What Not to Eat (or Drink) on the Plane

When I decided to write this post I thought it would be a slam dunk.  I have this great routine – what I pack to eat when I’m flying….

But then I realized flying isn’t routine for a lot of people.  And it takes a lot of people out of their comfort zones.  My comfort zone is flying 2 day trips, laying over in New York at a hotel with a fridge and access to an oven while I’m on the plane.  And I pack all my food and I’m done.

But the past 2 months I decided to mix things up and fly to Cancun and Anchorage.  Both  trips are “red eyes” which means I have to stay up all night which makes me drink a lot more coffee and not feel all that great.  Mexico also has a lot of restrictions so it’s difficult to bring food.  I really had to just make sure to eat everything before I got there.

What I like to eat

So I always bring food and snacks when I’m working.  Nuts, fruit, pumpkin or sunflower seeds, hard boiled eggs (although they do smell quite a bit) and cut up vegetables can all go a few hours without refrigeration.  Or pack a frozen ice pack (it’s ok if it’s solid.)  I also love Justin’s almond butter packs.  These are 1.15 oz so they can easily slip into your quart sized bag for some healthy fats and protein.  You can refer to TSA.gov for more information on the 3-1-1 liquid rule.

One of my favorite things to bring on a trip is a salad.  This is relatively easy for anyone to do.  I like to make one at home so I know everything I put in it is organic.  One of my favorites is kale since I can dress the salad ahead of time and it doesn’t get wilted as easily as other types of lettuce. But you could go to Trader Joe’s or your local grocery store and grab one of their pre-made salads just be sure to put the dressing on beforehand or put it in your bag with other liquids.  I pack my salad in a stainless steel reusable container.

What I like to drink

Green juice is part of my routine when I’m home. When I’m flying I pack Organifi green juice superfood powder.  All you need is water and you have green juice.  It doesn’t need refrigeration and it comes in these great packets for travel.

Another thing I always do when I fly is to bring a thermos with lemon slices and ginger. When I get to the airport I just add hot water.  The lemon is alkalizing which neutralizes all that coffee I’m drinking and the ginger helps with nausea in case of turbulence but I really just enjoy the taste. Starbucks will give you hot water for free (I always tip) so you could easily bring your favorite tea.  The key is to have a leak proof thermos.  The one I bought at REI is fantastic–my water stays hot the entire flight from NY to LA. Another method is to pack a stainless water bottle and fill it up at the airport after security.  I try to avoid drinking from plastic water bottles whenever possible (and I realize on long haul international flights it’s not possible.)

Be prepared

But for what it’s worth, a little preparation goes a long way.  You’ll never find me getting on a plane without anything to eat.  I always advise passengers to bring some kind of snacks.  You never know when a delay will hit.

And I realize some of these suggestions may be difficult but try to incorporate one or two and see if it makes a difference. Traveling can often times be stressful.  But if you aren’t hungry you’ll definitely enjoy your trip more and you can relax, sit back, and enjoy the flight!

In Health,

Wendra