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Training for Baby: Traveling? Watch for diet pitfalls

I survived my trip home to New Orleans last week and actually didn't gain weight during Mardi Gras. (Shocker!)

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Kathy Hanrahan
By
Kathy Hanrahan
I survived my trip home to New Orleans last week and actually didn’t gain weight during Mardi Gras. (Shocker!)

How did I avoid gaining weight in one of the most decadent cities in the world during carnival?

I followed these principles:

  • Don’t deny yourself. I indulged in some of my favorite foods and drink while back home. I had to eat crawfish (which I can’t find anywhere else) and thin fried catfish.
  • Indulge in moderation. During my trip, I munched on fried catfish, crawfish quesadillas, buttermilk drops (a cake donut thing) and famous New Orleans’ Hurricanes. But I did it all in smaller portions. I had half the quesadilla and only one tiny buttermilk drop. As for the Hurricane, the day I decided to drink that I focused on eating healthier options.
  • Stay active. I did a lot of walking during my trip home, but I didn’t stop my exercise there. My mom and I spent Lundi Gras (the day before Mardi Gras) doing aerobics (Kathy Smith VHS tapes from the 1980s) in her living room.
  • Avoid airport dangers. The New Orleans International Airport offers many diet-busting options. There are beignets, PJ’s coffee and lots of Cajun cuisine. I sought out Subway for a healthy egg white omelet instead of letting my nose lead me to the greasier options. I connected through Fort Lauderdale, where there were few choices for lunch in my terminal - UNO’s pizza, Dunkin Donuts, a few quick stands offering pre-made sandwiches and Pasha’s. I had never heard of Pasha’s, so I decided to look at the menu. It boasted “Healthy Mediterranean Cuisine” and it didn’t disappoint. I had zucchini, grilled chicken and rice. It was filling, which kept me from the lure of Dunkin Donuts!

What are your tips for staying healthy when traveling?

Kathy is a web producer, entertainment expert and concert photographer for WRAL.com. She has written a manuscript about her life as an entertainment reporter and pop culture. Learn more about Kathy on her website. On Wednesdays here on Go Ask Mom, she's chronicling her efforts to lose weight before she and her husband start a family.

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