Hi everyone,
I’m traveling to San Diego soon for a conference and staying at a Hilton, and I’m honestly a bit stressed about how I’ll manage food. I weigh only 96 lbs.
I have IBS-D and my triggers are pretty sensitive (especially things like onions, garlic, high-fat foods, and a lot of typical restaurant meals). I usually eat very controlled, simple meals at home, so being in a hotel environment for a few days feels tricky.
A few constraints:
- I won’t have a full kitchen (not sure yet if I’ll have a microwave/fridge)
- Conference schedule will be tight, so I can’t cook much even if I had access
- Eating out randomly is risky for me
- I also get issues with new/unfamiliar foods pretty quickly
What I’m trying to figure out:
- What foods do you typically rely on when staying in hotels?
- Do you carry your own food? If yes, what travels well?
- Any tips for ordering “safe” meals at restaurants without triggering symptoms?
- Are grocery store runs + simple prep realistic during conferences?
- Any specific strategies that have worked for you in similar situations?
If you’ve attended conferences or traveled with IBS-D, I’d really appreciate hearing what worked (or didn’t). I just want to get through the trip without flare-ups.
Thanks in advance 🙏