[JaneYoung]

When we've traveled to Atlanta, we've scouted out the area on-line in advance and/or by calling the hotel to ask - and figured out where the grocery stores, etc., are. In recent years, we've had a bus and have been lucky to have one or two chaperones with a car for running errands. One of the first nights that we are there, we take the team to the grocery store and let them stock up on their snacks and drinks, individually. We stock up on water, lunches, snacks that the Parent Association supplies for the team. We have coolers that fit under the bus and a small folding table and at the event the bus has been able to park close enough for the team to walk out to it for lunches.

We have also spent time (which a lot of teams don't have when they find out they are going) shopping around for hotels that provide a good breakfast that is included. Like you, we are team that eats healthy as much as we can and we've actually had great experiences with the students wanting to go that route so they can tolerate the demands placed on them by the competition.

Have an awesome time!
Jane

P.S. If you are unsure or don't have a way to shop in ATL and can bring some portable breakfast bars with you - go that route. It is important for the students to know that the trip can be expensive and to plan for that, if it has to come out of their pockets. The Parents Association and some traveling adults have also learned to bring extra to make up for shortages that occur and (if it isn't considered a donation on an individual's part) then the receipts are kept and the amount of needed reimbursement given to the responsible adult upon the return home.