Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Road Trip For 2 Weeks! What To Eat?!



Recommended Posts

Tomorrow I will be 5 weeks post op. We have to take a road trip from CA to PA. Any ideas of what I should bring to eat while on the road? You know truck stops and gas stations don't even have clean bathrooms so I seriously doubt they will have anything good for me to eat! :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi, 2bfit. I had this issue right after my surgery--I drove back from San Diego to DC. It was quite the adventure!

There are a couple of chains that seem to have consistently better choices: Love's and Pilot. There's another one--Flying J, I think?--but they weren't really common along the route I took.

Pilot and Love's usually have Protein drinks in stock, including Bolthouse Farms, which is one of the few commercial drinks I can stomach. A lot of times they also have cheese sticks, boiled eggs, and yogurt of some kind.

One of the chains (I don't remember which) usually has a Subway restaurant attached. They have a couple of Soup options. When I was driving they had a broccoli and cheese Soup that made Sleevie very, very happy.

Then there's the grocery store option. You could stock up on those tuna salad kits or similar pre-packaged meals--if you don't mind them, that is.

Hope that helps. Good luck, and enjoy your trip!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I would take plenty of Protein Shake mix, a cooler, a mixing container that you can shake to make a shake, a insulated thermos for hot Water so that you can have broth. At that point after surgery I was pretty much on liquids. You can always buy the containers of premade Jello. You are correct that the places will not have much for you to eat. You can always get water and ice when needed.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I did a family vacation at about 3 weeks out and another at about 6 weeks out.

I brought:

powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury Protein powder, chicken Flavor

Gold Standard whey Protein, French vanilla

Starbucks Via Italian Roast Decaf

Crystal light flavor packets

Case of bottled Water

Lipton Diet Green Tea with Citrus

Protein Drink shaker

Small cooler with cooler ice pack

Saltine crackers

Constipation remedies

I bought on the road:

cheese sticks

lunch meat

Greek Yogurt

I ate out:

Shrimp

chicken

Soup

Mostly ate dinners out. I had greek yogurt for Breakfast or the French vanilla Protein Powder mixed with decaf for Breakfast. For lunch, I had lunch meat and cheese with one or two saltines. For dinner, shrimp, chicken or soup out or more lunch meat and cheese. If I didn't get enough protein or had to miss dinner for whatever reason, I had a Chicken Protein Drink. Water has to be less than 130, so I mix mine with hot tap water.

Have a fun time!

Lynda

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I use to get Soups at restaurants. If you have a cooler, why not take your Protein Drinks in the cooler and buy some soups if you eat out. Take some sugar free Jello or pudding and some Unjury powder in them. Have a safe trip and remember to stretch your legs really often. ;)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Take a cooler and I would opt for hard boiled eggs, cottage cheese, ready to drink shakes, cheese, greek yogurt, meats and some crackers. You are too fresh out for things like Protein Bars. ALso try Fast food burgers(no bun), KFC grilled chicken and mashed potatoes, Grilled chicken and refreid Beans from any mexican place. Wendy's chili or their grilled chicken wrap (ditch the tortilla) There are lots of choices. You should be able to find something almost anywhere. Also McDonalds will sell you scrambled eggs ala carte. That with a half of an english muffin (extra toasted) is a really good breakfast. Fruits and veggies probably still give you some problems so I would stay away from those. Also have some Gas-X (or the store brand equivalent) on hand for in the car when your stomach gets gurgley.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My husband used to drive a big truck and Xenophile is right; Love's, Pilot, and Flying J are great! They are huge national chains that cater to truckers and have stuff for them to be able to live on the road. You can get their food, food from a national fast food chain that they have in their facility or you can buy canned food from their grocery selection. The are open 24/7 most of the time and usually very clean and maintained. If nothing else, if you can find one of these places you should be ok. The really big nice ones are on interstates. 

Hi, 2bfit. I had this issue right after my surgery--I drove back from San Diego to DC. It was quite the adventure!

There are a couple of chains that seem to have consistently better choices: Love's and Pilot. There's another one--Flying J, I think?--but they weren't really common along the route I took.

Pilot and Love's usually have Protein drinks in stock, including Bolthouse Farms, which is one of the few commercial drinks I can stomach. A lot of times they also have cheese sticks, boiled eggs, and yogurt of some kind.

One of the chains (I don't remember which) usually has a Subway restaurant attached. They have a couple of Soup options. When I was driving they had a broccoli and cheese soup that made Sleevie very, very happy.

Then there's the grocery store option. You could stock up on those tuna salad kits or similar pre-packaged meals--if you don't mind them, that is.

Hope that helps. Good luck, and enjoy your trip!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Subway - get a healthy sandiwch, toss the bun - or have them make it in a bowl for you

Qdoba - get a naked burrito without rice in a bowl

McDonalds - Mcgrill sandwich - toss the bun

Stop at any grocery store and get something from the deli - precooked chicken packets from tyson and some cheese - lunchables - toss the crackers.

Taco bell - 2 tacos - toss the shells

There are SO many ways to eat healthy on the road

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Have you noticed, toss the bun is pretty much universal from everyone that has posted? If you want to have a bun, ask for it extra toasted (crispy) and still chuck most of it. Protein, protein, protein! I rode my motorcycle the Sturgis rally in 2010, 8 weeks after I was sleeved. I was miserable because I was so unprepared.I satyed 2 nights and came home (1300 miles each way). Good luck on your trip, you are going to do great!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Mmmmmmm subway is awsome!! They have a breakfast sandwich that has egg whites ( that are shaped round). It comes with ham and cheese and whatever toppings ( then I'd ditch the bin and use the egg white as a shell- awsome!!!

Their Soup is great

I've also gotten the meatball sandwich with no sandwich. I ask them to put the meatballs in a soup container and put cheese on it- they are nice and soft so if you are doing solids, that's a good bet!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

As a general rule I like to keep nuts in the car ( to clarify, not nutty people, pistashios or peanuts ). It's a good go to snack for adults and kids. They have high Protein and they are easy to eat in the car. Best wishes

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I eat a lot of Turkey Jerky.. it is harder to find than beef Jerky but it is fairly soft (for jerky) and very chewy. I can get my chewing urge satisfied and be eating Protein. I just chew each piece very, very well. I am now making my own jerky using ground turkey. It is delicious!

Rhonda

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I eat a lot of Turkey jerky.. it is harder to find than beef Jerky but it is fairly soft (for jerky) and very chewy. I can get my chewing urge satisfied and be eating Protein. I just chew each piece very, very well. I am now making my own jerky using ground turkey. It is delicious!

Rhonda

if you can find it, check out bison or venison jerky too - usually much less salty and more tender than beef jerky :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you, thank you everybody! I do not know what I would do without this forum! I am packing as write this because we are hitting the road tonight. I will definitely follow everyone's advice! Thank you again!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • KeeWee

      It's been 10 long years! Here is my VSG weight loss surgiversary update..
      https://www.ae1bmerchme.com/post/10-year-surgiversary-update-for-2024 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×