I am going to L.A for 6 days for business conferences and i need all the help i can get!
As most of you know when you travel the temptations of food seem to triple..i don't know if its cause it's a different postal code or just being out of your normal element.. you feel like you can be naughty!!!

If anyone has any suggestions on: Places to eat & avoid
Situations to avoid
Helpful tips to keep me on track- i would be most grateful!!

To take precautions i have packed an abundance of healthy snacks like almonds, fiber one bars, 100 calorie snack bags, rice chips & rye crackers and have even bought a traveling measuring cups & spoons kit-is that taking it too far??

These past 2 weeks, i have been doing so well with eating right, reaching my calorie target & even took the drastic task of exercising 9 days in a row to prepare myself for the lack of exercise time i will have during these 6 busy days - i can't let them go to waste!!!

Eternally Grateful,

Afi

HW:193
CW:170
GW:123

Hi. I can completely understand your situation. I just got back from a trip to CA, and I am planning another trip at the end of this month. You might want to google some of the local places to eat around the area that you are visiting. I know that the database has tons of information about restaurant foods. Maybe you can try to plan to eat out at those places, or maybe if the database doesn't have information, maybe you can try to look up the information online, or call the places directly.

Hi Afi,

I travel a lot, and have gotten pretty comfortable with it.

Fast food often sounds like the enemy, but it has been my friend when I travel. I know exactly what to get at certain places. Grilled chicken sandwich, no sauce or cheese, fruit side, unsweet tea. Or a salad, no dressing. Subway is always a good option as well.

A McDonald's fruit and yogurt parfait is delicious for breakfast.

The most difficult situation is dining out a sit down restaurant with colleagues. Even salads at such restaurants are often laden with fatty cheeses, dressings, etc. Also, the portion sizes are out of control.

First and foremost - just don't touch the bread. If there is bread on the table, just pass on it. If someone offers it to you, just say you don't want to get full before your meal arrives!

One pretty safe bet is soup and salad. Just a garden salad, and NOT a cream based soup. Light dressing, like a vinegarette.

Sometimes an appetizer works well too... like shrimp cocktail with a garden salad. Just beware of oils and butters used to cook any number of things. Even grilled chicken or fish, which could be very healthy, are often cooked in tons of butter and oil. If you order such an entree, ask for it without butter and oil.

This is a tough one for me, but makes the biggest difference every time: DON'T DRINK. Alcohol gives you nothing but empty calories and poor judgement. Not only will you consume extra calories from the alcohol, but you will probably consume more food once your inhibitions are lowered.

Good luck!

If you want to eat healthy while traveling, LA is the perfect place to be! There are so many healthy choices in SoCal and lots of restaurants with a high volume of calorie-conscious clientele. If you haven't tried it yet, I would suggest visiting www.yelp.com. You can search for restaurants, see reviews, and visit restaurant websites (if they are available).

Also, there is the new law in California that chain restaurants with more than 20 locations must post calorie counts, so you might check those out.

Speaking of chains, most now have a "low-cal" or "light" menu. It depends on the restaurant, but most of these meals have under 600 calories and will list exact counts on the menu.

It's okay to allow yourself one day to not worry about calories and just enjoy the food there. LA is a mecca when it comes to food choices. Make the most of your time and have a little fun too!

Good luck!

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Each day is a new opportunity to be better than you were the day before.

http://www.veggiegrill.com/index.html

I have actually eaten here before and the food is great! Lots of amazing options...I hope you get a chance to check it out! If you do, let us know how you liked it!
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Each day is a new opportunity to be better than you were the day before.