Food while travelling for business

[gauge22]

Not steroid related.

Great news and a challenge ahead.

Just landed an amazing job. Huge increase in comp, benefits, equity etc....

Only issue is that I will be living out of a hotel for one work week per month. I dont want to go backwards on diet/training.

Hotel will not have a kitchen. Fridge (small one), microwave and kettle (likely).

Need advice from others who have managed to stay on diet while living in a hotel. I dont want to rely to heavy on protein powders, but almost see this as a requirement.

My current diet is pro 270, carbs 325, fats 75.

Protein currently from fresh chicken/turkey/beef/egg whites. Carbs are typically oatmeal, rice, yams, potatoes. Fats are trace from meats and nuts.

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Rido]

Find a local restaurants that have solid options? Obviously as you mentioned, Protein shakes would be ideal. Oatmeal seems pretty straight forward considering you are in a hotel and can probably cook it in a microwave there.

Turkey sandwiches?


Atleast you can load up on food for a week in the hotel.

 

[Palifter]

I work in Pharma sales and have to travel often certain months of the year. I personally use either a local meal prep service to where I am traveling or I just use a larger national company.

You’ll pay a premium but it’s well worth it for the convenience and being able to adhere to your diet 100%. Fun fact: I used to own and operate a meal prep company a few years ago, was an awesome venture and our food was delicious! I’m actually pretty happy with all the other companies I’ve tried over the years as well.

 

[Norse13]

I stay in hotels 4 days a week usually. Find a nearby supermarket. Roast meat, roast chicken, microwave boil-in-bag rice, 1 minute oat porridge (add boiling water from kettle), multigrain bread, skyr / kvark. Some fruits. Raw vegetables. Protein cookies. Try to find healthy choices for breakfast. I'll pick a bunch of boiled eggs from breakfast restaurant and bring with me as snack.
If you're obliged to eat lunch with colleagues, use common sense in the canteen.

 

[gauge22]

@Cridi887 I did find a supermarket within 5 minutes of the office. Should be able to raid that place for some good eats.

@Palifter I never even thought about meal prep service. Will look into that at my location. Would be nice to arrive to a week's worth of dinners in my hotel room

@Norse13 For sure on yogurt/oats in the morning. I have never had boil in bag rice. Boiled eggs good idea. Have you used any of the microwave egg cooker things?

How about good shaker bottles/cups? Last ones I have had always fucking leaked in my bags or in my car. Mini travel blenders?

Good ideas. Honestly, this hotel shit is stressing me out a bit. Did find an okay gym in the town (<40k population).

 

[Rido]

@Cridi887 I did find a supermarket within 5 minutes of the office. Should be able to raid that place for some good eats.

@Palifter I never even thought about meal prep service. Will look into that at my location. Would be nice to arrive to a week's worth of dinners in my hotel room

@Norse13 For sure on yogurt/oats in the morning. I have never had boil in bag rice. Boiled eggs good idea. Have you used any of the microwave egg cooker things?

How about good shaker bottles/cups? Last ones I have had always fucking leaked in my bags or in my car. Mini travel blenders?

Good ideas. Honestly, this hotel shit is stressing me out a bit. Did find an okay gym in the town (<40k population).

Blender bottle a the way. I remember when I used to get the ON whey protein shakers. Shit would fall apart.

 

[Slowww]

Some restaurants know the weight of the food they are preparing or the macros. Also delis should be super easy to get food with proper weight. I’ve even been to burger joints that can answer when asked how heavy the patties are for a cheat meal that will still hit protein macros.

This one might sound a bit nasty but Pasteurized egg white shakes also are an easy way to get protein and I’m pretty sure you could buy some microwaveable oatmeal to knock easy breakfast prep out of the way.

 

[Norse13]

@Cridi887 I did find a supermarket within 5 minutes of the office. Should be able to raid that place for some good eats.

@Palifter I never even thought about meal prep service. Will look into that at my location. Would be nice to arrive to a week's worth of dinners in my hotel room

@Norse13 For sure on yogurt/oats in the morning. I have never had boil in bag rice. Boiled eggs good idea. Have you used any of the microwave egg cooker things?

How about good shaker bottles/cups? Last ones I have had always fucking leaked in my bags or in my car. Mini travel blenders?

Good ideas. Honestly, this hotel shit is stressing me out a bit. Did find an okay gym in the town (<40k population).

Rice boil-in-bag is brilliant. It's pre-boiled, just cut a small corner in the bag, microwave for 2 minute and job done. Taste as good as regular boiled rice. Usually there's a few flavours to choose from, basmati, long grain, jasmine, with lemon, with some spices etc. Cost a little bit more than regular rice but it's extremely convenient.

I'd want to get a feel for the expectations from your company in terms of socialising. Depends on your role, but there may be heavy expectation of relationship building/management with local staff or customers. Which usually involves eating and drinking in the evenings. The company may not plan to send you away to be Billy-no-mates and just hit the local gym and grocery store.

I've never used microwave egg boiler. I just grab a stash of boiled eggs from the restaurant each morning.

You may also look into a serviced apartment instead of hotel. It could be cheaper day-rate, and come with a full kitchen.

 

[gauge22]

Some restaurants know the weight of the food they are preparing or the macros. Also delis should be super easy to get food with proper weight. I’ve even been to burger joints that can answer when asked how heavy the patties are for a cheat meal that will still hit protein macros.

This one might sound a bit nasty but Pasteurized egg white shakes also are an easy way to get protein and I’m pretty sure you could buy some microwaveable oatmeal to knock easy breakfast prep out of the way.

Fuck, I forgot I have to pack a scale.

I can see it now, first two trips I am going to forget all sorts of shit.

 

[Rido]

Fuck, I forgot I have to pack a scale.

I can see it now, first two trips I am going to forget all sorts of shit.

I think Im one of the few that doesn't bother with a scale... Are you doing. A competition or something OP?

 

[gauge22]

Rice boil-in-bag is brilliant. It's pre-boiled, just cut a small corner in the bag, microwave for 2 minute and job done. Taste as good as regular boiled rice. Usually there's a few flavours to choose from, basmati, long grain, jasmine, with lemon, with some spices etc. Cost a little bit more than regular rice but it's extremely convenient.

I'd want to get a feel for the expectations from your company in terms of socialising. Depends on your role, but there may be heavy expectation of relationship building/management with local staff or customers. Which usually involves eating and drinking in the evenings. The company may not plan to send you away to be Billy-no-mates and just hit the local gym and grocery store.

I've never used microwave egg boiler. I just grab a stash of boiled eggs from the restaurant each morning.

You may also look into a serviced apartment instead of hotel. It could be cheaper day-rate, and come with a full kitchen.

The socializing thing will happen. I am used to that being this is not my first senior role. It is always strange when you are trying to lightly eat some of the appetizers etc....."Wonder how many calories that has? Shit, that puts me over on fats....etc".

I gave up drinking 8 or 9 years ago. So no issue there. If it is a huge pushback I always come forward with some shit about impacting my ALT levels and it being dangerous given a genetic pre-disposition

Hotel is not an option as this company owns a ton of real estate, hotels making up part of their portfolio.

What other "must pack" items would you suggest:

- Shaker bottle
- Scale
- Gym gear
- Tren/Adrol? hahah..kidding

 

[Flathead Fred]

I used to travel out of town every other week, I hated packing 10-12 supplement bottles so I bought a small fly fishing tackle box and would put a weeks worth of vitamin and supplements in it for space saving. Oh and don’t forget your ear buds...

 

[Canknucklehead]

You will be using more protein powder accept the fact.

Store egg whites in the fridge and drink them.

Tuna sandwiches, oven roasted chicken from grocery store.

One week out of the month isn’t bad, you should be able to manage.

Ps: congrats on your new job, when do you start?

 

[Country Club Hero]

I don’t count calories or anything anymore but back when I did and had to travel for work I would cook my food for the week on the weekend. Then load all those meals into a big cooler with ice.

Monday would be on the road and then check in Monday night at hotel. Put my cooler in my room and maybe add a bag of ice every 2 days to keep food cold. And pull my meals out one by one for the week. It’s not too difficult. Just requires preparation.

 

[gauge22]

You will be using more protein powder accept the fact.

Store egg whites in the fridge and drink them.

Tuna sandwiches, oven roasted chicken from grocery store.

One week out of the month isn’t bad, you should be able to manage.

Ps: congrats on your new job, when do you start?

Thanks,

Good call on the egg whites. Maybe Ill buy a little microwave omelet cooker as well

1st week of September.

 

[Rido]

Why not get a rice cooker? Might be a good idea

 

[gauge22]

I don’t count calories or anything anymore but back when I did and had to travel for work I would cook my food for the week on the weekend. Then load all those meals into a big cooler with ice.

Monday would be on the road and then check in Monday night at hotel. Put my cooler in my room and maybe add a bag of ice every 2 days to keep food cold. And pull my meals out one by one for the week. It’s not too difficult. Just requires preparation.

Not sure this would work on a plane.

I was thinking of packing some cooked meat (grnd beef, turkey etc) in a smaller cooler bag/ice packs and putting in my luggage