Tips and Tricks for Travelers?

[Salos]

Hello and thanks in advance for taking time to read this…

I am 9 days into induction and have been fortunate enough to be home during this time, where it is easy to prepare my food. As soon as I finish induction, I am scheduled to hit the road again.

If there are any other travelers out there that might lend advice on how they deal with airport/airline food, hotel food, or eating out—I would sure appreciate your input.

[damato300x7]

I am a frequent traveler and I am in my second week of extended induction. I am not scheduled for my next trip until the second week in September. I rarely eat "hotel" food but we do eat at many fast food restaurant and just plain restaurants in general. What I plan on doing at restaurants is just ordering some sort of meat with some steamed veggies and a salad(I will take my own dressing). At fast food I will just get a couple burgers and leave the buns. I know it sounds easier said then done though. But I will try and stick to it. I will be gone from home for 35 days this trip and this is gonna be my true test to see how dedicated I am.

Dan

[michellekw23]

If you are lucky enough to stay at a hotel that offers a fridge in your room, you're golden. I was away from home for 5 days during week 2 of induction, and made it managable by stocking up on things like rotisserie chicken, cheese sticks, bags of salad, etc. to eat in the room. There was a Bennegans next door to the hotel, and they were really great about preparing Atkins friendly meals for me. One of thier specials was a grilled chicken sandwich with fries, and they held the bun for me, and gave me a nice salad instead of the fries. Add in some plain oil and vinegar dressing, and you have a perfect lunch. Atkins IS harder to do away from home, but it can be done. You just have to make your mind up to make it work!
Good Luck!

[Lyssie]

Oddly, I've never had a problem sticking on plan foodwise while traveling. Almost any hotel with room service has a burger, and a salad. Most of the airports I've been through have had salad places as well. There's so much to eat that's still on plan, and a lot of restaurants will substitute steamed veggies or a side salad instead of regular sides... Then again, I also love seafood and chicken so it's pretty easy for me to hunt food.

[ValidRouge]

I'm sure I've gotten some raised eyebrows when they send my luggage through the x-ray machines.

I pack jicama with me on every trip. Plus, I pack a knife to cut it with. Meat is usually fairly easy to get in any restaurant/grocery/airport. Veggies, not so much. I also take bottles of flavored olive oil or nut oil (walnut or hazelnut) to use as salad dressing. I don't like to leave anything to chance.

[Salos]

Thanks so much for the great info! I called this morning and the hotel can arrange a fridge in the room....yippeee!

(I also feel so much less nervous knowing it's been do-able for yall)

[SugarFreeSheila]

I live in Dallas/Ft. Worth and travel frequently, and have found the dining-out experience outside DFW to be every bit as easy as it is in DFW. Ditto for foreign travel. I never complicate what's already simple. You see, Atkins followers don't have complicated food choices; on the contrary, we eat quite simply!

With all the parties, weddings, traveling, and friend's/family's-house-staying I have done since starting Atkins in 2001, never once have I ever found it necessary to veer off-plan. The key to this, I feel, is developing a staunchy self-reliant mentality: my no-garbage eating is my responsibility. Examine the options and make it work. If I'm staying at someone's house, I take it upon myself to do my own grocery shopping, getting to the supermarket in order to do so in whatever way possible - never expecting my hostess to have the foods I want on hand. With respect to restaurants: as for "having it your way" at a dining establishment where one is expected to tip ... if you can have this service at Burger King, it is possible there. Always order all food with polite entitlement - with every bit the gumption of a brittle diabetic or someone with a food allergy. (If they are capable of getting by outside the home, you are!) It will be directly proportional to how successful you are in the long-term.

Furthermore, don't worry about how those around you choose to eat; concern yourself with what you put into your own body. Conversely, don't concern yourself regarding what others' take is on how you eat, because it simply isn't of any consequence. Think of all the men and women you've admired most in your lifetime: they very likely never made personal choices in terms of what other people do/think/prefer. After all, who has to live in your skin but you?

[zoewmu]

At restaurants, you can always tell them that you have a medical condition that requires that you eat no sugar or white flour. Because, to me, I do have a medical condition. It is called obesity.

[Lyssie]

I can't say I've ever felt the need to justify what I am ordering to any waiter/waitress. I just ask them what the replacement options are for sides and order the way I want. I have never run across problems (not even with ordering a pasta dish without the pasta).

[IrishIrish]

Don't be afraid to ask for meals tailored to your needs when eating in restaurants and hotels. Most are used to it and, besides, if you were diabetic or gluten free or had other dietary needs, you would be asking for the same sort of tailorization.

I like shopping at a grocery store deli. Most have salad bars, deli meat is a good addition and cheese is plentiful. If you are traveling by car, stop at local produce stands for cukes and peppers and grape tomatoes for munchies. I travel a lot and I've asked hotels if they can prepare hard boiled eggs (and they will!). McD's has double cheeseburgers off the dollar menu and bunless doesn't cost extra. Restaurants have steaks and salads or seafood.

Carry water with you where possible (and allowed by FAA regulations!). Lots of hotels have gyms. I don't need anything for exercise but my iPod and my walking shoes.

Happy traveling.