Help! Going to India - how can I stay on my diet?

I'm leaving for India on Oct 1st and I am worried I won't be able to stick to my diet.  They tell me I'm not supposed to eat green salad or fruits & veggies washed in the water.  I don't know what I will be able to eat because I'm not familar with the foods there.

I need some sugesstions on what I can pack with me to stay on my diet.  I'll be there for 2 weeks on business and I don't want to gain back the 27 lbs i have lost.

Help please!!

there is no way in hell you can gain 27 lbs in 2 weeks unless you eat nonstop all day everyday. Since its only 2 weeks, I think you should worry more about eating foods that wont harm you instead of your diet.

Certainly stay away from raw vegetables, but eat cooked ones if they're hot. I recommend staying away from alcohol, it's an easy way to save calories when you can't count them easily. You'll probably be walking alot, so assume you're getting enough exercise and try to avoid the obvious calorie bombs--large quantities of fried food, alcohol, or sweet-fat combinations (like lassi, unfortunately!!). When I'm away from home I don't worry about counting calories, I just avoid the bombs (no more than one a day, every other day), emphasize fiber, and try to practice eating until I'm just under full. Indian food can be full of great vegetables, but also a lot of carbs and some fat. Eat the vegetable curries whatever the fat content, go low on nan (bread), eat dal (lentils) before rice, limit the number of fried goodies, and relax a little as you walk everywhere. You may come back with a loss, and feel relaxed. I hope you have a good and tasty time!

dysentery!

You can also find water purifier solution and clean your own veggies in the sink-- my folks do this when they're in Mexico.  Just make sure the solution you buy kills the germs you're afraid of!

I spent 3 months in India last year and I lost a -lot- of weight but i was backpacking so i'm not sure what of context you're going under. I never got sick and i ate food off the streets and in the restaurants. Yummy and delicious and 100 times better than indian food here :D and i'm a vegetarian and i was fine

Also the way that indian food is made in Canada/US is much more calorie ridden then Indian Food in India. Same with Thai food in Thailand etc. America 'americanizes' it's imported foreign food and it's much heavier and calorie ladden.

Oy vay...good luck!  I went to India (Gujurat)...fortunately, it was a vegetarian section of India, so no meats or anything, mostly cheese, curdled milk, and veggies, but there is NO control over what is made.  Even in my hosts homes.

What part are you going to?

Also...American Indian food is VASTLY different from traditional indian food.  I asked if they were using curry one night and 4 people at the table looked at me like I had six heads and said "curry?, what's that?".

Also...do NOT forget your deoderant if you are going to a remote part.  You will not be able to get any....if you need other tips, let me know.   

Most indian food is pretty good for you, just stay away from fried things, like fried paneer. The lentil dishes tend to be full of good fiber and protein. Don't worry too much about it, just enjoy yourself!

Oh wow, I envy you. O:

I honestly wouldn't be too worried about it. Just stick to portion control and worry about not getting sick, if you're unfamiliar with Indian foods. Drink all the (good) water you can get. I know I tend to not drink enough water when I travel.

You should also watch the meals they serve in hotels, as they're probably modified to western tastes, but badly. When I was staying in Shanghai this past summer, I got desparate for anything that wasn't Korean or greasy Shanghai food, so we went to a very fancy hotel to eat. Salty greasy nightmare. They think westerners love it that way? Dunno. =/

Use this trip to experience true Indian culture instead. :D

As a non American who travels alot I find it quite amusing that while there are frequently posts on the boards commenting on the fact that American food is so bad for you, how fat Americans are etc etc, there also several posts wondering what to eat when they go overseas because they are afraid of gaining weight. (am I the only one who sees the irony here?)

However the above comment is not intended to belittle the subject.

I don't think I would worry too much about gaining too much. Have fun, and don't get sick. Try the food, worst comes to worst you can always lose the weight again later with a little effort, getting authentic indian food while in India is a little more difficult.

HAve fun.

Jane3001, I am sooo in agreement with you. People need to just relax when they leave the country and have fun. If you lose it once, you can always lose it again!

Thank you all for the feedback.  I'm going to Mumbai (Bombay).  I will try not to worry so much about food and enjoy myself.  I'll be traveling on business, so I'll hit the hotel gym as often as possible.

Thanks again for the suggestions.

As another non-american, I have to agree with jane3001. I would be much more worried about coming to america and gaining weight. Avoid the "westernised" versions of indian food, eat grains other than rice and you might even enjoy it. Vegetarian dishes are going to be less calorific than meat ones - and more varied too if you ask me. Trying different dahls and lentils is a wonderful experience, and most real Indian food is NOTHING like what you get at the local Indian takeaway.

(PS "Curry" was invented by the British)

 

It also isn't true that you can't eat any raw vegetables or fruits when you travel. Peel it, cook it or forget it is the adage. So, if you find yourself in a market and want something that has a 'skin' like a banana, orange, etc., don't worry about it. There probably are some odd fruits and veggies that you don't find a lot in the US. I love visiting markets when I travel. 

And don't forget, ice is water and should really be avoided. I've seen dumb people pour perfectly good bottled water into glasses full of sketchy ice. 

 

Watch the naan, paneer, fried foods and super oily dishes...other than that you will be fine!  I was there for two weeks in march and had the time of my life.  I didn't gain any weight (I don't think...) and ate basically everything.  It was such a great experience, I hate to think that you might go and not try something new because of the calorie content, just have a good time and keep it in moderation!