Just got back from a trip, first in a while, and once again found out how hard it is to stay on track while I'm out of my natural habitat. I rediscovered some good tricks, but could stand to hear other people's as well. Note that this isn't a vacation where there is lots of tempting stuff around and plenty of time to enjoy it--just cr@ppy business travel. Time zone changes, being trapped in meetings, airplanes, rental cars, taking turns picking restaurants with co-workers. As a result there were very limited choices. So here's what I did right:
-Order the tomato juice on the airplane to get another vegetable
-Try to stick with salads, dressing on side, when possible
-Don't order dessert
-Carry durable fruit and reasonably healthy energy bars for when you are trapped and hungry
-Drink a lot of water
-When all the choices are bad (it happened to me at a BBQ place), get something that tastes really good, and watch portion size.
-Bring workout clothes for the hotel fitness room
Travel is hard for me too. Too many food choices and not enough time or opportunity to exercise.
I think you hit on just about all the good strategies ... the only ones I can add are:
- don't drink alcohol - too many calories and it takes away self-control
- avoid breakfast buffets like the plague
- don't let them give you a key to the minibar
Only thing I can think of is to take a walk through the airport if you've got a long wait, instead of sitting. The carry-on luggage can be a pain, but just think how easily you're fitting in the seats now!
I just do the best that I can. 2 weeks of travel food did not make me heavy. I do avoid alcohol and try to make healthy meal choices as much as possible. I bring my own pre-measured oatmeal and dried blueberries and a bowl and a spoon, then I just need hot water for healthy breakfast (which I can make in the coffee pot if needed).
Travel in the US is much easier than international travel. In the US, I always try to stay at the Residential Suites (or whatever that hotel chain is called) with kitchenettes, then I hit the grocery store and proceed as usual.
I was away for 3 days last week, and took with me: hard boiled eggs, yogurt, Wasa crackers. From the breakfast buffet I ate the fresh fruit, and drank the coffee. Lunchs were catered in, but each one contained at least one green salad, and some sort of protein. Avoided the desserts - which honestly is not usually a problem for me.
Usually when traveling, I opt for salads, esp for lunches. Otherwise I get seafood, as unadorned as possible. The worst thing for me is that if it's business, I spend waaayyy too much time sitting in stuffy rooms. Vacation is better in that you're outside and moving much of the time - at least that's true if you're with my DH!
I hate meeting food! Actually, it's probably the meetings that I really hate, but somehow they get all mixed up with the food. I suppose it's all because I can't spend my time as I want and I can't eat what I want when I want. Naturally, it's all about me.
I don't have much to add, but one thing I've been thinking about is packing instant sugar-free hot chocolate and some kind of dried soup mix. There's almost always hot water available for tea (and yes, I carry my own bags), so making a cup of soup shouldn't be that hard. Ditto on the hot chocolate, which might help wipe out the 4 p.m. cravings. I have a traveling board meeting next week and I thought I'd test drive this theory.
Anne, your mention of V-8 juice is right on the mark. I try to keep it in the house at all times, especially for those moments when I hit the door and I'm so hungry I can't think straight. Most bars stock tomato juice and so do convenience stores.
I'm driving to next week's meeting, which means I have the luxury of space. I will buy a small plastic container of milk (note, the 12-oz size, not the 8-oz carton). I put it on ice overnight. In the morning, I can put a dollop in my tea cup and use the rest for a protein shake. Nice thing about the jug is that it can be your shaker, and then you can throw the whole thing out.
When I first read this I thought you meant that you didn't like to meet the food you eat, and I thought, "Well, of course, who WOULD like meeting food?!"
Substitute, substitute, substitute. If the meal comes w/ fries or buttery garlic mashed potatoes, ask if they have a veggie substitute -- I've found they usually are very happy to do so. It seems like a lot of people must request it because they usually never hesitate.
Customize orders, too. Yesterday I was at a restaurant and I ordered steamed halibut with gnocchi. The gnocchi came with a bolognese sauce, which I forgot can contain cream. I'm not into dairy very much, so I had already confirmed that the salad and main dish didn't come topped with cheese. The waitress then asked if I wanted the gnocchi in a marinara sauce instead! Wow! I didn't even ask! This made the dish healthier AND more appetizing for me. I usually think of veggie substitutes, but I never really thought about sauce substitute -- I guess you're able to customize things even more than I thought.
Tip #2: Try to get a room with a refrigerator if available. I've gotten this a few times with no extra charge.
Room with a fridge really helps. If I'm driving I always bring my own breakfast. It bothers my Scots soul to pay as much as places want for a decent breakfast, and there's no way I'm eating what some places call a "continental breakfast" - a sweet roll and maybe some juice! I really like the hotels that offer a breakfast room and have fruit, yogurt, and often hard boiled eggs.
Tara D - the problem I had with the meetings last week was that they were all buffet set-ups. The lunches did all have a nice green salad. I just had to get creative for protein!
Personally, I never met a cheesecake I didn't like.
Good topic. I just came back from a 10-day vacation and I managed to gain 2.2 lbs. Bah. And I behaved 90% of the time and I walked and walked and walked 'till my legs were sore! (that's my favorite way to get to know a new city). Bah and bah. Oh well.
Weight management and traveling
The worst thing for me is that if it's business, I spend waaayyy too much time sitting in stuffy rooms. Vacation is better in that you're outside and moving much of the time - at least that's true if you're with my DH! 
