My husband & I just returned from a 3-day vacation that we went on with 3 other couples, very good friends of ours. We rented bungalos with B&B, and would be eating first day lunch in a coffee shop, and BBQ for first day dinner. Second day dinner would be in a very fancy restaurant. The rest of the meals would be on-the-go affairs as we traveled around.

So I took the above and worked out how I would get my proteins and browns for each meal. I brought with me whole rye bread, yam cakes (that's what I made the yam cakes for ) and almonds & pecans.

The breakfasts were large, and I was able to take proteins from that and make on-the-go snacks with the browns I had brought. We hiked/sat out in nature, and while the others munched on cakes and bread-and-jam from breakfast, I had my "steady staples" to keep me on even keel. When needed, I ate nuts to stack proteins.

At the fancy restaurant my husband couldn't believe his sugar-addict wife flatly refused the dozens of styled-for-an-art-museum desserts. I simply cannot describe the masterpieces that sat on that buffet table. I really appreciated the expertise that had gone into their preparation, but aside from the culinary talent they reflected, they did not interest me. I felt totally steady and serene.

We returned several hours ago. I had a program-friendly supper, and am sipping on my red tea.

Here and there on the trip it was not possible to do things "right" one hundred percent. For example, some snacks were just browns, with no protein available. But all in all, the pre-planning really served me well. I have returned home happy and steady.

Just want to say Thank You to Kathleen and to all you wonderful people out there who have helped me understand how to emerge steady from different situations like stressful workdays as well as holiday vacations.

Sarit