travelling people

mfermo
mfermo Posts: 102 Member
edited November 17 in Food and Nutrition
This week I will be traveling for work and I am a bit worried for the eating. I will be visiting airport lounges, restaurants, hotels, canteen, etc.
I am used to travel and in the past in some occasion I was so cautious that I was even able to lose weight on the weeks away. Still this time I am quite worried (this is not the best period in my life ), so I decided that in addition to log my meals I will note things here. If anyone is in the same condition and want to join would be good motivating each other. ps: Any tip is welcome.

Replies

  • dutchandkiwi
    dutchandkiwi Posts: 1,389 Member
    edited April 2015
    I travel on a regular basis and it is tough specifically if it is to a place/conferences where they put on great lunches.
    What helps me is to walk around first and then decide what I find acceptable.
    At airports what helps is to have my own snacks/fruit in my bag (does not always work for international travel) and have that as snacks. I hate wasting food more than anything so I know I will use that first.
    Last but not least I always take an empty bottle (again airport security) and ensure there is water in it after security and while away in hotels. A few sips of water stops me from wanting to eat all the nice stuff.
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    Check that your hotels have gyms, microwaves, refrigerators.
    Usually the cook in the hotel restaurants can accommodate you for low calories options -- no sauce for ex.
  • mfermo
    mfermo Posts: 102 Member
    Hi thx for the tips, indeed was a nice sunny day so I had even the time to have 30 min. run outside. For the food, at airport I get along with nice yogurt with small fruit salad and cereals as lunch and for dinner a grilled tuna (unfortunately they put some fried chips...but I behaved and just eat very few , no beer, wine, alcohol ...day 1 was ok. Tomorrow will be more difficult as all day in office, then I have a dinner I can't skip...let's see
  • lynndot1
    lynndot1 Posts: 114 Member
    I always pack airport snacks just because food is so stupid expensive in airports. Bring an empty water bottle to fill after you get through security to save money. But if you have long layovers and need food...I think the little sandwich stands aren't too bad. If it's a huge airport with a lot of big name restaurants you could maybe get some salad type meals.

    As for traveling. If you're gonna be in the same hotel long enough maybe just run to a convenience store for snacks and light meals. I think it's easiest to keep breakfast foods in hotel rooms provided there's a fridge, and you can avoid picking pastries at the hotel breakfasts haha. Or just scope out the free breakfast at the hotel. A lot of places now do things like basic scrambled eggs, toast, fresh fruit, etc.

    Restaurants are easiest to me if I know the menu ahead of time. A lot of them put menus online, the big name chains do nutritional info too which is nice. But common sense usually dominates here (baked will be less calories than fried, heavy sauces will be high calorie, don't overeat the bread rolls, haha)

    I'm actually going on vacation next week and I wasn't planning on logging much. Since I'm more or less in maintenance mode I don't care about 5 days eating whatever (within reason) - and even if you're trying to lose, 5 days isn't going to kill you. So don't stress too much, just make some common sense choices and you'll be fine.

    And if you're gonna be drinking, have water between drinks. Probably the smartest choice if you're doing business meetings anyway haha. But the water between booze will stop you from overdoing it.
  • Sevend7
    Sevend7 Posts: 5 Member
    I travel quite a bit for work and usually i let my diet slip a little when I go to new places so I can experience it to the fullest. This may be a few pounds but they will come off quickly once back. I do however always order special meals on long flights (Gluten Free or Veg). I find them to be fresher and you generally get served first which is great if you want to get eating out of the way so you can work or sleep. As a travel snack I recommend unsalted almonds that you baked in the oven (brings out the flavor) and as the poster above me mentioned an empty H2O bottle. I used to get liberal with the drink offerings but have since eased off to a glass of wine or two to not make jetlag worse.
  • rendress269
    rendress269 Posts: 90 Member
    Hey, congrats on your first successful day. Hubby travels domestically quite often for work and we've worked on some tips that help him manage quite well.

    He packs meal/ protein bars for long work days. We like Zone Bars and Life Choice(Walmart brand)These can serve as a snack or meal if necessary. @ the hotel he makes sure he has plenty of bottled water, generally eats oatmeal with fruit and eggs for breakfast. Dinners often consist of fish or seafood as it's low in calories but high in protein.

    We bought travel sized pistachios that he brings on longer flights. Airports usually offer some type of yogurt option or salad, but he tries to avoid eating at the airport if possible.

    When dining out, he asks for a to go box to control portions.

    Good luck!!
  • mfermo
    mfermo Posts: 102 Member
    Hi, here I am on second day. Thx again for the tips, on hotel I know it quite well as I'm quite often here so that's ok, breakfast is easy, I usually take beans, some white ham a yogurt and drink an orange juice. I did the same today. Lunch was challenging as I was in a meeting and they bring some sandwiches full on unknown "creams"; thx God I've been able to grab a mixed salad. In the afternoon I was a bit hungry but there was no fruit but just chocolate snack and tempting biscuits, anyhow I behaved and didn't take any. Luckily dinner have been quite early. It was a very nice restaurant, I ate a menu with asparagus (I love them), white fish and eggs and drank (beside water) just a glass of wine, I probably could have avoided it, but ok overall I think I'm fine.
    Tomorrow I'll grab a banana or an orange in the hotel to avoid being too hungry and have an healthy snack available, problem will be dinner were I have a cooking dinner...let's see.
  • dutchandkiwi
    dutchandkiwi Posts: 1,389 Member
    mfermo wrote: »
    Tomorrow I'll grab a banana or an orange in the hotel to avoid being too hungry and have an healthy snack available, problem will be dinner were I have a cooking dinner...let's see.

    That is what I try to do too. Most breakfast buffets have fruit there and I always grab two pieces for during the meetings. That way I bring my own snack. In the past, when there were only cookies and chocolate snacks I have asked for fruit at the meeting and got it daily from then on. Funny thing was that the fruit was eaten more than the cookies. However not every meeting place can provide that service in an instant.

  • mfermo
    mfermo Posts: 102 Member
    Day3...breakfast ok, lunch also (same of yesterday, I grabbed a salad) and I have my banana as snack and a kiwi. Dinner was quite difficult. It was a team building with cooking lesson, so a lot of things mixed together, I tried my best to eat what I thought was better and in small quantity but calories intake it's quite a guess. anyhow really not too much I could have made different, I didn't drink any wine and also in the bar I just took mineral water. Tomorrow I fly back so need to cope with traveling and airport and then Friday the scale response. I don't know if I have been able to lose a bit, I hope at least to be steady.
  • mfermo
    mfermo Posts: 102 Member
    Day4, I'm back, breakfast was ok (nean+ham), airport lunch yogurt/musli/fruit salad...a couple of bananas as snacks and back home chicken+lentilles for dinner, I am curious to go on the scale tomorrow morning!
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    Team building and cooking lesson? Odd.
    Anyway, you did great. Enjoy your chicken and lentils. :)
  • mfermo
    mfermo Posts: 102 Member
    Thx all for tips & support; response of scale...I lost 100g, not a lot but ok it's long journey and I am anyhow happy I didn't come back with some more weight.
    Today I relaxed and was bad weather but tomorrow I really would like to cycle, I hope little sun!
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