Snacks for the World Series of Poker

As I do every year, I'm about to depart on a week-and-a-half trip to Vegas to play in World Series of Poker tournaments. I'm trying to figure out what I can use for snacks while I'm playing.

The basic situation is this: tournaments typically have two-hour rounds followed by a 20-minute break, repeat until the tournament is over. Some events have dinner breaks after three rounds or so, but not all of them. I know from experience that I need to eat something at every tournament break, or my blood sugar will drop and I'll start playing badly. (This is bad. And expensive.)

There is a food court near the tournament room, but most of the things that are available are large-meal-sized portions rather than snack-sized ones, and they're priced accordingly. There are also muffins and donuts and the like, of course, as well as lots of other junk food. I believe they have bananas and other fruits for sale, but at fairly exorbitant prices like $2.50 for a single banana.

My personal dietary constraints are that I eat real food rather than food products, so things like snack bars are out. I don't have a refrigerator in my hotel room, and it's not really feasible to carry a cooler for snacks. It's eleventy billion degrees out, so leaving anything in the car is impossible. My hotel is a few miles from the tournament, so going back to my room isn't an option.

Last year I didn't really find anything that worked very well. Sometimes I bought larger items and only ate part, spent too much for fruit, and ate junk food occasionally. Half a muffin at a tournament break, and the other half at the next one, for example.

This year, I'm trying to be smarter. I've mixed up some trail mix (cashews, hazelnuts, almonds, dried cranberries), but I don't like nuts all that much so it's not my first choice. I have single-serving organic apple sauce (ingredients: organic apples, ascorbic acid), and I could toss one of those in my purse along with a spoon I guess. Hard cheeses can keep at room temperature, so they might be an option.

Anyone have other ideas?

Snap peas, carrots, cherry tomatoes, peanut butter/celery, berries, apples... All won't spoil for 8 hrs. Then I would get a small insulated lunch sack, add a bottle of frozen water, and store turkey or tuna in there--small enough to stow in a purse. Finally, I would bring a large water bottle and a Baggie of fresh lemon or duke slices to flavor the water. Good luck at WSOP!!!!

Bring a cooler with what works for you.

Sadly, it's not really feasible to carry a cooler (even a small one) for snacks.

Luckily, there are cocktail waiters and waitresses who will bring me as many bottles of water as I could possibly want.

If you were a high roller with 11 billion dollars would the wait staff get you good healthy food? Pretend you are, and just ask for it! lol And if not, good luck. Try to walk between the raindrops and eat what is best out of what is provided.

Make sandwiches using fresh ingredients and a bit of meat (for protein) and pack them in vacuum sealed boxes. They will last longer. Chopped fruit in Tupperware or another similar container will also work if the place you are at is air conditioned. The fruit and any sandwich stays fresh for 6-8 hrs and you can keep these in vacuum sealed lunch boxes and keep them in your handbag.

You can also make omelets with lots of vegetables and whole wheat toast. Chop them into snack sizes and eat in breaks. Really can't think of more ideas. *grins*

Too bad you dont like nuts all that much, bc walnuts are a good source of omega 3's- which is brain fuel. Also, the protein in them will keep your blood sugar stable.

Yeah, it's true. There are certain nuts that I can sort of suck it up for, but I'm not a big fan. I despise peanuts with the fire of a thousand white hot suns, and there are others that I try to avoid at all costs.

I think maybe I'll try adding more dried fruit or maybe some chocolate to the trail mix. Maybe I'll like it more that way.

I think I've got a plan.

I added dried tart cherries and 72% bittersweet chocolate wafers to the trail mix, and now I don't hate it. I still don't love it, but that's OK. The mix is equal measures of:

- Toasted unsalted almonds
- Toasted unsalted hazelnuts
- Toasted (I think) unsalted cashews
- Dried cranberries
- Dried tart cherries
- Bittersweet chocolate wafers

While I was shopping, I smacked myself in the head. "Dried fruit!" It's compact, real, nutritious, and stores/transports well. I bought dried strawberries, peaches, and apricots.

I also bought a couple of hard cheeses. They need to be kept moderately cool, but don't require refrigeration. If they work for tournaments that's great, but if not I'll use them for snacks at my hotel.

Beware that cheese has a chemical effect on the brain similar to that of turkey, where it could make you sleepy. Wouldnt want you nodding off during your tournament. I think the trail mix is a brilliant idea. Good luck!!!

What are your thoughts on something like beef jerky?

I have a weird bias against jerky, but only during the WSOP. Jack Links is one of the major sponsors of the event, and it takes me about 37 seconds until I'm annoyed at the very thought of it. OK, I'm half joking.

Jerky would probably be a good idea if I had easy access to good-quality stuff. I'm not so keen on the mass-produced crap that's made of feedlot cattle. If you have a good source of quality grass-fed beef jerky, I'd love a pointer.

I know of a few, but they are hard to find. My hubby and I stock up when we are in Sturgis, SD. They have a huge selection there. One I have been getting lately is Arizona Jack's Original Beef Jerky because it has 2g or less of carbs and fat. http://www.azjacks.com.

Hoser, you may want to check out Primal Pacs. Grass fed & finished jerky, unprocessed and all... I haven't tried them yet, bet they are highly endorsed by the Paleo/Primal community.