This past weekend I took an airplane trip to visit a girlfriend and was once again reminded of how difficult it can be to eat healthy while traveling. I am not a nutrition expert, but I do feel qualified to share some tips on how to navigate airports in the pursuit of healthy eating. Chances are you won’t be able to find organic food in airports; however, you can still keep those excess fats and sugars to a minimum. Here are a few ideas to keep you eating in life-affirming ways while flying in the “friendly skies:”
1. Pack snacks from home or from your final destination before you head back home. Apples, health bars, dried fruit, nuts, and seeds all travel well and give you the boost you’ll need while traveling (you can usually take these through security since they are not liquid). To supplement what you bring along, Hudson Books–located in most U.S. airports–has a great assortment of packaged seed-nut-dried fruit mixtures for purchase.
2. Bring along your own water bottle and “thermos” for coffee or tea–preferably in stainless steel. Be sure your containers are empty as you pass through security. Once you’re in the “secure zone,” you can fill your water bottle at a water fountain or have it filled at one of the coffee shops or restaurants. Coffee shops are also happy to fill your thermos with either coffee or hot water for tea. Additionally, I bring along my own tea bags to ensure that my tea is organic. By bringing along your own stainless steel containers, you’re helping yourself and our planet.
3. Look for soups and salads in the airport. As tempting as those bags of chips, cookies, or pretzels may be, it’s much better to look for a soup or salad to enjoy while waiting for your flight. Many flights sell food; however, there is no guarantee that they will have what you want or that there will be enough food on board for all passengers. Unless your flight will be providing you with a meal, it’s best to eat while you’re waiting or bring food with you on your flight.
4. Find a restaurant where you can be seated and served rather than opting for a counter-style restaurant. Usually, these full-menu, full-service restaurants will offer the most and best options for a healthy meal. Because they are serving customers who are waiting to catch flights, their service is usually very efficient. If you have a short amount of time available, check with the host initially to see how long it might take to get your food. As an alternative, you can order your food “to go” and take it with you.
5. Be sure to keep yourself adequately hydrated and fed while traveling. It’s really important to prevent yourself from getting so depleted that you’re grabbing “whatever” in order to raise your blood sugar levels or quench your thirst. I find that the more prepared I am and the more I plan ahead, the better I feel as I travel.
6. Last, but not least–and this has little to do with eating but much to do with how you digest what you eat–enjoy your travel experience no matter what happens! As I travel, I consider that my trip, and therefore the experience, begins from the time I leave home and ends when I arrive back there again. Keeping that mindset allows me to enjoy my travel experience whether flights are delayed, diverted, or on schedule.
Bon apetito and happy travels!
