Eating healthy during interview trips...TIPS!

[UAAWolf]

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After realizing how expensive it is to eat healthy on the road...I thought I would make this thread.

I just spent 40 dollars to order a lean 12 oz steak dinner to my room...this was the cheapest option. My only other choice would be to pay for a 30 dollar taxi ride and then more money on food (which I will do tomorrow 🙁)

Yes I could have gotten an unhealthy meal for cheaper, but I've done enough of that BS on this trip.

Anyways...for my next interview trip I have a next plan.

DIET
-Pack cans/sealed cups of tuna fish or chicken breast. Leanest protein available and it does not need to be kept cold

-Bring protein powder or an MRP with you. This way all you need is water to get a healthy meal...

-Packets of oat meal...take up little space and are the only carbs you'll need really

-Besides that, granola bars and protein bars make for good snacks to bring in your carry on.

These foods are all CHEAP compared to eating out...plus you won't be eating like ****.

Anyone else have success packing their meals for their trip?

 

[MilkmanAl]

Honestly, I think the best option is to just suck it up and eat as healthily as you can at the nearby fast food joints. Wendy's has some pretty decent options, and I'm told McDonald's can be reasonably okay if you look. Grilled chicken sandwiches and fruit cups are good options. I think packing meals is a fairly ridiculous notion for a trip that won't be any longer than 3 days at the absolute most. Some granola bars to munch on might be a decent plan, but don't bother with the complete meal thing. Eating slightly less than optimally for 2 days isn't going to ruin you.

BTW, when did a 12 ounce steak start qualifying as health food? I don't care how lean that sucker is, it's going to shoot your lipid panel through the roof.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

-Besides that, granola bars and protein bars make for good snacks to bring in your carry on.

Lots of granola bars and protein bars have a TON of sugar and are really not that good for you. So be careful which ones you take. And I wouldn't consider a 12-oz steak a health food either, lol.

You can eat relatively healthy at fast food restaurants if you know what to eat there. Order a salad at McDonald's or Wendy's, but don't use much dressing. McDonald's yogurt parfaits are fairly low in calories. You can usually get a veggie burger at any fast food restaurant (I know Burger King sells Gardenburgers) but be sure to ask for no mayo. If you don't want to eat too many refined carbohydrates, don't eat all of the bun.

Honestly, though, a weekend of eating crappy food isn't gonna kill you. Just eat super healthy the next couple of weeks when you get home.

 

[dukemed22]

A $40 steak was the healthiest and cheapest option?

 

[amakhosidlo]

I made a couple week-long multi-school trips back East, lived on Subway pretty much the entire time. Cut the cheese and sauces and a I don't really see how you could get much healthier than a chicken breast sub w/ veggies.

The tuna & instant oatmeal isn't a bad option (awesome for backpacking, super light & compact), but to eat that on a day-to-day basis...seems like it'd get old after a while...

 

[Slowpoke]

ramen noodles. use them.

http://www.budget101.com/ramen_noodle_recipes.htm

 

[UAAWolf]

BTW, when did a 12 ounce steak start qualifying as health food? I don't care how lean that sucker is, it's going to shoot your lipid panel through the roof.

It was a filet cut and when I eat a large portion of meat I take plant phytosterols to block cholesterol absorption. Also my diet is fairly low in carbs.

Valid point though- if it were a 12 oz prime rib it wouldn't be healthy at all 😀

 

[7starmantis]

I think it would be much healthier to remove the large rough stick from your rectal opening and just relax and eat as healthy as possible while on a 1-2 day interview. If your eating healthy consistently it doesn't really matter anyway.

 

[UAAWolf]

I made a couple week-long multi-school trips back East, lived on Subway pretty much the entire time. Cut the cheese and sauces and a I don't really see how you could get much healthier than a chicken breast sub w/ veggies.

The tuna & instant oatmeal isn't a bad option (awesome for backpacking, super light & compact), but to eat that on a day-to-day basis...seems like it'd get old after a while...

Definitely gets old. The best diet is one you can STICK to, even if its not perfect. Much better to eat a moderately healthy diet than to eat perfect and then burn out a week later. The only reason I can stomach the plain boring meals is cause I've done bodybuilding comps lol

 

[UAAWolf]

I think it would be much healthier to remove the large rough stick from your rectal opening and just relax and eat as healthy as possible while on a 1-2 day interview. If your eating healthy consistently it doesn't really matter anyway.

Thank you sir, but my trip is 8 days and I have no means of transportation other than expensive taxi rides.

1-2 days of cheat meals is entirely different than 8 days of poor diet

 

[7starmantis]

Thank you sir, but my trip is 8 days and I have no means of transportation other than expensive taxi rides.

1-2 days of cheat meals is entirely different than 8 days of poor diet

Your spending 8 days for an interview? Either way, 8 days wont kill you either. You can choose very healthy, lean alternatives at many fast/semi-fast food joints. Fruits, vegetables, etc. For 8 days you might as well go grocery shopping man, seriously. Buy you some quick healthy foods and make your own meals in your hotel room. Not trying to be a jerk, but taking supplements to avoid absorption of various dietary intake is not what I would consider healthy either. Eat a little off your diet and take a 5 mile run each morning before everyone else gets up. There are many alternatives to $40 steaks. Run to the restaurant if need be 🙂

 

[starl3tte]

I always pack dried fruit, nuts, and small cans of tuna for my interview trips, especially if I know it'll be more than just a night or two. I mainly do this to avoid the hassle of having to find food that I can actually eat. I have a lot of food sensitivities and allergies, so I'd rather go the safe and boring route with my food. Also, I always drink bottled water, which I'll purchase in the airport or my hotel lobby. I'd rather do that than face the consequences of drinking tap water. I still remember my 1st interview trip to NYC...interview went ok, but I felt pretty sick when I got home. I'm never drinking "foreign" tap water again...

 

[JJMrK]

You can't walk around and see what kind of grocery stores/restaurants are in the vicinity?

In all honesty, expect your healthy eating habits to take a hit when you're interviewing. That's just the way it goes. I did what I could by buying protein bars and meal replacement bars at GNC/CVS the day before my trip and eating them for some meals. For others you just gotta see what's around.

 

[Longshanks]

Why they hell would you ever order food to your room? That is probably one of the worst financial decisions ever. The food probably stunk too. And steak is a healthy option these days? Man, America's coronaries must be bursting.

Seriously, go out and see whats around in town.. its rather easy to find healthy options if one makes the effort. Really don't see what the big deal is. Go to a decent restaurant or find a clutch local dine-in/take-out place that has healthy options.

It really isn't that difficult to find cheap eats restaurants with high quality. Look on the internet, depending what city your in check out TimeOut, go explore the town the school's in. I think most people's problems with eating when they travel is they are ironically afraid to explore or take an adventure when they're TRAVELING, and just settle into their comfort zone or go to chain operations. If you're the type to pack snacks, then bring something like fruit, nuts/trail mix, granola, etc. Have a salad?

 

[dw2158]

After realizing how expensive it is to eat healthy on the road...I thought I would make this thread.

I just spent 40 dollars to order a lean 12 oz steak dinner to my room...this was the cheapest option. My only other choice would be to pay for a 30 dollar taxi ride and then more money on food (which I will do tomorrow 🙁)

Yes I could have gotten an unhealthy meal for cheaper, but I've done enough of that BS on this trip.

Anyways...for my next interview trip I have a next plan.

DIET
-Pack cans/sealed cups of tuna fish or chicken breast. Leanest protein available and it does not need to be kept cold

-Bring protein powder or an MRP with you. This way all you need is water to get a healthy meal...

-Packets of oat meal...take up little space and are the only carbs you'll need really

-Besides that, granola bars and protein bars make for good snacks to bring in your carry on.

These foods are all CHEAP compared to eating out...plus you won't be eating like ****.

Anyone else have success packing their meals for their trip?

do you eat any fruits or vegetables? not sure how you are so worried about your healthy, healthy diet if there's no produce in there. those things are easy to pack, too. apples and/or bananas (with peanut butter!). carrot and/or celery sticks with hummus. oranges or clementines. etc.

 

[Longshanks]

do you eat any fruits or vegetables? not sure how you are so worried about your healthy, healthy diet if there's no produce in there. those things are easy to pack, too. apples and/or bananas (with peanut butter!). carrot and/or celery sticks with hummus. oranges or clementines. etc.

HE'S A MAN!!! HE DOESN'T WANT TO EAT LIKE A *****!! DIDN'T YOU READ HIS POST?


For real though, I'm an athlete myself and I would agree his diet based on this post is very unbalanced and not beneficial in the long run. I dumped all that supplement and synthetic crap two years ago, and I haven't felt better and keep progressing.

 

[J ROD]

if it is not healthy, dont eat it and wait later.....👍

 

[TakeMe]

I pack some bars, like Kind Bars which are all natural and contain mostly fruit and nuts. By the way, nuts are a good option. And I agree with the above poster and fruit- Clementines are delicious right now!!!

Also, I truly believe that there are healthy options in EVERY restaurant. I have never been to a restaraunt that doesn't have a salad on the menu, or some sort of vegetables. Grilled chicken is a popular choice to.

My main issue is the crap they feed you at the interview. Every school I have gone to has sugary sodas, sugary granola bars and some sort of pastry for breakfast. Not exactly light fare. And for lunch a popular choice of schools are some sort of sandwiches with slimy cold cuts (not exactly high quality and xhuxk full of fillers) and "salads" (those mayonnaise based disgusting ones) with chips and cookies. I usually end up eating chips and cookies and feel sick later.

I have tried packing bars and discretely eating them.

 

[elektroshok]

This is one of the dumbest threads I have read in a while.
Its not like you're going to europe for three weeks. Just eat whats available, christ.

 

[starl3tte]

My main issue is the crap they feed you at the interview. Every school I have gone to has sugary sodas, sugary granola bars and some sort of pastry for breakfast. Not exactly light fare. And for lunch a popular choice of schools are some sort of sandwiches with slimy cold cuts (not exactly high quality and xhuxk full of fillers) and "salads" (those mayonnaise based disgusting ones) with chips and cookies. I usually end up eating chips and cookies and feel sick later.

I have tried packing bars and discretely eating them.

I couldn't agree with you more. Most of the breakfast spreads I've seen are incredible unhealthy - donuts, pastries, cookies, brownies, muffins, etc. (And maybe some grapes and cantaloupe to make up for that crap.) NO THANK YOU.

Usually, I can navigate through the lunch options, but there's always some kind of junk there - more cookies, greasy potato chips (some schools will at least put out pretzels or baked chips), soda, and potato salad doused in mayonnaise.

The best interview lunch I've had was at UCSF - they gave us a $7.50 voucher for the cafeteria. Unfortunately, $7.50 cannot buy you much over there, but I was able to get a salad with the works - spinach, corn, peas, roasted vegetables, olives, chicken, nuts, cranberries, etc. And I still had some money left over for a fruit/nut bar.

 

[Dude Man Bro Man]

Chili at Wendy's really isn't all that unhealthy, and it'll give you protein from the beef.

 

[Algophiliac]

My main issue is the crap they feed you at the interview. Every school I have gone to has sugary sodas, sugary granola bars and some sort of pastry for breakfast. Not exactly light fare. And for lunch a popular choice of schools are some sort of sandwiches with slimy cold cuts (not exactly high quality and xhuxk full of fillers) and "salads" (those mayonnaise based disgusting ones) with chips and cookies. I usually end up eating chips and cookies and feel sick later.

I have tried packing bars and discretely eating them.

But isn't this true of everywhere and everything? It seems like while healthy foods are highly promoted and advertised, when it comes right down to it, nobody makes any genuine efforts to eat healthy, especially when outside of their home environment. I mean at least offer ONE healthy (or even just less unhealthy) option per meal!

But back to the OP, peanut butter is relatively cheap, although I'm not sure what you'd eat it on if you're doing a low-carb diet.

 

[TakeMe]

^ True but you would think that MEDICAL schools would serve healthy food. Shouldn't they be concerned with health?