Needing help... three to four day roadtrip foods

[DebbieD]

Hi all! I've lurked on here for support (proper kicks up the butt when needed), and I've searched but can't find anything like this, so I'm hoping you could help.

In the next month or so my family's looking to relocate back to the west coast (HURRAHHHHHH!!!!) Now that means I need to look ahead to what on earth I can take along to eat. I typically can do day or two day type trips by cooking up chicken breasts, boiled eggs and packing cheese along. Sometimes I can add nuts, but the extra carbs really hit on me and make me hungry in the car. Oh, and I do add veggies to that, typically a new leaf lettuce mix, or green beans, or strips of green peppers rolled into turkey breast with swiss cheese on the outside.

My main concern is this: even with an ice pack, by day three, what type of food will remain safe to eat?? I can't begin to hope my boiled eggs would be safe by then, and even lunchmeats I have my doubts.

I've tried various restaurants and all have failed in my eyes. I've taken a very serious look to my health since Nov 2008 and have tried to have a very clean way of eating, so I can taste all the fillers and 'taste enhancers' that typically get jammed into fast food fare. The stuff makes me sick, literally.

I'm wondering about making it with possibly hard cheeses, and nuts??? I know its not perfect, that's why I'm wondering if anyone's got any ideas that might work for essentially a long distance picnik?? I'm hoping for stuffs that I can prepare ahead of time so I can just grab n go. I'll be tending to my critters along the way, so I won't have much time for me.

[not2late]

Re: Needing help... three to four day roadtrip foods

Hi all! I've lurked on here for support (proper kicks up the butt when needed), and I've searched but can't find anything like this, so I'm hoping you could help.

In the next month or so my family's looking to relocate back to the west coast (HURRAHHHHHH!!!!) Now that means I need to look ahead to what on earth I can take along to eat. I typically can do day or two day type trips by cooking up chicken breasts, boiled eggs and packing cheese along. Sometimes I can add nuts, but the extra carbs really hit on me and make me hungry in the car. Oh, and I do add veggies to that, typically a new leaf lettuce mix, or green beans, or strips of green peppers rolled into turkey breast with swiss cheese on the outside.

My main concern is this: even with an ice pack, by day three, what type of food will remain safe to eat?? I can't begin to hope my boiled eggs would be safe by then, and even lunchmeats I have my doubts.

I've tried various restaurants and all have failed in my eyes. I've taken a very serious look to my health since Nov 2008 and have tried to have a very clean way of eating, so I can taste all the fillers and 'taste enhancers' that typically get jammed into fast food fare. The stuff makes me sick, literally.

I'm wondering about making it with possibly hard cheeses, and nuts??? I know its not perfect, that's why I'm wondering if anyone's got any ideas that might work for essentially a long distance picnik?? I'm hoping for stuffs that I can prepare ahead of time so I can just grab n go. I'll be tending to my critters along the way, so I won't have much time for me.

Your stats show you are in the 14 Day Induction, so nuts aren't allowed.

If you are bringing veggies, keep them in their whole state because they will keep better that way. Just bring along a knife and small cutting board (or a plate). Also most veggies keep well if they are kept in a dark, environment with a temperature less than 80 degrees F. So even packing the whole veggies in a box lined with newspaper (and out of direct sunlight) will prevent them from spoiling too quickly.

Boiled eggs and lunch meats will keep. Again, make sure they are in a cooler. If need be, replenish the cooler with ice---you can purchase bags of ice at most convenient stores/gas stations. If you are staying in a motel/hotel, most of them have complementary ice machines on every floor. When my mom and I used to travel (driving loooooong distances), we would keep the ice cubes in large clean yogurt or cottage cheese containers in the cooler. That way the cooler wouldn't get water-logged and we had an extra clean water supply for drinking, washing our hands or even filling the radiator.....

you might want to check the "LOw Carb Menues" forum. There are threads there about day-trips and camping that will be helpful.

[DebbieD]

Re: Needing help... three to four day roadtrip foods

Great idea with the ice in the containers! I hadn't thought of that.

[liv]

Re: Needing help... three to four day roadtrip foods

There were also some ideas in this tread

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/ongoing-weight-loss-owl/79298-help-please.html

[DebbieD]

Re: Needing help... three to four day roadtrip foods

That was ace! Thanks Liv!!

[imagood1]

Re: Needing help... three to four day roadtrip foods

As far as eating out you have many options -- McDonalds has 100% beef hamburgers - ask for them "low carb" that is no bun or condiments - they give you the burger and lettuce w/mustard. The cheese is processed pasturized cheese product so don't eat it. Any steak house is ok - order a steak (ask that they don't add sauces), broccoli, yellow squash, asparagus, salad (take your own dressing or ask for theirs on the side and dunk your salad into the dressing). Also a side of mushrooms is good also.

As far as in your cooler, you can take a bag of salad (no carrots in the mix), veggies, hard boiled eggs, roast beef, ham or turkey deli meat rolled up with cream cheese is good or just the meat rolled up. Tuna always works! Take deli deluxe cheese slices (cut the slice into 12 equal parts) and microwave them for 1 minute on parchment paper - they are a great cheese cracker - I eat them with tuna salad all the time.

Mock Danish also travels well:

Mock Danish
one serving

2 oz cream cheese (2)
1 large egg, beaten(0.6)
1 packet Splenda(1)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract(0.3)

Put cream cheese in a small, microwave-safe dish. Microwave on high for about 1 minute or until softened. Remove from microwave. Stir in the egg, Splenda and vanilla extract into the cream cheese. Put back into microwave and cook on high for 2 minutes.

Total carbs: 3.9 grams
Fiber: 0 grams
Net carbs: 3.9 grams
Cheese allowance: 2
Sweetener allowance: 1

*Note: Cream cheeses vary in carb count. So be sure to check your packages. Also note that some people add a tablespoon of fiber supplement to their Mock Danish to give it a more "bready" (sturdy) texture. If you do this, you MUST include the the fiber supplement carbs.

If you put your mind to it anything can be used on your trip within reason. I'm going on a trip next week over the weekend and have my ideas written down on what I'm going to take to eat.

Good luck.

[Elizellen]

Re: Needing help... three to four day roadtrip foods

Can you get those small coolers that plug into the cigarette lighter socket? Ours came with an additional mains lead so we can first get it cool at home using the mains supply then trnsfre it with its contents to the car and plug it in for the journey then put it in the hotel room plugged in again overnight.

They come in different sizes too for those needng to take more food, we have one small one that takes one meal's worth of food plus one twice as big for longer trips.