Tips for travelling raw

[Naturegirl]

I'm sure this as been brought up before (if so please post the link) but what are some tips when travelling and eating raw. I'm heading to Charlotte, NC soon for business and well been eating out for pretty much every meal. I'll be having dinner with the boss and coworkers a lot and I'm sure they think I'm weird enough as a vegan (at least I get some jokes about it) so any tips for keeping "low-key" will be great too. Thanks.

[CAdreamer]

Don't make an issue over it...just order what you want. If you're hungry afterward, make a smoothie in your room. Look like you are SO-O-O-O-O enjoying your meal that it makes other ENVY what you are eating ..hehehehe

If you dehydrate, take breads, wraps, crackers, etc. Find out if your room has a mini refrig, and take or buy whatever is necessary. Dried frruits, nuts, or Lara Bars. Take your blender, magic bullet, etc.

If you juice, make enough for a few days and freeze in containers if necessary.

[Naturegirl]

Do you know if it is hard to get food over the border?

[exurb]

scroll back or search about eating in restaurants, rawpriestess has a cool system where she hands the waiter a card with all the things she eats. I would say in general it's easiest to order salads with your coworkers at meals, then munch away on your other stuff like crackers, olives, biscuits, dehydrated burgers, whatever, at "home" in your hotel.

as for your border question, are you flying or driving? I find airports much more vigilant, even though the law is the same. Fresh produce will give you a problem because of wanting to control disease - they especially don't want you taking a certain type of produce to an area where that produce is grown, like if you're going to florida they're extra fussy to not take oranges there.

In general there is no problem taking stuff like dehydrated crackers, cookies, etc., it's more fruit, veggies, live plants that are a problem.

[Naturegirl]

I'm flying. I figured it's tough to get produce across. I'll take a few apples with me along with a few lara bars for the plane ride at least. Hopefully, I'll have some time to get to a grocery store. Last time I was there I ended up not feeling so good because I ate a lot of cooked food (I'm not 100% raw yet, but I strive to get 80%) and it was resturant food so that is even worse. Work is always so busy when I'm there too, because we have to get everything done in the few days I'm there. And everyday its get up early, get to the office, have lunch, work late, eat supper, go to bed. So not much time for getting a few groceries.

[rawpriestess]

You can always ask the hotel consierge to have fresh ripe raw fruit in your room, or order a fruit basket from the grocery store nearby, or go on the net and order from the grocery chain in that town, most places deliver, if they don't call the local taxi service to pick up your delivery.

all of these things are doable, although they can cost time and money, but you are worth it.

I go for the consierge, they will do almost anything you ask, and usually with a smile.

if it's a larger town, and has a COSTCO, they will deliver, and you can order cases of fruits and share what ever is left over.

[Revvell]

We'll be traveling to Las Vegas for a week in Jan. What we do is look online for local raw or at least vegan restaurants (they at least have fresh veggies), cafes, health food stores and the like. I also bring my citrus juicer. Since my husband is driving ahead (I'll be flying), I'll load the spare juicer and organic oranges in his vehicle so we at least have that in the a.m. If I know I'm going to a certain restaurant for a meal, I often call ahead to ask if they can make something for me.

We stayed up in San Louis Obispo for a weekend over the summer. I called and asked what the chef would be willing to do for me. He made the most simple, yet fantastic meals for me. Said he'd been wanting to learn more about raw. Basically he took what he usually made, eliminated the animal products and kept it raw.

Sat. night we're going to a cajun restaurant for dinner. They have their menu online so I can find what they have and request they work it to assist me.

You'll find most chefs love the challenge especially IF they have enough notice.

Revvell

[Naturegirl]

Thanks for the tips, I'll keep them all in mind. I won't be taking a blender or anything with me though since I only take a carry on with. It's easier and faster than having to wait for your luguage (we always take a connection flight and there is often not a lot of time in between. Last time we missed it completly, the time before that we had to run from one end of the airport to the other as our names were being called for final boarding.) Geez, flying can be stressful.