Hi everyone,

My name's Sabrina, and I hang out in Alternachicks and in WW at Home.

My fiance' and I are planning on visiting London in September (yeah, I know I'm asking early, but I'm SO EXCITED!!!) and I'm
worried about what to eat. I've grown so dependent on certain products and certain kinds of foods that I buy at the grocery, that I'm not sure how or what I'm going to be able to eat in England.
Judging from the various guide books I've read, everything is either kidney pie, fish and chips, or Indian food and I *know* that can't be the case!

Any recommendations--restaurants or grocery items--for this first time visitor? I don't except I will lose weight on my trip, but I would like to at least maintain!

Sabrina

Hi Sabrina...contrary to popular belief there is not only stodgy pies..puddings..fish and chips on the menu in England it is a breeze to buy food because everything has a nutrition label on it, and there is so much choice i'm sure you'll be able to maintain your weight while having a great time

If you're following WW I was just wondering if it would be worth you investing in a copy of our shopping guide & eating out guide? I know that they're available online at weightwatchers.co.uk, but I don't know if they will ship internationally. Don't forget you can always attend a meeting in any country if you're a member - so you could always buy the books when you get here. I think most places have healthy options if you look for them; & the eating out guide can be a big help with that.

For resteraunts check out Timeout. This is a weekly magazie and they have a wbsite which is (I think) www.timeout.co.uk they have guides all over the world and will give details of shopping and eating out and places to go.

Of course we wont have the same brands but most supermarkets have a slimming calorie controlled range - Marks and Spencer have count on us (very popular food shop -especially for ready made stuff such as macaroni cheese or cauliflower cheese, various meat dishes, pastas and risottos. Sainsburys and Tesco have their own ranges as does Safeway and Waitrose (Waitrose is part of the John Lewis chain which is a well respected Department store and the food is often top of the taste tests along with their wine).

There are other supermarkets but these are the main ones.

As for shopping - a lot of stuff will be more expensive over here but for make up if you are interested check out Boots The Chemist (go to a big branch). Along with most of the known makes (known to Yanks I mean!) there is Boots own stuff. NO7 and 17 which is for teenagers (but I use it too!). Also Superdrug has their own make up called Kolor. You can also get Pixi and Pout ranges over here but would have to check out where on the web as I have forgotten where they are in London.

I think supermarkets can be quite regional, so it depends where you're going in England, but Asda is another big supermarket chain, & they have their own 'Good For You' range too. They're also a lot more reasonably-priced than some of the others.

To be honest, I think you'll be surprised how much is the same. We have so many US franchises here now; & a lot of companies are international, so you can get the same products just under a different name. I know my friends send me a large parcel of American cereals thinking that they would be something different for me, & actually they were all available here! So why, oh why, can't we get those gorgeous apple loops that you have?!!!

Thanks everyone for your helpful advice. I am going to print these suggestions out and stow them away in my "Trip" folder.

I'm really super excited about going to England, and hope to maybe even connect with a childhood penpal from Wales.
We're also looking at Amsterdam and are anxious to explore that city as well.

>>>So why, oh why, can't we get those gorgeous apple loops that you have?!!!

Apple loops? Are you talking about the dried apples or?

Again, thanks everyone for all of your help and if anyone has any more ideas, please pitch in. I'm counting the days ...

Sabrina