I’m on my way out of town tonight, so the number one thing on my mind right now is travel and airport food. As someone who’s very sensitive to refined junk foods, I have a tough time eating when I fly. I’m sure I’m not the only one who nearly passes out from hunger because I’m not willing to eat at the countless crappy fast food joints that have filled our country’s airports, or worse, eat the food on the plane itself. Honestly, if my choices are nasty airport food or starvation, I’d probably starve. The ensuing digestive Chernobyl just isn’t worth it.
As I’ve gotten older, though, I’ve learned to plan for my trips. With airport security being what it is these days, you’re limited in what you can take to the gate – no hummus, soup or homemade smoothies. I won’t go into the politics behind the circus that is the TSA organization (suffice it to say that the terms paranoid, obtuse and waste of funding come to mind), but I’ve learned to [grudgingly] work within the system to feed myself healthy things that aren’t essentially petroleum-based space foods.
So what can you take on a plane that won’t kill you or have the gate guards in hysterics? Here’s a list of stuff that will help you avoid airline and airport food.
The Anti Airport Food List
- Lara Bars
- Mixed nuts (raw and organic where possible)
- Green salad in a bag with a little dressing
- Dried cranberries (unsweetened)
- Granola (buy milk at the airport or on the plane)
- Onigiri
- Avocado sushi rolls
- Sandwiches
- Organic corn chips
- Chamomile or green tea bags
- Fresh fruit salad
- Cheese
- Green food powder (kinda crunchy hippy-esque, but handy for nutrients in a pinch)
If I have to cave and buy airport food, I try to make it as healthy as possible. A McDonald’s green salad is better than a burger, and an Odwalla smoothie is better than a vanilla shake. And please, for the love of god, do your body a favor and avoid airline meals at all costs.
They key is to reduce your garbage intake by as possible without actually passing out on the plane. If you make sure you’ve got a good amount of non-crap snacks on you, you’ll be less tempted by the $8 deep-fried chicken tacos smothered in ranch dressing. Ugh.
What are your favorite airport food alternative? Please share!
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So what are the regulations on the sort and amount of food you can fly with? I know they’ve gotten crazy about liquids and gels, but could I conceivably have a ‘lil bento box with me and snack in peace?
What a cool idea this is, thx Steph! The only upside I’ve seen to the change to paid airplane food is that I can order something I can (sort of) eat and know I’ll get it, where I always used to specify vegetarian on my ticket purchase and end up picking dessicated chicken out of my molten enchilada.
I think they consider hummus a liquid… how stupid is that? They totally took my little tub the last time I flew. Never mind that it was the SAME HUMMUS that was on the sandwich they let me keep. I guess sandwiches are the next open window for terrorists!
I think a bento box would be fine, though they might confiscate your soy sauce if it’s over 3.4 ounces.
And your dessicated chicken comment almost made me barf homemade yogurt all over my keyboard. ugh
the airport is the worst place to be when you are hungry. there is absolutely no food there, if you do happen to plunk down some $$ on a food related substance you will only regret it later. Good ideas for bring along snacks!
Yeah, I forgot to mention the $10-20 you’ll pay for the privilege of eating crap.
See you in Seattle!
I’ll add, as this was posted a whil back, that it’s a good idea these days to put your cheese in that liquids and gels bag, too.
you can also take whole fruits such as apples and oranges. carots work too, also crackers.
favorite airport food alternative: Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches; peanut m&ms; Snickers candybar.
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