Thank goodness someone brought up this issue. Food is always important.
As a faily strict vegetarian (yes, eggs and milk and cheese products, no fish chicken or beef, etc), I had some major problems with the food choice. We have a few students on our team if I recall correctly that have religious food limitations, which makes most meats and especially pork or beef for some a problem. However, there are a few big things that are fairly easy to do...
1) If you have frequented a regional for a significant amount of time, you probably know where the local stuff is. If you havne't gone there yet, do your research! Many regionals are close to a campus, which means a fairly convenient food supply may be within 10/15 minutes walk. This isn't just mentors, students, if you have a specific food preference, remember that your team is responsible for you and generally can't let you go wandering. I know the rule on 461 is that you must have a mentor with you if you are leaving the competition premises to go eat and whatnot. I recommend
Google for your searching.
2) Look for places that have lots of options. Cafeterias are great because they're geared towards large numbers of people anyway. If you know you'll have dinner at a certain time before you go to your hotel, check to make sure that there is food nearby that your entire team can go to.
3) Ian W. is a genius. I have never brought an entire sandwich with me to carry around, but that is a good idea. Know what you're eating, because some food won't give you much energy to run around and jump up and down with. You use a huge amount of energy at competitions, and your body really isn't invincible. Water water water, and food food food are important aspects.
4) Think realistically above all things. Nats took place in a Stadium. The concession is geared towards stadium style dining. What are you expecting at a football/basketball game, etc? Fans have different needs than robotics geeks do, but the concession staff cannot regear their entire menu for us for just a weekend. If they do, they're virtually amazing. More than likely, the regional committe (a good resource) can give you lots of helpful recommendations about food.
Good luck! And happy eating!
- Genia