Travel and food
When traveling, food can be problematic when you follow a plan. My plan is gluten free plus predominantly low-carb and keto. I am also on a budget which doesn't play well on the strip in Vegas. What's a frugalista to do?
Start with a plan and a budget. What type of choices do you make when you eat out? What is your beverage of choice? What alternatives are good enough? I happen to fast for 24 hours once or twice a week, so could I work one or two of those into my days? This is unlikely since I have a travel companion, but I can make choices that are better for my meals.
For myself, breakfast/lunch is a good meal to eat out. That is a less expensive meal. It can be fairly protein heavy with eggs and breakfasts meats. Or my favorite unwhich, usually a burger without a bun. Water or coffee to drink, as long as there are refills on the coffee. Soy and milk are no go's in my coffee, so I need to take care with where I get my caffeine wake up call.
Other food. I have a friend, Michele, of gfreeabilenetx on instagram, who packs her gluten free food. She carries a sensor that tests all her food. She gets extremely ill and cannot eat gluten for any reason. It is very reasonable when it is your health to bring your food on your vacations. Forget the naysayers, or those who look at you all askance. Your health and well being is worth the time and trouble to eat well and enjoy your travel.
Grocery shopping while traveling can be challenging but it is well worth it. Find the nearest store that has groceries. Or take a Lyft or bus or other transportation to your preferred store. We walked to a nearby Target, and bought what we could carry. Our frugal choices include sandwiches (unwhich for me), soda, some snack type foods, including nuts. Along with one meal out this will do well
Specific ideas:
Burrito bowl. Mine this am was a breakfast burrito bowl. YUM
Burger unwhich. Gluten free bun or lettuce wrap if needed
Taco's. There are both breakfast tacos and other tacos at the nearby taco place.
The coffee shop in the lobby has sandwhiches, could remove the buns, but I preferr to go further afield and find other choices.
A few places nearby sell pizza by the slice, not on my diet but a frugal choice.
Unwhiches. Lunch meat, cheese, condiments if your room has a fridge or you are road-tripping with a cooler
If you have access to a microwave, you can have just about anything your heart desires, follow a simple menu, or get a days' worth of frozen meals at a time to make life easier.
Salads. Either get a pre-done one, or buy the ingredients of your choice and put it together. Perfect. Learn a few simple salad dressing recipes, you can pack a premade spice packet in your luggage and just add mayo and possibly mustard, ketchup or pickle packets. Speaking of which, if you are driving and not flying, you can get your groceries pre-trip, making for an even better meal experience.
Snacks: Nuts, cheese sticks, pepperoni, summer sausage. I don't do snacks, but these are meals for me.