Fun thread! What food do you pack when you travel to workshops?

[andalee-oriental]

I'm getting ready to head to GA for the Mahmoud Reda workshop and I'm putting together a shopping list. It made me wonder how others pack for out of town workshops. I try to bring my own food to most workshops just to save money, but it's even more important when traveling.

Here's my list:
Think Thin bars (I eat them for breakfast in the AM)
Trail mix with no added sugar
Brown Rice cakes with raw almond butter and apricot jam
String cheese
Fruit like nectarines or cherries. I'll try to pick something that will travel well
Baby carrots and/or grape tomoates
Smart water and regular water

Do you think that is enough for 3 breakfasts 4 snacks and 2 lunches? Probably not. I need to add some other food, preferably meat, but I don't think our room has a mini-fridge. I won't know until I get there, so I could pack a cooler, but it's hard to know how long you can store stuff in a cooler at a safe temp.

OK, so your turn...What food do you like to pack for weekend workshop trips?

[Safran]

I don't usually try to pack for the whole weekends, so it is difficult for me to help you decide if it is enough or not. However, here are my essentials to take along:

- bananas
- if it is a long day, sandwiches cut into smaller pieces (and they fit well into my lunchbox alongside with the bananas)
- nuts
- dark chocolate for the quick energy boosts if necessary
- juice (for the same reason as above)
- water

And, I must admit that if I am helping with the organisation of the annual Estonian festival, I also slip a can of energy drink or two into my bag.

[*Shira*]

I need to add some other food, preferably meat, but I don't think our room has a mini-fridge.

That's why I take beef jerky. It provides the nutritional benefits of meat, but doesn't require a refrigerator.

[steffib]

Peanut butter filled pretzels, yogurt (which is just fine w/o a fridge for a few days), fruit smoothie drinks (ditto on keeping).

[shems]

I typically forget to bring anything, then suffer or mooch. I get so excited. I sometimes remember water. If I'm hosting I get mini-Lara or mini-Luna bars, some bananas, and whatever else looks good to my helper and is easy finger food, like maybe a salty, like pita chips, or another fruit like grapes.

:-)

[andalee-oriental]

That's why I take beef jerky. It provides the nutritional benefits of meat, but doesn't require a refrigerator.

I love jerky, but the last time I looked at beef jerky, I was kind of appalled at the ingredients. What brand do you buy and can you get it without all of the additives? Maybe they have some natural beef jerky at Whole Foods?

[dunyah]

I always pack my own food, or most of what I will need, because of food allergies. I rely on hummus (love the Mediterranean style hummus at Trader Joe's), rice cakes and rice crackers, raw veggies, boiled eggs, fruit, nuts, yogurt. I make a breakfast loaf that is a complete meal and travels well. I sometimes make patties out of cooked brown rice, spinach and kale and onion, maybe some grated carrot, egg replacer and a little oat bran. I carry a mini cooler with a shoulder strap and also usually a grocery bag. Most hotels will provide a fridge if you ask ahead of time. And I bring bottled sparkling water because I like it a lot.

You need a lot of food for several days, unless you are planning to go out for dinner each night?

[tahiradancer]

Generally, I don't go for long periods of time, but for a long day, or even 2, here is a selection of what pack:

- Hard boiled eggs
- Yogurt
- Nuts
- String Cheese
- Hummus and veggies if I have them
- Pita chips / pretzels
- Tuna (If I know I am going to eat it soon, I'll actually premix and keep it in a cooler.)
- Fruit

I like trail mix and dried fruit - generally from Trader Joe's - because they are so portable. I also like to take various dry cereal depending on how long I am actually staying.

I do tend to over pack. As one of my friends who travels frequently says, half the luggage and twice the money. Nice rule if you can swing it!

Note on cooler: If you have a smaller one - about the size you'd carry a 12 pack in - you should be fine for a few days as long as you change the ice daily. Keep it on the ground and covered with a blanket to add extra insulation. Then everyday transfer what you need into your individual lunch bag.

{{{HUGS}}}

[tigerb]

Okay, I'm kind of embarrassed. I take many of the things listed here along to workshop weekends.

But I also take some chocolate. Seriously? Nobody else takes chocolate?

And after my experience at the 95F Reda workshop in Iowa last year, I take along Gatorade!

[steffib]

But I also take some chocolate. Seriously? Nobody else takes chocolate?

And after my experience at the 95F Reda workshop in Iowa last year, I take along Gatorade!

Chocolate is for the social times when one opens that bottle of wine from the bottom of the suitcase ;-) Depending on where I go, I take a backpacking wine glass - it's lexan and the stem is removable and stores in the glass.

[zamora]

zico coconut water, organic dark chocolate from trader joes

[Zumarrad]

That is not enough food for me. I would have to eat off my own arm, not least due to the lack of OMG BREAD but I know you have gluten issues so you don't need any!

The first long workshop situation I ever attended was the Oasis Dance Camp here in Canterbury. We had a fantastic chef providing food. IT WAS SOO GOOD. I ate a LOT, but stuck to salads and proteinaceous things. I found I learned more and danced better and worked harder because I was not hungry. Despite being a giant scofferpig normally, when I am doing workshops etc I often do forget to eat or lose my appetite until food is placed in front of me; then my brain goes OMG STARVING OMG.

However, I think your food choices sound very good. Almonds are recommended after extreme exercise. Coconut water as Zamora says is a good rehydrator without any of the crap.

WRT the jerky issue: have you checked out biltong? It is like jerky but not smoked, just dehydrated over a period of days with lots of spices. All of my South African friends are in love with it. Because I don't eat meat I don't eat it, but it's just... naturally dehydrated meat. It shouldn't have artificial preservatives or colour in it - it comes from when people used to hunt in Africa and would butcher the animal and dry its meat on the spot, because Africa is very big and very hot and by the time you dragged your antelope home it would be all stinky and flyblown.

[zamora]

That's why I take beef jerky. It provides the nutritional benefits of meat, but doesn't require a refrigerator.

WOW you are wonder woman!..all the sodium and nitrates would swell me up!

[zamora]

That is not enough food for me. I would have to eat off my own arm, not least due to the lack of OMG BREAD but I know you have gluten issues so you don't need any!

The first long workshop situation I ever attended was the Oasis Dance Camp here in Canterbury. We had a fantastic chef providing food. IT WAS SOO GOOD. I ate a LOT, but stuck to salads and proteinaceous things. I found I learned more and danced better and worked harder because I was not hungry. Despite being a giant scofferpig normally, when I am doing workshops etc I often do forget to eat or lose my appetite until food is placed in front of me; then my brain goes OMG STARVING OMG.

However, I think your food choices sound very good. Almonds are recommended after extreme exercise. Coconut water as Zamora says is a good rehydrator without any of the crap.

WRT the jerky issue: have you checked out biltong? It is like jerky but not smoked, just dehydrated over a period of days with lots of spices. All of my South African friends are in love with it. Because I don't eat meat I don't eat it, but it's just... naturally dehydrated meat. It shouldn't have artificial preservatives or colour in it - it comes from when people used to hunt in Africa and would butcher the animal and dry its meat on the spot, because Africa is very big and very hot and by the time you dragged your antelope home it would be all stinky and flyblown.

almonds...duh!..i forgot "red hot blues" by garden of eaten..yum!

[GenevieveOfAtlanta]

Funny...I'm just working on my grocery list for Mahmoud Reda this weekend, too! As I am no longer "of Atlanta," I'll be coming in from out of town and staying in a hotel, but I will definitely have a fridge and microwave. I have some specific dietary considerations as a T1 diabetic, but here are some things I have taken to multi-day workshops in the past (usually with fridge in hotel but sometimes with only a cooler):

Hummus
Tabouleh
Marinated chickpea or white bean salad
Chicken salad
Various cheeses
Biscuits/muffins made with almond flour
Turkey sausage (cooked before I leave home then refrigerated)
Strawberries
Grape tomatoes
Zone bars (good mix of carbs plus protein in case my blood sugar dips too low in an intense workshop)

I typically just bring a refillable water bottle instead of wasting money on expensive bottled water.

[Elibelinde]

People still eat meat?

[andalee-oriental]

People still eat meat?

Um, what? Is this supposed to be a joke?

[andalee-oriental]

Funny...I'm just working on my grocery list for Mahmoud Reda this weekend, too! As I am no longer "of Atlanta," I'll be coming in from out of town and staying in a hotel, but I will definitely have a fridge and microwave. I have some specific dietary considerations as a T1 diabetic, but here are some things I have taken to multi-day workshops in the past (usually with fridge in hotel but sometimes with only a cooler):

Hummus
Tabouleh
Marinated chickpea or white bean salad
Chicken salad
Various cheeses
Biscuits/muffins made with almond flour
Turkey sausage (cooked before I leave home then refrigerated)
Strawberries
Grape tomatoes
Zone bars (good mix of carbs plus protein in case my blood sugar dips too low in an intense workshop)

I typically just bring a refillable water bottle instead of wasting money on expensive bottled water.

Mmm...turkey sausage with gluten-free biscuits. Yes please!

[da Sage]

People still eat meat?

Most people do. I'm guessing you're in the minority?

[kizymist]

Uh nice threat.. Personal I love candies but i gotta control em a bit xD

I like to pack:

Strawberries
green grapes
plums
apples
melons (don't like bananas but its a good option also)
Oat chips with raisins
chocolate chip
vanilla chips, etc
Chicken salad
yogurt
bubble gum (lol)
muffins (nom nom)
Chocolate with chocolate and more chocolate :D
water and juice in dust so i can mix it ;D and so on

to be honest i usually forget to take something for EAT at all xD so I end buying in restaurants xD as you see 90% of my list are candies hahaha :D

[EternalStudent]

People still eat meat?

Guilty as charged! And I drink beer too!

[GenevieveOfAtlanta]

People still eat meat?

Yup. Most non-meat protein sources are also high in carbs, and that doesn't work for me. But even before my diagnosis, I liked meat. Quite a bit. It's yummy. I also enjoy a good vegetarian meal on occasion.

[GenevieveOfAtlanta]

Mmm...turkey sausage with gluten-free biscuits. Yes please!

If you need a recipe for the biscuits, let me know!

[kashmir]

As most big workshops I attend are in Australia and we cannot take food in without a lot of hassle, for me it is a grocery shop when I arrive. I buy cereal, yogurt & fruit for breakfast and bagels or turkish bread (4 days lot at a time), cream cheese, lettuce and ham or salmon. I make up lunch before I leave each morning.

But the secret ingredient is high protein bars - 30-40g of protein each. These I eat at the end of end day - within 30minutes of finishing. This helps fast repair of muscle tissue so I can do another full day the next day and the next and the next.

[taji-dancer]

I make a breakfast loaf that is a complete meal and travels well.

Dunya----how do you make yours? i'm going to make granola bars w/ sesame seed, pepitas, soy protein powder, chia seeds,lots of other nuts.( all the protein i can think of)----i need alot of protein for hypoglycemia.

I love everyones food lists---sounds like what i eat. I do eat some 75% dark chocolate most days---it has very little sugar. And some meat.

Bringing the bean salad sounds good.

[steffib]

Well, I have to admit that I had a similar thought as Elibelinde's spring into my head "What, people actually eat the jerky sold at supermarkets?" And I honestly don't think I am self-righteous or judgmental about others' food choices. Rather, I am having such a grand time, in terms of health, impact/ethics and most importantly incredibly enjoyable and delicious food, without eating meat and while consuming very little highly processed or factory-farmed foods that I could have said something very similar, without meaning to attack anybody. Oh, and now I am hungry ;-)

[tahiradancer]

But the question and the assumption that people who do eat ethically questionable products is in and of itself insulting. My tuna actually comes from the Ocean. As in my brother in law goes deep see fishing 2 - 3 times a year and I get well stocked. The owner of the boat and the people who go out have very definite policies on the fish they keep and the ones which they let go. And we know that many other people buy ethically raised meat.

As foor living longer, healthier, they have recently done a study of Centurions. Very few are uber healthy in their choices of foods, etc.

While I agree that healthier choices are important, standing on the Vegetarians are superior in all ways box is not accurate. It's simply a choice which works for you.

{{{HUGS}}}

[steffib]

Well, I am sure not doing the "vegetarians are better" thing, because I ain't one. But, I will argue my little heart out for making good food choices. In this case, it's much more the unnecessarily highly processed foods with ingredients coming from factory farms. Especially in a situation like a long weekend of workshops, one wants to have the best possible fuel. And, many of the, esp. spiced-up, supermarket jerkies or those high-sodium processed cheese filled salami sticks are not going to do one's body as good as a lot less processed jerky from the health food store with a side of string cheese. Or, if one isn't into meat, maybe a yogurt and peanut butter for protein; I usually have cravings for yogurt when I dance a lot.

[zamora]

People still eat meat?

yep!..i had cut bit out for years..but when my teaching/coaching hit a full time pace, my body screamed for it..i AM picky with my meat!

[zamora]

Funny...I'm just working on my grocery list for Mahmoud Reda this weekend, too! As I am no longer "of Atlanta," I'll be coming in from out of town and staying in a hotel, but I will definitely have a fridge and microwave. I have some specific dietary considerations as a T1 diabetic, but here are some things I have taken to multi-day workshops in the past (usually with fridge in hotel but sometimes with only a cooler):

Hummus
Tabouleh
Marinated chickpea or white bean salad
Chicken salad
Various cheeses
Biscuits/muffins made with almond flour
Turkey sausage (cooked before I leave home then refrigerated)
Strawberries
Grape tomatoes
Zone bars (good mix of carbs plus protein in case my blood sugar dips too low in an intense workshop)

I typically just bring a refillable water bottle instead of wasting money on expensive bottled water.

lucky you ! if i ate the first 2 items, you would smell me before i hit the stage. one of my dancers brought me a half pound of basterma once...it ozzed out my pores for days..so, i do watch what i eat , so you dont smell where i am on the line up!