PORTABLE EQUIPMENT

Being a chef, a bodybuilder and a parent, I spend the bulk of my time in transit between the gym, the restuarant and school. I try to eat every three hours throughout the day; and to make that all possible I must prepare all my meals at home in sealable containers and bring them with me every day in my travels.

To keep all the food cold I invested in a portable refrigerator for my truck that plugs into the cigarette lighter. This way I can keep chicken breasts, yogurt, salads and sandwiches with me at all times of the day. If your budget doesn't allow for a portable refrigerator (it cost me just $125) then you can find a styrofoam cooler for under $10 or a sturdy ice chest for under $25 at most drug stores or supermarkets. Inexpensive and refreezable ice packs will keep it cold.

Overnight travel, particularly by air - like to contests or modeling assignments - presents the additional challenge of peak conditioning meals "on the fly." We'll talk about how to get the best out of restaurant menus elsewhere. But, when it matters, it's amazing what you can do in a hotel room with a small George Foreman grill and the contents of a little insulated cooler (like the ones designed to keep a six pack of beer cool).

You might also look into those little hand held Braun blenders (for mixing your protein shakes), or even just a plastic shaker cup - low tech, but cheap and workable!