Day 2, Thursday, was particularly difficult for me. We were told we had to be at the Kennedy badging center at 7:15am, so I left Orlando and boys sleeping at the hotel at 6:45am and left with my dad and Aisha. Now I have attended hundreds of conferences with my father.

Breakfast, or at the very least, coffee is always provided. Not today!!!!!! I asked the coordinator if they would be offering coffee and breakfast (I thought maybe I could have some fruit), but the lady told me the only thing they were offering was water. I panicked. Here I am 4 1/2 months pregnant, starving, and no prospect of food until noon. All there was was a vending machine with sodas and another with Chips. If i were not pregnant i think I would’ve fasted, but pregnant, I had to eat something!!!! So I opted for an oats n honey granola bar from the vending machine. Once inside the facility, these people woke up and realized everyone was expecting at least a cup of coffee so they finally made some available.

Noon– I’m starving again! We are taken to a room where lunch is provided. I didn’t know this but the speakers were asked to pick from some menu choices prior to today for themselves and their guests. There were 15 meal boxes. 3 of them were asian chicken salad, the other 12 were turkey or ham sandwiches with chips. My dad ordered me a turkey sandwich. I was so hungry and I sit in front of my meal box and I have turkey and cheese, lettuce and tomato on a croissant, with cheetos, apple slices and 2 cookies -sugar and chocolate chip. I noticed one little lonely box left at the table and I ask the coordinator about it – she said one of the guests didn’t make it and it was left over. I was excited. It was a salad. I open my box and there is iceberg lettuce with chicken, those crispy chicken noodles, stacys pita chips, apple slices, and 2 cookies. The salad was….well… the reason 13 people opted for sandwiches!!!!! The salad had more lettuce than anything else and it tasted like water. there were a few strips of chicken i spotted a couple of shredded carrots, radish and celery and a ton of those crispy noodles. Yet another meal that was unsatisfying. I ended up eating half of the turkey sandwich and the salad just to fill myself up.

 At the kennedy space center there were no better options and when I finally go to the visitor’s complex with my husband and kids, we were soooooo hot and needed something refreshing. I saw one place sold ice cream and “natural fruit smoothies” I was thrilled!!!! I went and saw they had mango and strawberry and some other flavors. But I had to ask….what was in the smoothies. They told me they buy fruit purees that have sugar added already in order to make the smoothie. I really, really don’t understand why they couldn’t just buy the frozen fruit with no sugar added and add it if someone really wants it!!! At this point, I was done. There is no point in getting a mango smoothie that has all the sugar from the mango plus a ton of sugar on top. I really feel like its no better than having a little ice cream cone and the smoothie is twice the size. So I opted for a soft serve ice cream cone. vanilla and chocolate swirl and I enjoyed it! I was sick of trying to opt for healthier alternatives that are not much healthier!

Dinner- for dinner we chose Applebees. This is a safe place for us. Its a great price and we know from experience their vegetables are cooked deliciously. I was hungry and unsatisfied from a day of yucky food! So I wanted to EAT!!  We ordered a grilled chicken and veggies for boys. I ordered a garlic sirloin steak, with a side of creamed spinach, portabello mushroom, onions and garlic mashed potatoes. My meal was on the 550 calories or less menu. The food was delicious. Orlando also ordered a steak but with a side of broccoli instead of the mash. Funny story, when the waiter arrived with the broccoli, Orly, my 4 year old son, screeched “Broccoli, my favorite, yay!!!” The waiter looked at said, “wow thats’s rare!” We got a huge side of broccoli so the four of us were able to have some. I can’t tell you how nice it felt to eat this meal after all the garbage we’d eaten for the last day and a half. Finally, we made a good choice.

I did make one more sugary exception for the day! My father ordered a triple chocolate lava cake with vanilla. I couldn’t pass up 2 spoonfuls! Hey, we’re on vacation!

Friday is Disney World, sans cooler…oh how will it go?????