While travel is good for your soul, it may be difficult to resist fast food or find fresh food at the airport or resting areas. Fortunately, eating healthy is not so complicated as may seem but you need to do a little bit of planning before your trip. In this article, we are sharing several useful tips to maintain your healthy eating habits on the road, at the airport and during flight on the plane.
Eating healthy at the airport
Once you get through airport security, there is no going back, which means you are essentially trapped in a fast-food prison. But luckily, there are healthy choices at many airports. Here is what you can do:
Go high end. Recently, airports have added higher-end restaurants which tend to offer more salads and sandwiches light on the dressing and sauce. Or check out the pizza places – but stick to a thin-crust vegetarian slice. Many pizza joints also offer some simple salads or soups that are healthier options. Check the websites of airport restaurants so you know what food choices ae available.
Skip beer. Do not be lured into grabbing a pint at the airport bar while you wait Not only does alcohol add calories but it is also dehydrating.
Be a kid again. At chain restaurants you can trim calories and feeling lighter for your travelsby ordering from the children’s menus.
Eating healthy on the plane
Planning ahead is a key to avoiding jet lag and being hungry.
Preview airline menus. Some airlines have picked up on the healthy trend and are offering better alternatives, from snack boxes to pita chips to meals of turkey sandwiches. You can find meal options on airline websites. Some airlines also provide special diet meals if you request them when you book your flight.
Carry food with you. If nothing is appealing or healthy, then plan to bringing some healthier options. Some good portable choices include yogurt cups with fruit and granola, wedge salads and chicken wraps.
Drink lots of water. Stay hydrated with bottled water. Avoid alcohol and anything caffeinated during your flight. Both can dehydrate body, mess up your internal clock and exaggerate jet lag symptoms.
Eating healthy on road trips
If you are driving to your destination you may have no choice but to hit a fast-food restaurant at a rest stop. Of course, the smartest thing you could do is pack your own food in the car. Invest in a cooler and keep it in the back seat, not the hot trunk. Pack with icepacks and fill with fresh fruits and vegetables, water bottles and juice.
Here are some great healthy portable options for your road trip:
Chew tropical dried fruit. The sweetness and chewiness satisfy you.
Pack some soy nuts and wasabi peas. Dried soy nuts are an excellent alternative to other high-calorie nuts, without giving up that satisfying crunch. Craving something sweet, salty and spicy? Reach for a package of wasabi peas for surprising flavor on the go.
Keep healthy self-stable snacks on hand. Snacks such as popcorn, pretzels, whole grain crackers, bag of trail mix and granola bars will be helpful to grab for last minute nourishment.
Shop smart at the mini-mart. If provisions run low, look for fresh fruit, low-fat yogurt, whole grain cereal or string cheese at a gas station mini-mart.
Eating healthy in foreign countries
Trying new foods should be a part of any trip, especially if you are exploring new parts of the world. Here is how to taste a little adventure but not upset your stomach while travelling abroad:
Opt for hot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there are 50,000 cases of traveler’s diarrhea each day. When food si cooked – ideally right in front of you – you will know if it is hot enough to kill some of the illness-causing bacteria. Choose foods that are freshly cooked and served at very hot temperatures – just don’t burn your tongue.
Sip from bottles. Avoid nonpotable water, which has not been purified to drinking water standards. Also avoid ice cubes made from this water. Instead, go for beverages in bottles.
Overcome language barriers. You do not need a dictionary-size vocabulary to order healthier food in foreign countries. But you should learn a few key words of the country’s language when travelling so that if you are pressed, you can order for yourself. For example, if you can express the words “chicken” and “grilled”, you should be served something you can eat. If you have to, eyeball what other people in a restaurant are eating and point.
Eating healthy while travelling
Airlines and airports have stepped up some of their offerings, so seek out healthier meal options like, salads, soups and sandwiches. Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water and avoiding alcohol and caffeine. Pack healthy snacks like dried fruit, nuts and wasabi peas when you are travelling. When abroad stick to well cooked hot food and bottled beverages to avoid uncomfortable health conditions, such as diarrhea.
