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- Travel for work - trouble with choices - mostly breakfast!
Travel for work - trouble with choices - mostly breakfast!
Started
by Rena Leddy
on January 21, 2013
Hi Alicia,
I read your book and a few others in October 2011 because I was having problems digesting foods; going a week without having a bowel movement and hating the idea of drinking fake Metamucil or other fiber products. And, I loved the idea of being so "clean". I've always been 10-15 lbs overweight and have been on a diet since I was a young kid. I am now almost 46. So, I took on the challenge of going vegan. I loved it! I felt better, healthier.
I lost only a couple of pounds, but felt so good that I kept doing it and didn't care so much about the weight.
Then, I got a new job that requires me to travel to various parts of the country 1-2 weeks a month. I found it really hard to eat the disgusting salads that were offered and it became common to carb-load or eat junk food because I was so hungry from not having the right food to eat. I ended up gaining weight (15 lbs!) and ultimately, went back to eating dairy and then
chicken, beef, fish etc. to try and Lose weight. I've been eating meats
for about 3 months and I feel horrible! I really want to go back to a Kind Diet, but I could really use some tips on travel. I stay in hotels, some have refrigerators available, some don't. My schedule is at the will of my clients so I don't have time to get to a store and shop. I am usually in a town for 2-3 nights and out each night with the client. Any tips would be helpful!
Thank you!
Rena
Rena I totally feel you on this one! I travel two weeks a month as well and it IS so hard to find vegan choices in some cities. Going in blind was my first problem; I just do a quick Google search now to get a sense of the restaurant choices in the area of my hotel/office. This actually helps me a great deal when I’m on the hunt for something healthy to eat. I am also not shy about calling ahead to a restaurant to ask if they can prepare something vegan. Places are surprisingly gracious and accommodating!!(Especially Middle Eastern and Asian restaurants). If everything fails me, I will undoubtedly find a Taco Bell where I can at least get a bean burrito. The hotel restaurants usually have oatmeal and fruit at breakfast and will on occasion provide it to me for dinner as well. I also pack snacks from home, it is almost impossible for me to find anything at an airport :)
I put myself in the mindset that I am going to treat myself when I travel. If there is a fridge or minibar to keep things cool, find a Greek, Asian, Italian place or even a grocery store with vegan take away options and treat yourself when not out with clients or when you get back to room. If no fridge I get good bread, PB or almond butter and take honey or jam packs from breakfast for sandwiches. Add fresh fruit from grocery store, maybe pick up small box of cereal or good quality chips or unsalted nuts to snack on. Keeping in mind that my food is waaaay better than others around me and saving little treats (I love eating Endangered Species chocolate bars one or two squares at a time) for out of town keeps me happy. One final indulgence, I make one or two sandwiches at home and take in my purse for first day or two until i can shop and find something better. Gimme Lean or other sausage substitute on Ezekial English muffin or bread with hot sauce and ketchup, vegan BBQ riblets on burger bun, and a take away container of Gardein beefless tips are easy to travel, keep well unrefridgerated, and delicious!
A few ideas that come to mind: take some protein powder w/you & small aseptic containers of coconut water &/or "milk". An immersion blender is pretty compact & would mix up a protein shake w/no lumps. Fill some ziplock bags w/a healthy cereal or granola. Bring some fruit for that first day until you can get out & purchase locally. Or, bring some rice cakes & a small container of peanut butter. Walnuts or almonds travel well as do Lara Bars. Hope this helps!
Sushi is always an option also! You can get veggi rolls with sweet potato or just cucumber and avacado rolls. Some places have brown rice sushi which is the healthier option.
I also travel a lot for work so I understand where you are coming from. I agree with what others have said too. Oatmeal and fruit is pretty much the standard for hotel breakfasts. I can usually find a bagel with peanut butter too. If you know you are going to be super busy and can't even stop at a grocery store- bring fruit and protein or granola bars with you. I always google, yelp, or happy cow before I travel to get an idea of vegan or veg-friendly restaurants in the area. Then it is something to look forward to too! I have never had trouble finding a vegan option at a Thai, Middle Eastern, or Mediterranean place. The other thing I remind myself is that I am not going to die of starvation if I have to skip or limit my food for one meal. You might be stuck in a restaurant with no options, but if you ask you can probably get a salad (even a crappy one) or a plain baked potato to tide you over until you can get a proper meal or at least a smoothie or green juice. Another idea is to travel with a shaker cup and individual packets of Vega Smoothie Infusion or other vegan protein powder- then you can just add water from the hotel bathroom tap and you've got nutrition at least.
Good luck! You can do it!
After going through the comments it seems that the book is wroth reading!! I was reading an article on traveling tips that said that there are new apps in the market that very helpful in this regard. For great apps click here
http://www.appostrophic.com/ipad-app-development/
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