Road food can be scary.
Opossum, McDonald’s, gas station dinners…
If you do frequent gas stations for dinner on the road, you might be excited by this news… Lay’s is testing some new flavors: Chicken & Waffles, Cheesy Garlic Bread, and Sriracha.
Apparently you’ll be able to find all 3 flavors in the next week or so. Lay’s is then offering customers a chance to vote for their favorite in May. The flavor with the most votes stays, the other 2 are voted off the island discontinued.
I don’t even need to taste them. I vote for Sriracha. It could be Strange But Good… or it could be nasty.
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I assure you, I avoided Lay’s on my business trip. Remember last WIAW when I was packing all my food to-go? This week we left earlier, so you get to see all that food in action. I’ve been whipping out my prepared meals (and iPhone camera) with pride! Ohio doesn’t know what to think of me.
Check out this post for a super-detailed explanation and tips for traveling with healthy foods!
Check out my 7 meals below, and then click here to head over to Jenn @ Peas and Crayons to get to see how others dined this week!
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Meal 1:
My hotel stay hasn’t stopped me from my morning cocktail. I have had to change the mix a bit – liquids are the one thing I can’t pack with me, so rather than using apple cider vinegar in the mix I asked the hotel to give me a lemon to add. I juiced half the lemon to mix with my water, Glutamine, and Fitmixer Aminos in a recycled Fiji bottle.
One gripe: the hotel actually CHARGED me for the lemon. Thank you, Cambria Suites.
I’ve been rocking my Caffeinated Protein Oatmeal. The hotel has been giving me cinnamon to add, which I love. I also grab a side of fruit – today was pineapple and honeydew.
This morning’s oats consisted of :
- Oatmeal (pre-made at the continental breakfast bar)
- Vanilla protein powder
- Cinnamon
- Coffee
- Bacon (just a little crumbled on top. 🙂 )
Meal 2:
I am loving my no-salt turkey deli meat. It’s a great option to pack up and take anywhere. It’s also not too heavy, making it a tasty snack at 10:30am. Enjoyed with pumpkin seeds and an apple. There was also a lot of coffee and water involved.
Meal 3:
Lunch was two parts. Our client was having a Fat Tuesday lunch and invited us to join the potluck. I took small bites of the best stuff… including a littttttle bit crock pot lava cake (OMG it was fabulous). Added to my plate was a turkey burger I brought from home.
Then I hit the cafeteria salad bar:
Meal 4:
I have really been loving the Balsamic Grilled Chicken from Trader Joe’s. It only has 65g of sodium and it isn’t dry in the least. I cut it into strips for easy-eating in conference rooms. Eaten with carrot sticks, also pre-cut and brought from home.
There was a mid-afternoon sweet tooth satisfier: Extra’s Lemon Square dessert gum. I’m so glad I finally found this flavor. It’s 2nd only to the Apple Pie!
Meal 5:
My co-worker and I hit the gym before dinner last night. This was a treat because we’ve been going after… not ideal to lift on a full tummy.
The downside was that we were starving by the time we finished and settled for dinner in the hotel. We both ordered the salmon over green chili grits and a side of steamed spinach and mushrooms. It wasn’t bad… but quite salty!
Meal 6:
I was actually hungry but not for this. I miss eggs. The powdered eggs on the breakfast bar don’t cut it. Whatever. I ate a turkey burger and pretended it was topped with a runny egg. The zucchini and cauliflower with it were really good. Cauliflower is a new road-snack for me. It holds up well!
Here’s what to do when you don’t have a plate: cut up the burger and microwave it in a hotel glass. Then stack your veggies on top so you can get it all in one picture.
Meal 7:
Another yogurt creation! I looked forward to My Strawberry-Cinnamon Fro-Yo all day.
This was a single serving plain Greek yogurt and mixed with mashed strawberries, cinnamon, ginger, vanilla extract, and a couple of stevia drops. Then I froze it at home to take with me, and then turned the hotel fridge to the max to keep it pretty frozen here. Two days later, this was the perfect texture – half-frozen like fro-yo!
***
The protein count for the day: 163.1g. One more day and I’m hoooooome!
Which Lay’s flavor would you try? Any?
Have you tried the Dessert gum yet? I resisted at first, but have declared it Strange But Good.
GiGi Eats Celebrities says
OMG! I need to try the LEMON GUM! I am a SLAVE to their Mint Chocolate Chip and I don’t think ANY OTHER flavor even compares, but… I am always up for trying their other flavors! Seriously EXTRA is GENIUS for coming up with this gum 😉
And WHATT!! Coffee oatmeal!!! How creative and AMAAZINGGGGG! 😉 AMAZING! Your oatmeal is JACKED!!
Laura says
Haha – I try to make everything in my life jacked. 😉
Michelle @ Eat Move Balance says
Love your ideas: microwaving the turkey burger in a glass, and topping it from there. lol. Perfect.
The dessert gum is a little weird (and the chocolate mint was still weird when I tried it), but the orange creamsicle went from weird to good when I gave it a chance! 🙂
Laura says
Have you tried the Apple Pie? It is my #1!
Michelle @ Eat Move Balance says
No! I’ll have to look for it! Also, I was told my post today was “strange but good” worthy! I figured you might be proud. 🙂
Laura says
OMG – you have to link that up! And make it for me for dinner. 😉
Fran@BCDC says
I’ve said it before, but you are the Queen of travel eats, Laura! Oh, Lordy…there’s a lemon square gum from Extra?!?!? I haven’t seen that yet…guess what I’ll be looking for today? Have a great day, my dear!
Laura says
Thank you, Fran! I found my gum at Target. 🙂
Tiff @ Love Sweat and Beers says
Not a gum fan here, so can’t say I’ve had any. I would love some crock pot lava cake though. 😉
The salmon looks great. Sorry it was too salty.
Laura says
I was really glad the cake wasn’t where we were working. My self-control would have been shot to hell.
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets says
Maybe you can make your famous potato chip cookies out of the Sriracha flavor. They might be strange but good.
I’m amazed by the sheer number of McDonad’s in the U.S. (not just Ohio); it’s absolutely ridiculous and gets me all worked up. Check out this post if you ever get some free time (what’s that?!): http://blackgirlsguidetoweightloss.com/fast-food/photo-if-you-wanted-to-escape-mcdonalds-where-would-you-have-to-hide/.
There’s literally a McDonald’s every hundred miles, except in the desert when they are one hundred and ten miles apart. Grumble, grumble.
Glad you’re still able to get some healthy eats in Ohio and get a good workout in. You can do it, put your back into it.
Laura says
Ok.. THAT is brilliant. Now Iwill have to buy them if I see them. 😉
I’ve seen that map! It’s posted somewhere on my blog… found! https://www.sprint2thetable.com/2011/09/obesity-outbreak/
Meg says
I definitely think the Sriracha will win! In fact, I think it will fly off the shelves. I have tried the dessert gum, but only strawberry shortcake and hated it 🙁 blah
Laura says
I don’t like strawberry or orange… you have to try Apple Pie!
Jessie says
I can’t believe they charged you for the lemon.. please tell me they gave you the cinnamon for free??!!
&& um, those Lay’s sound awesome I’m not quite sure I’d be able to resist the temptation if I came across a bag.
Laura says
Cinnamon was free. The breakfast lady was much nicer/
Khushboo says
Chicken & waffles flavoured chips sounds strange but also very delicious!
lindsay says
not gonna lie, i’d totally try those chips. but don’t think i’d ever buy them. Curiosity kills the cat, yes?
Laura says
I know! I’m both grossed out and intrigued by the chicken and waffles.
Aparna B. says
Sriracha potato chips?! Damn. That sounds delicious. Whenever my mom would make us a bowl of potato chips or popcorn or whatever before watching movies together, she adds a touch of salt, and red chili powder. I dunno – it was amazing 🙂 Road food can be scary! When I traveled all the time with my last job it was so hard to eat more healthy, but I was always thankful for fridges and microwaves in my hotel room. I always bought groceries to last me the two weeks I would be there!
Laura says
Chili powder and salt is sooooo good on fries too!
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
Sriracha would have my pick! I love that you eat from hotel glasses! Me too! I thought I was the only one. You know, I never really LOVED whole eggs, I’m more of a whites gal, but for the past couple of years since I’ve focused on natural sources for B12, I started forcing myself to have the runny yolks (my preferred way of eating egg yolk). Now, I crave it too! Best salad dressing EVER!
Lee says
Sriracha sounds the best to me, though cheesy garlic bread doesn’t sound bad. But chicken and waffles? Eww.
Laura says
I know! Oddly, I want to taste it…
Danielle says
Love that gum! The mint chip is actually a favorite of mine! I am impressed with your travel meals! Truly inspiring!
Laura says
Thank you so much! I need some new ideas though…
Heather (Where's the Beach) says
I don’t care for that gum. It doesn’t last more than 2 seconds and just has an icky texture and flavor to me.
Sam @ Better With Sprinkles says
Not going to lie, I’d probably try all of them if given the opportunity. I think I’d go for the sriracha over the others though.
Laura says
I probably would too. Curiousity gets me every time.
Brittany @ GOtheXtraMile says
That flavor of Lay’s just does NOT appeal to me haha. I’ll pass! I’ve never tried siracha so I can’t say if I would try that flavor either! You do a really great job of eating good while traveling!
Laura says
Never tried sriracha?! How??? I’m going to mail you some.
Kierston says
Dessert gum is my fave…especially during competition season 😉
Lemon one is hard to find here!
Laura says
Do you guys have Target? That’s where I got it.
Alaine says
Sriracha would definitely be my choice too. The waffles one does not sound appealing at all though ah!
Laura says
It’s a Southern delicacy! 😉
Alex @ therunwithin says
is it bad I really want to try those chips? I love finding weird flavors of stuff.
Laura says
I hope not… because I’m curious too!
Calee (@chimes) — life + running says
shut the front door — chicken and waffles potato chips? g-ross.
Calee (@chimes) — life + running says
PS This reminded me of the time I went on a work trip several years ago (before I calorie counted and when I just ate what I wanted when I was hungry, but watched empty calorie foods like fries, big bowls of white pasta, etc). My coworkers actually made me sit down and forced me to eat with them because they thought I had an eating disorder (though I ate ALL the time at work — just at weird times because I ate when I was hungry). They made me eat a burger and fries.
After that I basically DID have an eating disorder. Thanks, guys.
Laura says
I hate when co-workers get personal. They need to MYOB!
Nicole @ Fruit 'N' Fitness says
Chicken and waffle potato chips and lemon pie gun. They both sound really interesting.
Heather @ Better With Veggies says
I want sriracha lays – I hope that’s the flavor that wins!!
Laura says
Me too!!
Cassie @ RedLetterDaye says
Definitely chicken and waffles! And I’m not even a big chip fan. Those gums are so good, but too good, because I literally have to stop myself from swallowing them. Like Bubblicious, they just make you salivate like a dog. What a pretty mental image. 😉
Amanda @ .running with spoons. says
Hey now… McD’s isn’t THAT scary. To this day I still maintain that they have some of the best tasting fast food fries around 😀 Gas stations are another story though…
Laura says
Ok, ok… you are right about the fries. 😉
Carol @ Lucky Zucca says
I haven’t tried the dessert gum yet but I feel like I’m going to have to! Looks so yummy!
Laura says
I have 4 kinds right now… I should make you a variety pack. LOL!
Carol @ Lucky Zucca says
PS every single one of those lays flavors sounds so gross to me… I think its because I kinda hate potato chips. I only like the baked ones.
Lift, Sleep, Eat says
Mmm all looks delicious!
Those Lays flavours sound strange! Especially chicken + waffles! We had a chicken tikka masala flavour in the UK though..so who am i to talk haah?!
Annoying that the hotel charged you for lemon too! That would have irritated me as well :/
Laura says
I would be all over the tikka masala!!!
MassachusEATS says
I’m such a sucker for new flavored chips – will definitely be keeping an eye out for those. Especially the Sriracha! Those sound like AMAZINGNESS! 🙂
Laura says
Let me know if you find them!!
Sierra @ Posh Meets Pavement says
I found that gum at Target a couple weeks ago and LOVED it. Mint Choc Chip is my #1, but this is def my #2! I get a really bloated stomach from gum, but I occasionally allow myself 1 stick if I am hankering for a sweet treat. Dessert Gum deserves a round of applause.
Charged for Lemon? Super lame.
Laura says
A coupld people mentioned bloat. I haven’t noticed it… will have to pay close attention next time.
Jody - Fit at 55 says
I LOVE how you stick to your plan on the road OR even at home while with co-workers!!!! When I was in Corporate work, people were afraid to eat their own stuff at meetings or even out asking for a specific type of meal. Me – it is my life so I will eat for me.. if they wanted to rate me lower cause I would not conform to their eats, so be it! 😉
You mean they dud not charge you for the cinnamon!!!!! 😉
No gum for me – the sugar alcohols bloat me like no tomorrow! ;O
PS: I saw Nutzzo on sale at my local Whole Foods yesterday! Plus Lindsay at CotterCrunch has a 50% off coupon code for the original flavor.
Laura says
I totally agree – no need to be afraid. I eat what I want, when I want. 😉
Eating 4 Balance says
Yay for Ohio! You picked a good day to come. The weather has been pretty warm the last few days, albeit windy.
I don’t eat chips, but those flavors sound interesting. And also likely to fail just like some ketchup hamburger variety I saw awhile back.
I would agree that Ohio probably wants to spit you back out with all of your healthy eats and meal planning genius 🙂 I hope at least it’s been a fun experience and you’ve done some sight-seeing? I’m not entirely sure what there is to see… But I bet there has to be something. Nothing comes to mind right now though 😀
Laura says
This week actually worked out well – it was pouring in ATL and I missed it. 🙂
No time for sighseeing, but we did find a really good sushi place.
Lisa says
Ick, powdered eggs?! That is sickly haha, I can understand how that wouldn’t cut it;)
I’ve still never seen those gum packages! I’m intrigued by those little guys.
I’m super impressed with your hotel/road eats.
Got to say, neither of those chips flavors appeal to me, I’m much more of a chocolate lover than chips!
Laura says
Really? Check out Target – that’s where I get it. And sometimes Publix.
Laura @ Mommy Run Fast says
You are an extremely resourceful traveler, I’m always impressed. The cauliflower in the glass is awesome. 🙂 So nice to have a roomy who also like the gym and salmon!
Laura says
Thanks! My co-workers are great. 🙂
Allison @ Life's a Bowl says
Erk, I cannot stand when places charge you for things like a lemon or hot WATER… Again, your travel eats are quite awesome looking and those chips, holy heck, I’d vote Sriracha too [although, I’ve never even tried it yet, I love spicy]!
Laura says
If they charded for hot water I would have hit the roof!
Allie says
Haha, I LOVE your glass-o’-dinner. Why not, right? Can we have a strange-but-good CONTAINER edition? Because I put my food in/on the weirdest stuff sometimes too.Gotta make do, right?
(And yes, I’d totally go for sriracha-chips too.)
Laura says
Ha! I eat out of contrainer all the time. It never stuck me that it’s strange. 😉
Haley @ fullnfit says
all i have to say is that i laughed out loud when i saw your burger & veggies stuffed in the glass “so you can get it all in one picture.” 🙂
Dawn says
I’m having a really hard time getting past the idea of chicken and waffle chips….OMG!
Anyways, the lemon square extra gum is my favorite!!!!
Nadiya says
Good job keeping up with all your protein intake while travelling. I must admit whenever my life gets busy, lots of carbs enter in. I just find it faster to cook (like couscous or sandwiches) or maybe I just don’t know how to cook proteins properly -.-
Those Lays flavours sound quite interesting. I’ll give them a try if I see them in Canada 🙂
Laura says
It’s all about planning and prep. If I have it all done at the beginning of the week I don’t need to fall back on carbs as often. Once you get in the habit it’s really not bad!
Heather @ girlyeverafter says
I keep meaning to get the dessert gum but always grab a mint flavor which I regret after since it’s so boring. haha I’m with you on the chips. I won’t buy them when they come out, but I have to say the chicken and waffles does intrigue me.
Laura says
I think we need an ATL blogger tasting party…
Sarah @ The Smart Kitchen says
YES! I didn’t even know that lemon gum existed until this weekend, and I love it. Apple Pie is still the best…and I do love the Strawberry Shortcake…
Again, I reiterate, we need to travel together. I still have 15 packs of single-serve Smuckers PB in my possession because I smuggled and hoarded them just in case I ended up stranded…somewhere?
Laura says
Yes! Those little packets are the best. I just stole more from the hotel breakfast bar. 😉
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More says
How much does one charge for lemon? You may as well just pack some lemons next time if charging for lemon is a new “thing”….
Laura says
I didn’t ask… was too annoyed. I just charged it to the room.
Hannah says
People used to laugh at me because I had a jar of cinnamon in my car back in Canberra. REPRESENT.
Laura says
In your car?! Love it.
Court Star @ StarSystemz says
Traveling this last month I learned how to cook oatmeal in a coffee mug, smash up chicken in a mug with vegetables + heat and order the kids portion of steamed vegetables so I am not charged 10.00 for a handful of vegetables. Crazy, but it all works! I can’t believe they charged you for a lemon..WOW..hotels sure know how to nickel + dime you! The strawberry cinnamon fro-yo sounds beyond amazing! I wish my stomach could handle greek yogurt, I would love to try it! Love + Shine CourtStar
Laura says
I love how creative you have to get on the road. 🙂
Can you eat cottage cheese? You could do the same thing with it. Or even just protein powder!
CCU says
Wow that Lays flavour is actually the most interesting one I have ever seen 😀
I love your travelling style!
Cheers
CCU
Laura says
Thanks, friend! 🙂
Sue says
I’d love to try the Sriracha chips. I wonder how spicy they really are. My husband would probably like them, too, he’s addicted to spicy foods. Too bad those chips are not sold around here. Wait, considering my habit of inhaling the whole bag in less than one minute, it’s probably better this way.
Laura says
I think I’ll have to try the sriracha flavor if I see it!
Rachel @ My Naturally Frugal Family says
I wouldn’t eat the chips…but sriracha would definitely get my vote!
janet @ the taste space says
Yeah! Way to go on keeping up tasty protein-filled eats while travelling. 🙂
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables says
Those chips make me a bit queasy….. You are a pro at eating well while traveling! I could dive into your salmon right now!
Jed Gray (sportsglutton) says
I’d vote for sriracha as well. I love me some chicken and waffles, but in chip form just sounds too weird.
Heather @ Kiss My Broccoli says
Seriously, did they charge you for the cinnamon too?! “I’m sorry ma’am, but that will be a quarter a teaspoon please.” Bahaha!
I may or may not have seen a variety pack of the new Lay’s chips for only $2 at Walmart the other day. I may or may not have brought them home. I may or may not be a bit scared to try them! 😉
PS, BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACONNNNNNNNNNNNNN!
Laura says
There’s a variety pack?! YOU MUST REPORT BACK!!! Also, you may have just convinced me to brave Wally World. Ain’t skeerd.