.