Food at a convention: trying to eat well and on a budget on a hotel convention floor

For work, I go on major, out-of-state business trips twice a year. Once, to the industry's major conference and once to an important recruiting event. Smaller trips may or may not occur throughout the year, depending on timing and the budget. My first conference trip, the hotel and flights and such were booked before I was actually hired, so I had little control over anything, and was a bit overwhelmed by everything. Since then, I've learned a thing or two about my business trips that work for me. One this is about convention food - conference/convention food is...well...enough to throw your stomach off-balance. There are usually enough events with free food that you could likely get away with only having to pay for one meal a day. This assumes that you are willing to eat nothing but hors d'oeuvres, cookies, and stale pastries for several days. Plus, that first year - I totally didn't order enough food for our reception, and we ran out within the first half hour. So, free food is certainly there, but the quantity, quality, and origin are all unreliable. If you are working the convention, and you're an introvert (like me), you find yourself exhausted after manning the booth, shaking hands, and generally schmoozing. After you finally make it up to your room, the last thing you want to do is face the restaurant downstairs. Yes, I usually eat room service at least once during these conventions. At the most recent convention, I managed to escape the re-circulated air of the convention hotel multiple times, and went out to local restaurants with colleagues and friends. This was by far a cheaper and tastier method of eating. As my hotel room had a fridge, I easily could have taken leftovers with me. But the best thing to do for these things? Go to a grocery store. My first full day in town (I actually arrived early to do some extra recruiting), I was able to go to a Whole Foods. I bought things like almonds, Luna bars, apples, and lime-flavored sparkling water (what, I love it, but don't get it all that often). Basically, healthier snack and breakfast-y food ($6-10 for oatmeal from room service or the restaurant is where I draw the line, even on a business trip with a per diem). I had more than enough food to keep me noshing for the duration of the convention (and even took some home). Instead of starving between meal times, which could be unpredictable, I was able to stay feed. And eat food that I at least had an idea about from whence it came. And sure, I may have dropped three quarters of one day's per diem* at the store, but you know what I didn't do, spend that much any other day. Plus, it feels satisfying to be able to nip behind our booth to snack on almonds or an apple when feeling a bit peckish, and not pay the outrageous hotel prices. *since we don't have Whole Foods where I live or work, I also bought things like shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, and tea tree oil. Experimenting with a few brands I can't buy regularly, and well, was low on tea tree oil anyway. Discovered that I prefer Thursday's Plantation tea tree oil, which local stores do carry. Weird, huh, to have a brand preference of a plant oil.

Limited choices, and you know something big is happening when it happens here

We have limited options at our in-town grocery and Wal*mart stores. You can find pretty much whatever you want, or at least what you need, but the selection isn't what it is at the larger (or smaller stores) in the town where we work.

It isn't so much the products that we can find (juice, soda, canned goods, frozen stuff, deli, produce, all of that), but rather the types of said products offered. Finding an organic brand of nearly anything at the local grocery is nearly impossible. But there are a few options for "natural" peanut butter. I think there is one barbeque sauce in the whole store that doesn't have high fructose corn syrup. And that says nothing of my poor uncle who has a recently diagnosed soy allergy: out of  wall of salad dressing, there were maybe 5 bottles he could eat. One was a spice packet where you add your own oil and vinegar. The others were locally produced brands.

Since I've just started making the leap to baking soda/vinegar for some cleaning needs (certainly not all - yet), this has presented a challenge for us.

What has been exciting as of late, is the emergence of more eco-friendly brands and variants on the shelves, and at prices that are at least comparable to the conventional ones. For example, dishwasher detergent. I picked up one of 2 bottles that declared itself eco-friendly with no phosphates and my husband rolled his eyes. "Are we really that rich that we can... oh, it isn't that expensive." True, a smaller bottle of the store brand was much cheaper, but every other option was within 50 cents of the bottle I picked. Some were even more expensive. Score!

Then, at Wal*Mart (groan if you must) Tom's of Maine is being stocked. I've read a few places (can't remember now, so apologies for no links) that some people are upset as a result of changes since they were bought by a larger company, but I'm still very happy to see 2 different toothpastes (one with and one without flouride), and at least 2 different Tom's deodorants (plus a Crystal liquid roll-on). As we needed toothpaste, we got some. Still using the deodorant I picked up at Trader Joe's in California while on a business trip. (Really, my checked bag on the way back from these trips is hilarious now - shampoo, deodorant, all sorts of organic and natural personal care products I can't find easily in my small town.)

Small victories, I know, but I get a small thrill buying these products at my local grocery and Wal*mart because I know that somewhere in the vastness of information and reporting, another ping is going towards the more eco-conscious shopper.

In an attempt at full disclosure, I initially wrote this in June 2011. I tweaked a few tenses here and there, and it is up-to-date.

*Chirp, Chirp

Do you hear crickets?

As tired a refrain as it may be, the office has been quite busy. We've had recruiting trips, urgent deadlines, grant reporting, and conferences. On top of the regular stuff we do on a regular basis. It does not leave much time for anything else.

We have an upcoming conference soon, and this time, my husband is coming with me. We both have family in the area, and this is a great opportunity for us to visit and have a little time away. Since the visit is because of a conference for work, my travel and room and board are all reimbursable. It will be a crazy and busy schedule for me, but should be fun!

I also went on a recruiting trip a few weeks ago. During my first stop, I stayed at a hotel that had apples in the lobby and a Target across the parking lot. This was wonderful. I ate more apples in that 24 hour period than I thought was possible, but they were delicious. I was also able to stroll through Target for my dinner, instead of paying outrageous amounts for a restaurant meal. Plus, even though I had neglected to bring granola bars, I was able to pick up a box at Target. Apples and granola bars can make an interesting meal.

In other news, the weather has certainly gotten much colder here. Last year, we were able to put off turning on the heat for a good while, and even then, keep the temperature set at about 65 degrees Fahrenheit. We were in an apartment then, and while we only shared a wall/floor with two other units, sharing their heat (we were on the top floor) really helped us keep our own heating costs down.

Now that we are in our own, stand-alone house, heating it is a different story. (Plus, I suspect some major lapses in good insulation. Another project.) We've tried to keep the thermostat set at about 64-65 degrees Fahrenheit, but it is an older model which is difficult to regulate. That and 64 degrees in the house feels tremendously colder than 65 did in the apartment. (I blame my beloved wood floors.)

We do have a wood burning stove in the fireplace. We have tried it once, and it did a nice job of keeping the immediate vicinity (well, the TV viewing area) warmer. We've also purchased a small space heater for the bedroom. Close the door, and after a few minutes, it is positively toasty! (Always follow the instructions, and keep flammable items away from a space heater. Do not leave it unattended!) Of course, we turn it off and unplug it before bed.

In addition, you should see the layers I put on at home. At any given time, I'll have on one or two pairs of socks, maybe leggings and pants, and a shirt plus a sweater. In the morning, when I let our dog out, I am usually toddling about with a hoodie, a sweater, and a coat. But that is because I roll out of bed and let her out. It is the very first thing I do, aside from put on my glasses.

Our electric bill has been slashed though. But, we have gas heat, and are waiting for that bill to spike. It hasn't yet, but we are trying to be prepared.

Breaking Radio Silence

Good morning, all!

I'm sure your lives have felt the gaping hole that is usually filled with my ramblings. Early last week, I was on a business trip, which consumed the majority of my time, and took me away from regular computer time.

Business trips make me feel odd. For several reasons. One of which being that I'm still the kid in jeans, a tshirt and comfy shoes on the plane. I'm traveling. I'm going to the hotel. I may not even be registering for whatever conference it is until morning. I see no reason to where a suit, and get it all wrinkled and smelly before I actually have to wear it.

Anyway, I carpooled to the airport with our Institute director, so I had no out of pocket, to-be-reimbursed mileage or parking fees. That saved me money, and our institute!

That first day was spent traveling, avoiding airport food, and settling into the room/prepping for the next day. For dinner, I wandered around the hotel, and settled on a sandwich in the lobby bar. It was a grilled vegetable sandwich, and I opted for fresh fruit on the side, instead of fries. Overall, the sandwich was quite tasty, and not too terribly expensive. At least as far as hotel food goes.

For the majority of the conference, I stuck to complimentary coffee or tea, and water to drink. Sounds like normal, though. I did make the mistake once of saying "yes" to coffee with breakfast one morning. Ouch. Expensive cup. I gave myself quite the mental tongue lashing for that. On the upside? I made dinner one night out of the hors d'oeuvres at the reception. Not very healthy, but better than going hungry.

I say that, because over the past year, I've spent several business trips obsessed with staying under the per diem allotment for a given city/day. From time to time, this has lead to me not always eating when hungry. (Not necessarily skipping meals, more like eating smaller meals and not snacking. You probably would, too, if your least expensive option was $5 oatmeal. Seriously, $5 oatmeal. I love oatmeal, but none is that good.)

This trip, I escaped the hotel for lunch one day, with several conference participants. A short, maybe 15 minute, walk from the hotel (which was lovely!), was a mall and an outdoor shopping center, complete with restaurants and restaurant patios. We went to a Thai place (love Thai food!), and ordered. This was probably the most reasonably priced and delicious meal I had the entire trip. Wisdom learned here is that a little exploring is not only good for the soul, but also for the bottom line.

One idea I was turning over in my mind before I left was taking oatmeal with me for the mornings. Or at least some granola bars. Something to keep from paying for $5 oatmeal. Somehow, I had it in my head that one could not take food through security at the airport. Turns out, I was wrong. So, for my next trip, I fully plan on taking oatmeal with me, and using my in-room coffee maker to boil water. Or sticking my electric tea pot in my carry-on, as well. I will probably buy a small canister of oatmeal to take, so I don't take a suspicious baggie of loose oatmeal through security. Might break down and take the instant packets, since I'll have no stove or microwave. Still, better than the alternative.

Poll 2 Results, and a Big Thank You!

So, for my second poll, I asked a "What would you do?" about business trips. After a few rounds of questions, I updated my original poll, with additional options. A small majority were in favor of renting a car, with driving your own, and other each receiving votes.

Honestly, when planning the trip, I didn't consider flying because to me a 3-6 hour car trip isn't all that long. I think that after driving to the airport, going through security, and paying for the ticket and parking/or getting to the airport, trips via airplanes within that radius are about as long and more expensive than just going by car.

The bus option was also one that I had not considered. I know that interstate bus lines do run in the US, but they've never really been among the first things that come to mind when I'm planning a trip. Thanks for the reminder, guys.

Also, I shared my concern about healthy, yet inexpensive eating options while traveling, and you all gave me some good feedback. Remembering back to high school, after the first overnight speech team trip, I started taking a small cooler of veggies to snack on. Why? Because, thanks to my parents, I was used to a healthy and varied diet, and on the first overnight trip, our only food options were fast food, and I felt sick. Don't know why I didn't consider this. Thank you for the reminder!