Habits of Healthy Eaters: Pack Snacks When You Travel
By the time you read this, I'll be somewhere between Cincinnati and Istanbul, reuniting with a dear friend and starting an adventure two years in the making.
I love to travel. What I don't love is airplane food. If you're "lucky" enough to be served a meal, it's usually not very healthy or tasty.*
I always travel on a pretty tight budget, so shelling out $10 for a watery salad or fast food in the airport isn't something I like to do. The "snacks" that airlines sell now are not any better: potato chips, candy, and other junk food is the norm. Yuck.
Flying already leaves me feeling dehydrated and tired, without adding excess sugar and salt to my body.
How do I avoid paying high prices and eat right until I land--and beyond? I pack snacks.
On this trip, I'll be staying with a friend and thus will have access to a kitchen, grocery store, and the glorious markets of Istanbul. But to get there, I have a long trip. I've packed 100-calorie packs of nuts, a box of granola bars, and a canister of sports drink mix. (We'll be heading to the beach and the desert, and I dehydrate easily in the heat!). Every little bit counts, whether it's nutrition or money.
Some of my favorite travel snacks:
For the plane:
Throughout the trip:
I keep a couple of servings in my purse, a couple more in my carry-on, then store the rest in my luggage. This is also the only time I buy prepackaged foods (100-calorie packs of nuts rather than a bulk amount), but it is easier when you're in the go.
*Side note: I've found that foreign airlines serve better food, more often. Air India (flight from Paris to New York) served an excellent vegetarian curry; Asiana and All Nippon Airways from Japan to Korea served finger sandwiches and curry on a 3-hour flight… KLM, Turkish Airways, Lufthansa are all generous with food and drink, from my experience.
By spending a little bit of money upfront (I spent maybe $10), I am able to ensure I have a healthy snack no matter what travel situation I encounter.
Do you pack your own snacks on airplanes an when you travel? What are your favorites?
I love to travel. What I don't love is airplane food. If you're "lucky" enough to be served a meal, it's usually not very healthy or tasty.*
I always travel on a pretty tight budget, so shelling out $10 for a watery salad or fast food in the airport isn't something I like to do. The "snacks" that airlines sell now are not any better: potato chips, candy, and other junk food is the norm. Yuck.
Flying already leaves me feeling dehydrated and tired, without adding excess sugar and salt to my body.
How do I avoid paying high prices and eat right until I land--and beyond? I pack snacks.
On this trip, I'll be staying with a friend and thus will have access to a kitchen, grocery store, and the glorious markets of Istanbul. But to get there, I have a long trip. I've packed 100-calorie packs of nuts, a box of granola bars, and a canister of sports drink mix. (We'll be heading to the beach and the desert, and I dehydrate easily in the heat!). Every little bit counts, whether it's nutrition or money.
Some of my favorite travel snacks:
For the plane:
- Small containers of hummus and a bag of fresh vegetables
- A homemade veggie and hummus or almond butter and jelly sandwich
- A piece of fruit (note: I only do this on domestic flights. I don't want to end up paying a fine like Hilary Swank did, after forgetting to declare fruit!)
- Nut butter and whole-grain crackers
- Dried fruit and nuts
- Homemade granola
- High-fiber cereals
Throughout the trip:
- Nuts
- Granola bars/energy bars
- Bananas and apples (purchased at supermarkets)
- Candied ginger (great for calming queasy bellies, easing motion sickness, and satisfying a sweet tooth)
I keep a couple of servings in my purse, a couple more in my carry-on, then store the rest in my luggage. This is also the only time I buy prepackaged foods (100-calorie packs of nuts rather than a bulk amount), but it is easier when you're in the go.
*Side note: I've found that foreign airlines serve better food, more often. Air India (flight from Paris to New York) served an excellent vegetarian curry; Asiana and All Nippon Airways from Japan to Korea served finger sandwiches and curry on a 3-hour flight… KLM, Turkish Airways, Lufthansa are all generous with food and drink, from my experience.
By spending a little bit of money upfront (I spent maybe $10), I am able to ensure I have a healthy snack no matter what travel situation I encounter.
Do you pack your own snacks on airplanes an when you travel? What are your favorites?
