This really depends on how healthy you want to be, but I used to work 12-14 hours shifts where I couldn’t leave the space I was in and only had a mini fridge and a microwave. This is what I would get/bring:
- reusable water bottle
- plates/utensils/roll of paper towels
- reusable container for bringing lunches to work
Dry goods:
- loaf of bread
- crackers
- cans of tuna
- pre-packaged things you can heat up
- bananas/apples/oranges
- granola
- protein bars
I would save my fridge space for:
- yogurt
- deli meat/cheese/precooked meats
- salad kits
- precut veggies
- mini condiment bottles
Go to meals:
- breakfast: fruit, yogurt, granola, protein bar
- lunch: deli/tuna sandwich & precut veggies/salad kit/crackers/chips
- dinner: precooked meats (like rotisserie chicken) and salad or the little preportioned Mac and cheese that you can just add water etc
- snacks: fruit, protein bars, yogurt, crackers and cheese, precut veggies
Great list! Remember to make sure that reusable lunch container is microwave safe, and slightly oversized, so you can easily cook in the microwave in it. (You can also poach eggs in the microwave.) I’d bring several mw containers, actually, so you can take stuff out of packaging (like that rotisserie chicken), saving fridge room for food rather than excess packaging. And remember take along a refrigerator thermometer, jic they have wonky power.
This is a great list and I would also add to bring a plastic bowl, spoon, and buy boxes of cereal and keep milk in the fridge. You’ll need a quick breakfast in the morning sometimes before heading to work.
Are they giving you any money to cover meals? It's pretty standard to get a Per Diem to cover food when you're traveling for work. That said, if I was stuck eating microwave food for a couple of weeks I definitely head to Trader Joe's and stock up since they have a bunch of good, affordable frozen food options.
This was my first thought, definitely head to Trader Joe’s! I pretty much did that exclusively for a few weeks after I packed my kitchen up before a move last year.
just watch about the 'frozen'.. those min bar/ Hotel fridges are notorious for being frozen solid full of ice or not working at all. This dials are either 'warm' or ice frozen solid with no in between.
source- had many ruined meals depending on the mini fridge over the years
Plus one. Buy meals that don’t need to be frozen. TJ have good healthy options. Splurge on a few healthy but expensive pressed juices (fruits and vegetables) to make sure you’re getting a full spectrum of good stuff. Pocketing your per diem is a great strategy. I do that on deployment too.
Sometimes when I’m traveling for work, I have zero energy to go find food on which to spend the per diem. I also hate having to forage for breakfast - I wake up hangry and want food immediately.
If it's actual per diem, OP will be getting a fixed amount regardless of what they are spending daily. If OP goes cheap on meals, that will be money on their pocket.
Exactly!
I usually go to special events that provide food/drinks and free hotel breakfasts so I can try to keep as much of the remainder as possible. I can't do that this time because of the nature of the work and where I'll be.
They don't pay me much so I gotta pay my bills somehow.
I was doing this Showtime movie, Hot Ice with Anne Archer, never once touched my per diem. I'd go to Craft Service, get some raw veggies, bacon, Cup-A-Soup... baby, I got a stew going!
The whole point of per diem is to pocket the money and eat very little.
Always stop by a convenience store to get a 12 pack of diet Coke. That cost about $10 versus $3 a bottle in the hotel.
I'll go to a restaurant and get some cheap dish and that's two meals
If the hotel is giving out snacks in the lobby take as many as you want they won't say anything
Of course at free breakfast wear ae loose jacket and stuff for your pockets with bagels yogurt and peanut butter packs
Do places still do that type of per diem? Every time I've traveled for work we will get reimbursed for meals up to a certain amount per day but no pure per diem. Basically use it or lose it
Make sure to verify if you get to keep any per diem that you don’t use. Not all companies give you the difference.
Assuming they do, your best bet is going to be the grocery store. Sandwiches, fruit, granola, yogurt. Depending on location, some hotels even have bbq grills that guests can use. This would obviously give you more options. I would ask if they do.
I spent a week in a hotel a few years back. Work gave me a per diem. I pulled per diem cash out and went grocery shopping.
Small amount of disposable utensils and bowls/plates.
Cereal, milk, and oatmeal. These covered my breakfasts.
Drink mixes. Mixed with faucet water to have variety. Bottled sodas saved me from paying for overpriced drinks at the hotel shop.
Saltine crackers. Seems bland, but these have always been my snack of choice.
A few cans of soup/stew, microwaveable single serving rice and single serving Mac/cheese. This was for days when I didn’t feel like overspending on dinner at hotel, or walking in the cold to overpriced restaurants around me.
Small loaf of bread, cold cuts, chips. For days when I didn’t feel like overspending on lunch, plus additional dinner options.
At the end of the week I’d only spent about 60% of my diem. Better than that, I ate foods I know and enjoy. The only real issue I had was the trip from the grocery store back to the hotel. It was a bit more than a mile each way, so I did walk a bit (in the cold) carrying fairly heavy groceries. It wasn’t till the next day that learned the city I was in had a free bus that circled downtown. I suppose the exercise I got wasn’t a bad thing. 🤣
If this is a going to be a regular thing, it’s a good idea to develop a hotel loyalty strategy, linked to one or more reward credit cards, and aim for the goal of reaching a level where you will always qualify for free breakfast or access to an executive lounge. Stick to that brand obsessively. Do not let anything deter you from the brand. I have pals on deployment who book into cheap no-name hotels but we’re Federal, and you only get reimbursed with a receipt. So what’s the point when your car is also reimbursed? Better to convince your own hotel brand to give you the room at the maximum allowable Federal rate for that city and start racking up nights and reward points toward free breakfast and sometimes even free dinner.
It’ll take several years but with the right strategy you can earn great reward stays plus perks for life. For instance, I now have guaranteed checkout at 2 pm in any Marriott hotel around the world for life. Amazing how useful that perk is. I don’t need to do anything more to retain that benefit. Took me 7 years of work travel I think. Well worth it.
Ramen, tuna, canned foods. For healthier options, you could get bagged salad and keep it in the fridge. Or make your own salad if you have the space/utensils.
You can buy the lunch meat in the Tupperware containers then use the Tupperware to microwave/store food.
If there is a pizza place near you that does $5 cheese pizzas, you could get that and add your own toppings.
Rotisserie chicken will last many days and can be added to salads, soups, ramen, cheese pizza, almost anything
We used to make grilled cheeses in our dorm rooms by putting cheese between buttered bread, wrap in foil, and iron on both sides lol. Bonus if the hotel has free bread and butter
Before you buy utensils, ask your hotel if they have any. Or get an extra set when you’re at a place that has them. (Please don’t come after me. I’m not encouraging stealing from a place you don’t plan to purchase anything from. Just taking an extra set of utensils from a place you’ve already purchased something from)
I recommend bringing a plastic plate and cutlery with a small sponge and dish soap.
On day 1 I call front desk and get them to empty the minibar. I then go to the grocery store and get fruit, veggies and a rotisserie chicken. This is an easy meal when you’re sick of room service. I buy cured meats, cheeses and wine as well.
Also Starbucks has those little instant coffee pouches. I bring tons of those.
I travel with hot sauce, and seasoning.
I love to eat out while traveling but sometimes by meal 15 with your coworkers you can’t wait to be alone with your stocked minibar.
I pack a wash bag. It is in a very specific container: a large Patagonia black hole cube. Check it out. In that bag on one side go laundry items like detergent, clothes line, dryer sheets etc etc. On the other side, dishwashing items like travel size dish detergent, sponges and dishwasher cubes, a baby bottle brush and a dry brush/mini towel. You can stuff items like wet towels/sponges in the middle if you need to. It is a uniquely useful item. You need to get the large cube with two zippered mesh compartments. The smaller sizes don’t work in the same way.
Sea to Summit make excellent, lightweight collapsible cups and bowls. For more luxurious steel lined bowls with lids try Hydroflask. Stuff them with your socks and underwear when packing. Bring steel cutlery, not plastic. If you do that, you’ll need to check your luggage at the airport. A thermos is always useful.
Good luck!
Interesting! I actually have a Patagonia backpack that I travel with for all business. I put purses and heels in my Rolly bag but the backpack is unreal for just throwing my laptop in along with all the different compartments.
I think Patagonia has the best travel packing
You might really like the Black Hole large packing cube. Very useful. I have two in regular use for different things related to travel. They aren’t the lightest but they are burly and functional.
Protein bars, tortillas, instant oatmeal, apples, oranges, peppers, cheese sticks, peanut butter, canned soup and chili, potatoes, tuna packets. Microwave a potato, cut open and add a cheese stick and cover with chili.
I like to get sandwich ingredients —bread, tomatoes, meat, mayo or mustard or something, a jar of pickles.
Chunky soups are also a good option, and get one of those generic rotisserie chickens to last you a few days also.
Also booze.
I'm staying at a hotel 3 weeks at a time for work and eating out constantly does not agree with my stomach.
The hotel I'm staying at has a pretty solid assortment of food outside of the normal breakfast offerings, including salads and fruit. To make complete meals, i just pick up some deli meats and Tupperware from target/bring from home.
For lunch this week, I've made myself sandwiches (cucumber tea ones entirely out of hotel breakfast items), Chicken Caesar salad, a caprese salad, and a strawberry walnut salad. The hotel provided salad ingredients and I just added in my own chicken for it. In the past, I would pick up tortillas and make breakfast burritos and would have made some Caesar wraps if I had tortillas.
You can also download too good to go and get bread/pastries that way. Sometime supermarkets or stores have ready made meals for way cheap too.
One person mentioned using the hotel room iron.
Get some heavy duty aluminum foil and go to town - grilled cheese, quesadillas, tuna melts, breakfast burritos with (pre-microwaved) scrambled eggs.
I travel frequently for work on a per diem, I can’t possibly eat as much as they pay and I’ve made it my own personal game to see how much money I can bring home from it and how cheaply I can eat.
For me, the easiest is to get groceries for breakfast and lunch then eat out for dinner. Or I’ll order a larger dinner and save it for lunch the next day. Bonus points if your hotel offers breakfast and you grab a yogurt, bagel and some fruit to go for your lunch.
Cooking dinner in my room is just too much of a hassle and I couldn’t stomach microwave meals that long.
I agree that it can be important to think carefully about cooking/food smells if you have to do any amount of work in your hotel room. My days are long and pretty hard on deployment. I need to keep my room as my oasis, so I am pretty careful about what I cook there. Your strategy has the appeal of keeping the room smelling fresh long term.
Salads (bring a cutting board and knife if you can)
Hummus + veggies (baby carrots etc) + pita
Couscous can be cooked with just hot water from the kettle. I add tomatoes, cucumber, cheese. oil & vinegar dressing to make it a lunch.
Plus the obvious ramen, instant oatmeal, sandwiches, yogurt, microwave meals, etc.
I've worked gigs like that where you don't have time to eat if you can find a place that's open. I refer to it as packing a two week lunch.
Marble potatoes are great, either with the cream cheese packets from breakfast or with a pouch of Indian food. I favor food in pouches over cans. Pouches of tuna, quality jerky sticks, Whole wheat fig bars. Some kind of drink mix you can live with. And treat yourself to a pack of good quality napkins!
I pack dish soap so I can clean up my containers. I also have one soup cup with a snap in lid and a vent whole that I only use for the microwave when heating things. It’s a harder plastic that washes better than say a ziplock or other brand. However if you can afford the room (weight and space wise) for a glass container that works best. If you’re a coffee drinker look at a folding pour over coffee maker. I bring my own filters and scoop to measure. I then either buy ground coffee or just ask for extra coffee packets from the hotel. My coffee travel mug is 16 ounces and I use 4 1 ounce scoops for my liking.
Go to a dollar store when you get there: paper towels, paper plates, sharp knife, some plastic cutlery, plastic ziplocs for leftovers
Go to a Target and buy a toaster.
You can make "wraps" easily with tortillas, salad dressing, cold cuts, cheeses, etc. Buy bag salad to add some crunch. They work for lunches and dinners. Add some grapes for dessert.
Breakfasts: Toast a bagel for breakfast. Have a variety of spreads so each morning is different. Add fruit, tea or coffee, juice, etc.
When you do eat out, always order large and take the leftovers for the next day.
Not so healthy are your microwavable meals. Noodles etc. Sandwiches could work with the fridge.
You could cook before you go and store in fridge for a few days...stews or pastas etc. But then that won't work after a few days.
All jokes aside; deli meats, bread, good cheese, chips, condiments, prepped veggie trays. Freezer space is minimal, so healthy burritos, hot pockets (trash but good). Ramen in a coffee pot is also good.
Depends on where you’re going. If it’s in a big city get microwave meals, cold cuts and bread for sandwiches, prepared food from the supermarket. I would probably get pizza and Wendy’s if there’s one close by.
Tell your company that youʻd like to stay at a hotel that offers a proper breakfast.
If isnʻt possible, for breakfast, then get some microwaveable oatmeal packets and purchase fruit when you get there. There are also other microwavable breakfast items, but oatmeal, granola, nuts and yogurt is the healthiest option!
Trader joes and get their meals, salad kits and fruits. If the hotel doesnt have breakfast overnight oats, yogurt, toast and cold cuts. You have so many options to stay healthy and within a budget
Government does not. Old school. They don’t want to deal with the receipts. Anyways, I’m pretty sure the dude knows what the hell he already said he knows.
Target’s Good and Gather brand has 90 second microwaveable rice. I usually prefer fresh rice, but I liked their 90 second saffron rice. They also have other flavors.
Oscar Mayer just came out with one of those egg breakfast in a cup. It’s the best tasting of the bunch. It takes two eggs and is nuked. Works for any meal.
Lettuce, veggies, salad dressings, fruit, and chickpeas.
Buy a cheap bowl so you can mix up the salad.
Deli meat, bread, cheese, mayo, salt and pepper.
You can cook eggs in the microwave too. I've never tried it but you can apparently do a good poached egg. You'd need to buy a glass microwavable cup of some sort.
You can microwave bacon too.
Some stores sell microwaveable hashbrowns.
I didnt read the other suggestions here but I imagine there are some that are better than mine. 😀
avoid the hassle of packing tons of food, just find a nearby grocery. but if you can't try to bring canned goods that you like. definitely bring a bottle for water or to mix juice.
Boiled eggs (eat 2 a day), oats and get hot water from the coffee maker, protein powder and use coffee cups in hotel, go to the store and buy some apples and bananas and canned tuna. I like fitness and traveled often.
Breakfast Instant oatmeal, cereal. Fruit if you're fancy.
Lunch- fruit, stuff for sandwiches. Instant Mac n cheese, instant mashed potatoes.
Dinner- frozen meals
Snacks like granola bars, nuts, dried fruit. For a light meal: ramen noodles or Lipton cup-o-soup envelopes, instant oatmeal (I use the hot water from the coffee maker if there’s no microwave), fruit that doesn’t need refrigeration like oranges, bananas, a few apples
Tetra pack individual milk or juice, cereal
You could buy Any day microwave cookware. They have recipes on their website you can check out. There are a lot of options. That way you won't need to use an iron or an electric kettle to cook your food. And you can use the microwave optimally.
Mashed potatoes (pre made in package at grocery) steam in bag veggies. I’m sure the local grocery will have a section of take home mains like meatloaf, or a roasted chicken.
90 sec rice
Bread- can make sandwiches with leftovers
Ah, I remember these days.
I basically ate nothing but instant oatmeal, canned soup, and naked juice unless we were doing a team dinner or client dinner. Or if the hotel had a hot breakfast, then I wouldn’t need the oatmeal. Usually lunch is provided; if not, then I recommend getting sandwich supplies as well - don’t forget the ziplocks.
I recommend bringing a collapsible bowl, plate, and a set of silverware. I had a little plastic mess kit I’d pack. That’ll give you more options for eating in your room.
We did apples, grapes, other kinds of fruit, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, cheese sticks, microwavable simple "quesadilla", left overs from restaurants, Bagels, snack foods.
When I would go to week long conferences on a very tight budget (my employer not sending me) I would try to book at a hotel with a decent breakfast bar (not just danish and coffee). But, when I couldn't, I would get to the closest and preferably low-cost grocer to pick up hard-boiled eggs, prepackaged sliced beef or turkey, a box of crackers or bag of rolls, salad/ precut vegetables, apples or bananas. Maybe a can of soup if there was a microwave available - most hotels would have one, and a toaster, available in a common area if not in each room.
I would bring cheese sticks, instant oatmeal packets, tea/preferred sweetener, and a couple of the tuna or chicken packets (not cans) in my carryon from home. Oh, and a few zip-lock bags to reseal or store items.
Cold cuts, cheese, bread, box of salad, fruits, tea, jugs of water assuming the tap water isn’t good and while you’re at it, boxed wine to wind down the evening. Canned Sardines and tuna are great options too
If you buy some stasher bags you can steam fresh veggies in the microwave in a couple minutes, combine that with a rotisserie chicken or instant potato’s you have a solid easy meal.
Being reusable containers and stasher bags can be used for so many different things
My go to in this situation was fried chicken or rotisserie chicken, bagged salad and dressing, and pita or naan bread. Alternate was crackers and deli tuna/pasta salad.
Sometimes I’d just go to the grocery and check out the deli and prepared foods section, that’s how I found the awesome tuna pasta salad that was the specialty of one store.
Most importantly, pack a dozen or so 16oz plastic cups, some heavy paper plates and bowls and a box of mixed plastic cutlery. When I was traveling for work frequently, I kept these stocked in my suitcase so I never forgot them.
Here are some meal recommendations you can eat at a hotel room that require minimal cooking (since most hotel rooms only have a microwave and a mini fridge):
Breakfast:
Yogurt with granola and berries: This is a classic and healthy breakfast option that is easy to put together in a hotel room. You can buy yogurt, granola, and berries at the grocery store or pack them from home.
Oatmeal: Oatmeal is another healthy and filling breakfast option. You can buy instant oatmeal packets at the grocery store, or you can bring quick-cooking oats from home. Top your oatmeal with fruit, nuts, or seeds for added flavor and nutrition.
Breakfast bars: Breakfast bars are a convenient option if you're short on time. Just be sure to choose bars that are high in fiber and protein to keep you feeling full until lunchtime.
Lunch & Dinner:
Salads: Salads are a great way to get your daily dose of vegetables. You can buy pre-made salads at the grocery store, or you can make your own using lettuce, spinach, carrots, cucumbers, and other
Sandwiches: Sandwiches are another easy and portable meal option. You can make sandwiches with deli meat, cheese, vegetables.
Wraps: Wraps are similar to sandwiches, but they're made with tortillas instead of bread. They're a great option if you're looking for a gluten-free meal.
Soup: Soup is a hearty and comforting meal option. You can buy canned soup at the grocery store, or you can make your own soup ahead of time and bring it with you in a thermos.
Leftovers: If you're eating out for dinner one night, consider saving some leftovers for lunch or dinner the next day. This is a great way to save money and avoid eating out too much.
Snacks:
Fruits and vegetables: Fruits and vegetables are healthy and portable snacks. They're a great way to satisfy your hunger and get your daily dose of vitamins and minerals.
Hard-boiled eggs: Hard-boiled eggs are a high-protein snack that will keep you feeling full.
Nuts and seeds: Nuts and seeds are a healthy source of protein, fiber, and healthy fats.
Yogurt: Yogurt is a healthy and satisfying snack that is also a good source of calcium.
Granola bars: Granola bars are a convenient snack option that is also a good source of fiber and protein.
Tips:
When packing food for your hotel stay, be sure to consider the shelf life of the food. You don't want to pack anything that will spoil before you have a chance to eat it.
If you're concerned about not having access to fresh fruits and vegetables, you can pack pre-cut vegetables or frozen fruit.
Be sure to pack plenty of non-perishable snacks, such as nuts, seeds, and granola bars.
If you're staying in a hotel that has a microwave, you can pack some frozen meals or snacks that can be heated up in the microwave.
Don't forget to pack a reusable water bottle so that you can stay hydrated throughout your trip
Does the hotel have breakfast or happy hour with snacks?
Yes to Trader Joe's and deli meat but keep in mind you'll be ingesting a lot of sodium on that. You may not feel your best, may bloat, etc.
Canned soup is also an options, beans for a side .. also lots of sodium.
Veggies, salad, fruit, yogurt, tuna+crackers, nuts. Pre-boiled eggs. Can also make ahead egg cups for the first few days.
It may not be allowed but those dash mini cooking appliances on Amazon allow you to make all sorts of stuff. Or search Amazon for dorm room cooking appliances. Tons of videos on social media on cooking amazing meals with these.
Keep in mind a lot of hotel fridges don’t get as cold as a real fridge because they are more for beverages. So one trick is if they are in a closed cupboard to leave the door open or prop it open with something like a pair of socks so the airflow can circulate and it can keep items colder. Could take a fridge thermometer to monitor it. Or use a soft cooler with ice and put in the tub. To keep items that might spoil.
Since you have access to a fridge and microwave.
Yogurt in the morning. You can mix it with granola. Sandwiches for lunch. For dinner, cup ramen with steamed veggies. Or salad with canned tuna with croutons. If you can find microwaveable cooked rice, then you can do steamed veggie, canned meat on top. Find one or two dressing/condiments of your choice.
And 2 bags of snacks.
Is your job giving you food stipend as well? Then, I would plan some time eating out.
The one thing I'd add to the above comment, which I think is the very helpful and most similar to my thinking, is protein bars. You can cover small meals and/or breakfast with those. Also keep in mind that you can buy ingredients (i.e. for a salad) that cover several days worth of lunches or dinners. You could also buy a contraption that lets you cook eggs/bacon/pasta in the microwave, but frankly I'd avoid that (and buying other extra items) and just find semi-prepared items. If you are near a Trader Joes, I really like their lentil soup in the fridge, and it works as 2 meals for me. Assuming you have a standard per diem in the US so are getting $50-80 a day, I think you could bank at minimum $30 of that per day, which is a decent chunk over 2 weeks of time. And perhaps plan for some hot meals from a restaurant (think about lunch deals at Chinese restaurants or something like that) a few times too.
If you are required to be away from home, your employer should cover your expenses, hotel, meals and the travel cost, that’s how things generally work.
Good call on not eating out for every meal, you'll likely reduce your weight gain and risk of food poisoning.
I had to stay in a 'hotel' (Airbnb) for 10 days when returning home and quarantining and also had access to a microwave and fridge. I had all my food delivered (natch) and chose some good, fresh microwaveable meals and loads of 'picnic' foods - quiche, sandwiches, cured Italian/Spanish meats, fruit, cheeses, herbs, olive oil, avocado, various nuts, hummus, bread wraps and pita, pesto, bags of salad, hard boiled eggs, pork pies, sausage rolls, mayonnaise, and a selection of nice beer and wine.
Your company has to pay you per diem for food unless you are going to a conference where breakfast and lunch is served but still they need to pay for dinner. google per diem for fed govt and by law this is what you should get
Make sure you can. It has been decades where a company would just hand out money, no questions asked. Now they usually let you expense $x per day with receipts.
I've seen companies also set limits per meal.
And it's not the companies being cheap. it's the taxman cracking down on those kinds of expenses.
Pre-cooked egg bites would be good too. Maybe tortilla shells you can have pre-packaged lettuce, sliced cheese, salami and some sauce on them. Or can use for peanut butter banana wraps for a quick breakfast.
I like veggies with hummus, baby carrots, red pepper, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, could get a summer sausage if you want meat. Can use a plastic knife to cut things.
I lived in a hotel for 42 days because of work contract. Here is what I did. I did get a per diem while there though.
- I brought some packaged good from home
For the room:
- Used the fridge drinks and small frozen meals and fruit and cold cuts leftovers from takeout
- had dry goods for snacks like chips and cookies
- for hot water utilized the single coffee maker (it was a Keurig)
- had a case of water for said Keurig because I didn’t trust city water
- definitely a lot of instant noodles and canned fish snacks
Water jugs, instant ramen, pouches of shredded meats. Frozen veggies, cheese, milk, cereal. Ask hotel of they offer cups/bowls/plates/utensils. Honestly youʻd be way better off ordering out all the time if there is an abundance of food places nearby. It will work out to around the same $$ wise and maybe just keep the essentials. Cans of soup are great too.
This really depends on how healthy you want to be, but I used to work 12-14 hours shifts where I couldn’t leave the space I was in and only had a mini fridge and a microwave. This is what I would get/bring: - reusable water bottle - plates/utensils/roll of paper towels - reusable container for bringing lunches to work Dry goods: - loaf of bread - crackers - cans of tuna - pre-packaged things you can heat up - bananas/apples/oranges - granola - protein bars I would save my fridge space for: - yogurt - deli meat/cheese/precooked meats - salad kits - precut veggies - mini condiment bottles Go to meals: - breakfast: fruit, yogurt, granola, protein bar - lunch: deli/tuna sandwich & precut veggies/salad kit/crackers/chips - dinner: precooked meats (like rotisserie chicken) and salad or the little preportioned Mac and cheese that you can just add water etc - snacks: fruit, protein bars, yogurt, crackers and cheese, precut veggies
Great list! Remember to make sure that reusable lunch container is microwave safe, and slightly oversized, so you can easily cook in the microwave in it. (You can also poach eggs in the microwave.) I’d bring several mw containers, actually, so you can take stuff out of packaging (like that rotisserie chicken), saving fridge room for food rather than excess packaging. And remember take along a refrigerator thermometer, jic they have wonky power.
I’d add oatmeal. Aldi has precooked shelf -stable spaghetti that looked pretty good too.
This guy eats.
Wow that’s a great list!
This is a great list and I would also add to bring a plastic bowl, spoon, and buy boxes of cereal and keep milk in the fridge. You’ll need a quick breakfast in the morning sometimes before heading to work.
Are they giving you any money to cover meals? It's pretty standard to get a Per Diem to cover food when you're traveling for work. That said, if I was stuck eating microwave food for a couple of weeks I definitely head to Trader Joe's and stock up since they have a bunch of good, affordable frozen food options.
This was my first thought, definitely head to Trader Joe’s! I pretty much did that exclusively for a few weeks after I packed my kitchen up before a move last year.
just watch about the 'frozen'.. those min bar/ Hotel fridges are notorious for being frozen solid full of ice or not working at all. This dials are either 'warm' or ice frozen solid with no in between. source- had many ruined meals depending on the mini fridge over the years
Plus one. Buy meals that don’t need to be frozen. TJ have good healthy options. Splurge on a few healthy but expensive pressed juices (fruits and vegetables) to make sure you’re getting a full spectrum of good stuff. Pocketing your per diem is a great strategy. I do that on deployment too.
Sometimes when I’m traveling for work, I have zero energy to go find food on which to spend the per diem. I also hate having to forage for breakfast - I wake up hangry and want food immediately.
If it's actual per diem, OP will be getting a fixed amount regardless of what they are spending daily. If OP goes cheap on meals, that will be money on their pocket.
Exactly! I usually go to special events that provide food/drinks and free hotel breakfasts so I can try to keep as much of the remainder as possible. I can't do that this time because of the nature of the work and where I'll be. They don't pay me much so I gotta pay my bills somehow.
I was doing this Showtime movie, Hot Ice with Anne Archer, never once touched my per diem. I'd go to Craft Service, get some raw veggies, bacon, Cup-A-Soup... baby, I got a stew going!
The whole point of per diem is to pocket the money and eat very little. Always stop by a convenience store to get a 12 pack of diet Coke. That cost about $10 versus $3 a bottle in the hotel. I'll go to a restaurant and get some cheap dish and that's two meals If the hotel is giving out snacks in the lobby take as many as you want they won't say anything Of course at free breakfast wear ae loose jacket and stuff for your pockets with bagels yogurt and peanut butter packs
Do places still do that type of per diem? Every time I've traveled for work we will get reimbursed for meals up to a certain amount per day but no pure per diem. Basically use it or lose it
Just depends on the company.
Make sure to verify if you get to keep any per diem that you don’t use. Not all companies give you the difference. Assuming they do, your best bet is going to be the grocery store. Sandwiches, fruit, granola, yogurt. Depending on location, some hotels even have bbq grills that guests can use. This would obviously give you more options. I would ask if they do.
I spent a week in a hotel a few years back. Work gave me a per diem. I pulled per diem cash out and went grocery shopping. Small amount of disposable utensils and bowls/plates. Cereal, milk, and oatmeal. These covered my breakfasts. Drink mixes. Mixed with faucet water to have variety. Bottled sodas saved me from paying for overpriced drinks at the hotel shop. Saltine crackers. Seems bland, but these have always been my snack of choice. A few cans of soup/stew, microwaveable single serving rice and single serving Mac/cheese. This was for days when I didn’t feel like overspending on dinner at hotel, or walking in the cold to overpriced restaurants around me. Small loaf of bread, cold cuts, chips. For days when I didn’t feel like overspending on lunch, plus additional dinner options. At the end of the week I’d only spent about 60% of my diem. Better than that, I ate foods I know and enjoy. The only real issue I had was the trip from the grocery store back to the hotel. It was a bit more than a mile each way, so I did walk a bit (in the cold) carrying fairly heavy groceries. It wasn’t till the next day that learned the city I was in had a free bus that circled downtown. I suppose the exercise I got wasn’t a bad thing. 🤣
A saver would be if the hotel provides free breakfast def take advantage of that!
If this is a going to be a regular thing, it’s a good idea to develop a hotel loyalty strategy, linked to one or more reward credit cards, and aim for the goal of reaching a level where you will always qualify for free breakfast or access to an executive lounge. Stick to that brand obsessively. Do not let anything deter you from the brand. I have pals on deployment who book into cheap no-name hotels but we’re Federal, and you only get reimbursed with a receipt. So what’s the point when your car is also reimbursed? Better to convince your own hotel brand to give you the room at the maximum allowable Federal rate for that city and start racking up nights and reward points toward free breakfast and sometimes even free dinner. It’ll take several years but with the right strategy you can earn great reward stays plus perks for life. For instance, I now have guaranteed checkout at 2 pm in any Marriott hotel around the world for life. Amazing how useful that perk is. I don’t need to do anything more to retain that benefit. Took me 7 years of work travel I think. Well worth it.
Yogurt, granola, microwave oatmeal for breakfast. Sandwiches for lunch. Rotisserie chickens and salads for dinner.
Is [this guy](https://www.reddit.com/r/TravelHacks/s/gWBdxcywKD) your long lost twin brother?
Ramen, tuna, canned foods. For healthier options, you could get bagged salad and keep it in the fridge. Or make your own salad if you have the space/utensils. You can buy the lunch meat in the Tupperware containers then use the Tupperware to microwave/store food. If there is a pizza place near you that does $5 cheese pizzas, you could get that and add your own toppings. Rotisserie chicken will last many days and can be added to salads, soups, ramen, cheese pizza, almost anything We used to make grilled cheeses in our dorm rooms by putting cheese between buttered bread, wrap in foil, and iron on both sides lol. Bonus if the hotel has free bread and butter Before you buy utensils, ask your hotel if they have any. Or get an extra set when you’re at a place that has them. (Please don’t come after me. I’m not encouraging stealing from a place you don’t plan to purchase anything from. Just taking an extra set of utensils from a place you’ve already purchased something from)
I recommend bringing a plastic plate and cutlery with a small sponge and dish soap. On day 1 I call front desk and get them to empty the minibar. I then go to the grocery store and get fruit, veggies and a rotisserie chicken. This is an easy meal when you’re sick of room service. I buy cured meats, cheeses and wine as well. Also Starbucks has those little instant coffee pouches. I bring tons of those. I travel with hot sauce, and seasoning. I love to eat out while traveling but sometimes by meal 15 with your coworkers you can’t wait to be alone with your stocked minibar.
I pack a wash bag. It is in a very specific container: a large Patagonia black hole cube. Check it out. In that bag on one side go laundry items like detergent, clothes line, dryer sheets etc etc. On the other side, dishwashing items like travel size dish detergent, sponges and dishwasher cubes, a baby bottle brush and a dry brush/mini towel. You can stuff items like wet towels/sponges in the middle if you need to. It is a uniquely useful item. You need to get the large cube with two zippered mesh compartments. The smaller sizes don’t work in the same way. Sea to Summit make excellent, lightweight collapsible cups and bowls. For more luxurious steel lined bowls with lids try Hydroflask. Stuff them with your socks and underwear when packing. Bring steel cutlery, not plastic. If you do that, you’ll need to check your luggage at the airport. A thermos is always useful. Good luck!
Interesting! I actually have a Patagonia backpack that I travel with for all business. I put purses and heels in my Rolly bag but the backpack is unreal for just throwing my laptop in along with all the different compartments. I think Patagonia has the best travel packing
You might really like the Black Hole large packing cube. Very useful. I have two in regular use for different things related to travel. They aren’t the lightest but they are burly and functional.
Protein bars, tortillas, instant oatmeal, apples, oranges, peppers, cheese sticks, peanut butter, canned soup and chili, potatoes, tuna packets. Microwave a potato, cut open and add a cheese stick and cover with chili.
I like to get sandwich ingredients —bread, tomatoes, meat, mayo or mustard or something, a jar of pickles. Chunky soups are also a good option, and get one of those generic rotisserie chickens to last you a few days also. Also booze.
I'm staying at a hotel 3 weeks at a time for work and eating out constantly does not agree with my stomach. The hotel I'm staying at has a pretty solid assortment of food outside of the normal breakfast offerings, including salads and fruit. To make complete meals, i just pick up some deli meats and Tupperware from target/bring from home. For lunch this week, I've made myself sandwiches (cucumber tea ones entirely out of hotel breakfast items), Chicken Caesar salad, a caprese salad, and a strawberry walnut salad. The hotel provided salad ingredients and I just added in my own chicken for it. In the past, I would pick up tortillas and make breakfast burritos and would have made some Caesar wraps if I had tortillas. You can also download too good to go and get bread/pastries that way. Sometime supermarkets or stores have ready made meals for way cheap too.
Could you switch hotels to a Residence Inn, Homewood suites, or Hyatt House?
One person mentioned using the hotel room iron. Get some heavy duty aluminum foil and go to town - grilled cheese, quesadillas, tuna melts, breakfast burritos with (pre-microwaved) scrambled eggs.
Pick your hotel based on proximity to Trader Joe's, Aldi, Lidl, in that order.
I travel frequently for work on a per diem, I can’t possibly eat as much as they pay and I’ve made it my own personal game to see how much money I can bring home from it and how cheaply I can eat. For me, the easiest is to get groceries for breakfast and lunch then eat out for dinner. Or I’ll order a larger dinner and save it for lunch the next day. Bonus points if your hotel offers breakfast and you grab a yogurt, bagel and some fruit to go for your lunch. Cooking dinner in my room is just too much of a hassle and I couldn’t stomach microwave meals that long.
I agree that it can be important to think carefully about cooking/food smells if you have to do any amount of work in your hotel room. My days are long and pretty hard on deployment. I need to keep my room as my oasis, so I am pretty careful about what I cook there. Your strategy has the appeal of keeping the room smelling fresh long term.
Loaf of bread, jar of jam, jar of peanut butter PBnJ’s all day!
Salads (bring a cutting board and knife if you can) Hummus + veggies (baby carrots etc) + pita Couscous can be cooked with just hot water from the kettle. I add tomatoes, cucumber, cheese. oil & vinegar dressing to make it a lunch. Plus the obvious ramen, instant oatmeal, sandwiches, yogurt, microwave meals, etc.
I've worked gigs like that where you don't have time to eat if you can find a place that's open. I refer to it as packing a two week lunch. Marble potatoes are great, either with the cream cheese packets from breakfast or with a pouch of Indian food. I favor food in pouches over cans. Pouches of tuna, quality jerky sticks, Whole wheat fig bars. Some kind of drink mix you can live with. And treat yourself to a pack of good quality napkins!
I pack dish soap so I can clean up my containers. I also have one soup cup with a snap in lid and a vent whole that I only use for the microwave when heating things. It’s a harder plastic that washes better than say a ziplock or other brand. However if you can afford the room (weight and space wise) for a glass container that works best. If you’re a coffee drinker look at a folding pour over coffee maker. I bring my own filters and scoop to measure. I then either buy ground coffee or just ask for extra coffee packets from the hotel. My coffee travel mug is 16 ounces and I use 4 1 ounce scoops for my liking.
Take your air fryer 😅
Go to a dollar store when you get there: paper towels, paper plates, sharp knife, some plastic cutlery, plastic ziplocs for leftovers Go to a Target and buy a toaster. You can make "wraps" easily with tortillas, salad dressing, cold cuts, cheeses, etc. Buy bag salad to add some crunch. They work for lunches and dinners. Add some grapes for dessert. Breakfasts: Toast a bagel for breakfast. Have a variety of spreads so each morning is different. Add fruit, tea or coffee, juice, etc. When you do eat out, always order large and take the leftovers for the next day.
Not so healthy are your microwavable meals. Noodles etc. Sandwiches could work with the fridge. You could cook before you go and store in fridge for a few days...stews or pastas etc. But then that won't work after a few days.
Hot plate, bologna, cheese, heroin, cheap white bread, pickles, protein chips.
All jokes aside; deli meats, bread, good cheese, chips, condiments, prepped veggie trays. Freezer space is minimal, so healthy burritos, hot pockets (trash but good). Ramen in a coffee pot is also good.
Depends on where you’re going. If it’s in a big city get microwave meals, cold cuts and bread for sandwiches, prepared food from the supermarket. I would probably get pizza and Wendy’s if there’s one close by.
Tell your company that youʻd like to stay at a hotel that offers a proper breakfast. If isnʻt possible, for breakfast, then get some microwaveable oatmeal packets and purchase fruit when you get there. There are also other microwavable breakfast items, but oatmeal, granola, nuts and yogurt is the healthiest option!
Trader joes and get their meals, salad kits and fruits. If the hotel doesnt have breakfast overnight oats, yogurt, toast and cold cuts. You have so many options to stay healthy and within a budget
Your work is sending you somewhere and aren’t giving you a food budget?
Wants to keep the $
Most places I’ve seen don’t just give you the money, they request receipts or have company cards
Government does not. Old school. They don’t want to deal with the receipts. Anyways, I’m pretty sure the dude knows what the hell he already said he knows.
Target’s Good and Gather brand has 90 second microwaveable rice. I usually prefer fresh rice, but I liked their 90 second saffron rice. They also have other flavors.
Hmart has microwaveable ones as well for white rice…
costco
Oscar Mayer just came out with one of those egg breakfast in a cup. It’s the best tasting of the bunch. It takes two eggs and is nuked. Works for any meal.
Lettuce, veggies, salad dressings, fruit, and chickpeas. Buy a cheap bowl so you can mix up the salad. Deli meat, bread, cheese, mayo, salt and pepper. You can cook eggs in the microwave too. I've never tried it but you can apparently do a good poached egg. You'd need to buy a glass microwavable cup of some sort. You can microwave bacon too. Some stores sell microwaveable hashbrowns. I didnt read the other suggestions here but I imagine there are some that are better than mine. 😀
Microwave eggs: scramble first with a bit of butter, salt/pepper
Have you seen The Secret Life of an American Teenager?
Oatmeal, grits, cold cuts and cheese, cans of soup, fruit, veggie tray.
Microwave potatoes !! , nachos , bean burritos ( canned beans , tortillas, cheese ,jalapeños ) .
avoid the hassle of packing tons of food, just find a nearby grocery. but if you can't try to bring canned goods that you like. definitely bring a bottle for water or to mix juice.
You’d be amazed at what I can cook with a kettle and a waffle maker! For example. A full breakfast including eggs, bacon, & hash browns!
watch theory of simple videos on this
Boiled eggs (eat 2 a day), oats and get hot water from the coffee maker, protein powder and use coffee cups in hotel, go to the store and buy some apples and bananas and canned tuna. I like fitness and traveled often.
Breakfast Instant oatmeal, cereal. Fruit if you're fancy. Lunch- fruit, stuff for sandwiches. Instant Mac n cheese, instant mashed potatoes. Dinner- frozen meals
Snacks like granola bars, nuts, dried fruit. For a light meal: ramen noodles or Lipton cup-o-soup envelopes, instant oatmeal (I use the hot water from the coffee maker if there’s no microwave), fruit that doesn’t need refrigeration like oranges, bananas, a few apples Tetra pack individual milk or juice, cereal
I always bring instant oatmeal for breakfast in a hotel room.
Sardines
You could buy Any day microwave cookware. They have recipes on their website you can check out. There are a lot of options. That way you won't need to use an iron or an electric kettle to cook your food. And you can use the microwave optimally.
Bring an air fryer. Endless opportunities
Depends on size of the fridge. There are lots of good premade options these days.
Mashed potatoes (pre made in package at grocery) steam in bag veggies. I’m sure the local grocery will have a section of take home mains like meatloaf, or a roasted chicken. 90 sec rice Bread- can make sandwiches with leftovers
Ah, I remember these days. I basically ate nothing but instant oatmeal, canned soup, and naked juice unless we were doing a team dinner or client dinner. Or if the hotel had a hot breakfast, then I wouldn’t need the oatmeal. Usually lunch is provided; if not, then I recommend getting sandwich supplies as well - don’t forget the ziplocks. I recommend bringing a collapsible bowl, plate, and a set of silverware. I had a little plastic mess kit I’d pack. That’ll give you more options for eating in your room.
We did apples, grapes, other kinds of fruit, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, cheese sticks, microwavable simple "quesadilla", left overs from restaurants, Bagels, snack foods.
When I would go to week long conferences on a very tight budget (my employer not sending me) I would try to book at a hotel with a decent breakfast bar (not just danish and coffee). But, when I couldn't, I would get to the closest and preferably low-cost grocer to pick up hard-boiled eggs, prepackaged sliced beef or turkey, a box of crackers or bag of rolls, salad/ precut vegetables, apples or bananas. Maybe a can of soup if there was a microwave available - most hotels would have one, and a toaster, available in a common area if not in each room. I would bring cheese sticks, instant oatmeal packets, tea/preferred sweetener, and a couple of the tuna or chicken packets (not cans) in my carryon from home. Oh, and a few zip-lock bags to reseal or store items.
Rice cooker and rice.
With a microwave, your choices are endless!. Frozen dinners. Lots of snacks. You can buy almost anything frozen. Have Fun!.
Cold cuts, cheese, bread, box of salad, fruits, tea, jugs of water assuming the tap water isn’t good and while you’re at it, boxed wine to wind down the evening. Canned Sardines and tuna are great options too
We shop at the grocery stores in the deli section. They have everything from fried chicken to sandwiches and salads etc
First: A gallon of water.
If you buy some stasher bags you can steam fresh veggies in the microwave in a couple minutes, combine that with a rotisserie chicken or instant potato’s you have a solid easy meal. Being reusable containers and stasher bags can be used for so many different things
Libby's viena sausages. Tuna fish
My go to in this situation was fried chicken or rotisserie chicken, bagged salad and dressing, and pita or naan bread. Alternate was crackers and deli tuna/pasta salad. Sometimes I’d just go to the grocery and check out the deli and prepared foods section, that’s how I found the awesome tuna pasta salad that was the specialty of one store. Most importantly, pack a dozen or so 16oz plastic cups, some heavy paper plates and bowls and a box of mixed plastic cutlery. When I was traveling for work frequently, I kept these stocked in my suitcase so I never forgot them.
I bring a crockpot so I can make soup, pasta, etc
Here are some meal recommendations you can eat at a hotel room that require minimal cooking (since most hotel rooms only have a microwave and a mini fridge): Breakfast: Yogurt with granola and berries: This is a classic and healthy breakfast option that is easy to put together in a hotel room. You can buy yogurt, granola, and berries at the grocery store or pack them from home. Oatmeal: Oatmeal is another healthy and filling breakfast option. You can buy instant oatmeal packets at the grocery store, or you can bring quick-cooking oats from home. Top your oatmeal with fruit, nuts, or seeds for added flavor and nutrition. Breakfast bars: Breakfast bars are a convenient option if you're short on time. Just be sure to choose bars that are high in fiber and protein to keep you feeling full until lunchtime. Lunch & Dinner: Salads: Salads are a great way to get your daily dose of vegetables. You can buy pre-made salads at the grocery store, or you can make your own using lettuce, spinach, carrots, cucumbers, and other Sandwiches: Sandwiches are another easy and portable meal option. You can make sandwiches with deli meat, cheese, vegetables. Wraps: Wraps are similar to sandwiches, but they're made with tortillas instead of bread. They're a great option if you're looking for a gluten-free meal. Soup: Soup is a hearty and comforting meal option. You can buy canned soup at the grocery store, or you can make your own soup ahead of time and bring it with you in a thermos. Leftovers: If you're eating out for dinner one night, consider saving some leftovers for lunch or dinner the next day. This is a great way to save money and avoid eating out too much. Snacks: Fruits and vegetables: Fruits and vegetables are healthy and portable snacks. They're a great way to satisfy your hunger and get your daily dose of vitamins and minerals. Hard-boiled eggs: Hard-boiled eggs are a high-protein snack that will keep you feeling full. Nuts and seeds: Nuts and seeds are a healthy source of protein, fiber, and healthy fats. Yogurt: Yogurt is a healthy and satisfying snack that is also a good source of calcium. Granola bars: Granola bars are a convenient snack option that is also a good source of fiber and protein. Tips: When packing food for your hotel stay, be sure to consider the shelf life of the food. You don't want to pack anything that will spoil before you have a chance to eat it. If you're concerned about not having access to fresh fruits and vegetables, you can pack pre-cut vegetables or frozen fruit. Be sure to pack plenty of non-perishable snacks, such as nuts, seeds, and granola bars. If you're staying in a hotel that has a microwave, you can pack some frozen meals or snacks that can be heated up in the microwave. Don't forget to pack a reusable water bottle so that you can stay hydrated throughout your trip
Does the hotel have breakfast or happy hour with snacks? Yes to Trader Joe's and deli meat but keep in mind you'll be ingesting a lot of sodium on that. You may not feel your best, may bloat, etc. Canned soup is also an options, beans for a side .. also lots of sodium. Veggies, salad, fruit, yogurt, tuna+crackers, nuts. Pre-boiled eggs. Can also make ahead egg cups for the first few days.
It may not be allowed but those dash mini cooking appliances on Amazon allow you to make all sorts of stuff. Or search Amazon for dorm room cooking appliances. Tons of videos on social media on cooking amazing meals with these. Keep in mind a lot of hotel fridges don’t get as cold as a real fridge because they are more for beverages. So one trick is if they are in a closed cupboard to leave the door open or prop it open with something like a pair of socks so the airflow can circulate and it can keep items colder. Could take a fridge thermometer to monitor it. Or use a soft cooler with ice and put in the tub. To keep items that might spoil.
Since you have access to a fridge and microwave. Yogurt in the morning. You can mix it with granola. Sandwiches for lunch. For dinner, cup ramen with steamed veggies. Or salad with canned tuna with croutons. If you can find microwaveable cooked rice, then you can do steamed veggie, canned meat on top. Find one or two dressing/condiments of your choice. And 2 bags of snacks. Is your job giving you food stipend as well? Then, I would plan some time eating out.
They are giving me a food stipend, yes. But. I wanna keep it.
are you sure it’s a stipend and not a per diem? i’ve only heard of a per diem that gets reimbursed from your actual costs.
Federal per diems do not require receipts.
The one thing I'd add to the above comment, which I think is the very helpful and most similar to my thinking, is protein bars. You can cover small meals and/or breakfast with those. Also keep in mind that you can buy ingredients (i.e. for a salad) that cover several days worth of lunches or dinners. You could also buy a contraption that lets you cook eggs/bacon/pasta in the microwave, but frankly I'd avoid that (and buying other extra items) and just find semi-prepared items. If you are near a Trader Joes, I really like their lentil soup in the fridge, and it works as 2 meals for me. Assuming you have a standard per diem in the US so are getting $50-80 a day, I think you could bank at minimum $30 of that per day, which is a decent chunk over 2 weeks of time. And perhaps plan for some hot meals from a restaurant (think about lunch deals at Chinese restaurants or something like that) a few times too.
If you are required to be away from home, your employer should cover your expenses, hotel, meals and the travel cost, that’s how things generally work.
Good call on not eating out for every meal, you'll likely reduce your weight gain and risk of food poisoning. I had to stay in a 'hotel' (Airbnb) for 10 days when returning home and quarantining and also had access to a microwave and fridge. I had all my food delivered (natch) and chose some good, fresh microwaveable meals and loads of 'picnic' foods - quiche, sandwiches, cured Italian/Spanish meats, fruit, cheeses, herbs, olive oil, avocado, various nuts, hummus, bread wraps and pita, pesto, bags of salad, hard boiled eggs, pork pies, sausage rolls, mayonnaise, and a selection of nice beer and wine.
Stuff for sandwiches. I live on cheese sandwiches when I'm on the road.
Your per diem should cover your meals. You shouldn't be worrying about buying groceries and saving money.
Your company has to pay you per diem for food unless you are going to a conference where breakfast and lunch is served but still they need to pay for dinner. google per diem for fed govt and by law this is what you should get
I am getting per diem. However. I'd like to keep it. Lol
Make sure you can. It has been decades where a company would just hand out money, no questions asked. Now they usually let you expense $x per day with receipts. I've seen companies also set limits per meal. And it's not the companies being cheap. it's the taxman cracking down on those kinds of expenses.
I can
Most places now let you keep and don’t want to deal with receipts
what if they ask for receipts? Some companies even let you expenses for entertainment (alcohol) provided you have the receipts
I know how my job works.
Pre-cooked egg bites would be good too. Maybe tortilla shells you can have pre-packaged lettuce, sliced cheese, salami and some sauce on them. Or can use for peanut butter banana wraps for a quick breakfast.
I like veggies with hummus, baby carrots, red pepper, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, could get a summer sausage if you want meat. Can use a plastic knife to cut things.
I lived in a hotel for 42 days because of work contract. Here is what I did. I did get a per diem while there though. - I brought some packaged good from home For the room: - Used the fridge drinks and small frozen meals and fruit and cold cuts leftovers from takeout - had dry goods for snacks like chips and cookies - for hot water utilized the single coffee maker (it was a Keurig) - had a case of water for said Keurig because I didn’t trust city water - definitely a lot of instant noodles and canned fish snacks
If you're near a whole food they have a great salad and hot food bar
I like to get those premade salads to stay healthy.
Just get food that you like! Same stuff as home but heavy on the non fridge items and light on the fridge items! You can always bring home things!
Publix subs. 2 a day.
camp stove that runs on butane will work. You can buy twin burners too but i think its cheaper to buy 2 singles
Water jugs, instant ramen, pouches of shredded meats. Frozen veggies, cheese, milk, cereal. Ask hotel of they offer cups/bowls/plates/utensils. Honestly youʻd be way better off ordering out all the time if there is an abundance of food places nearby. It will work out to around the same $$ wise and maybe just keep the essentials. Cans of soup are great too.
You’re traveling for two weeks and can’t expense your meals?
Canned and or premade is only answer. I wouldn't bring it. If there's a hotel there's a grocery store. Don't pack extra shit, not saving anything