Eating Sensibly at the Airport

All my trips these days involve one- or two-hour layovers at connecting airports. That gives me an opportunity to stretch my legs walking through the terminal and concourses, and to eat a good meal. 

It can be a challenge finding the right nutrition at the airport, and making sure it's easily digestible, since I'll be sitting on the next plane soon after eating it. I avoid sandwiches, wraps, and burritos, since they're heavy on carbs. I search for lightly prepared lean protein and vegetables.

My favorite "concourse" meal lately can be found at Sbarro's, an Italian food restaurant with locations at many airports. I get a plate of Chicken Vesuvio (lightly battered thin chicken breast with mushroom sauce) + a big helping of sautéd vegetables (squash, carrots, broccoli). 

That gives me both lean protein and juicy whole vegetable nutrients. 

Since it's too much food for me to down all at once, I pack an empty Snapware container in my carry-on bag for the leftovers, so I can eat them at home later that evening when I'll either be arriving at my destination hotel room or returning home to an empty refrigerator.

Traveling with Booster Foods

Especially when I travel, I want to make sure I have the super-nutrition I need to function at my best. It can be challenging to take booster foods on a trip, especially perishables. 

Along with packing 3 steel water cans to ensure good hydration, I combine a supply of dry supplements with fresh foods so I don't have to worry what provisions are available near my hotel or other lodging (including family houses that don't stock my favorite staples).

First, I pack separate "Snapware" type plastic food containers with enough of the following foods for however many days I'll be away:

1. Rolled oats, flax seed meal, wheat germ, raisins, whey protein powder (In a separate container, I mix the cereal ingredients with water, wait for a few minutes, and enjoy a nutritious breakfast in my room.)
2. Purim Super Meal L.O.V.E. + Alive Ultra Shake Vanilla Pea Protein: (Spoon out a daily portion into a glass or shake jar, add water, mix or stir well, wait for a minute, then drink. Alternatively, if I'm working off-site all day, I fill one of my steel water bottles with this mixture, so I can sip it throughout the day.)
3. Nut and seed mix, such as walnuts, cashews, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds (I add this to a fresh spinach salad, or snack on it.)
4. Pre-bagged spice mixes including Susan's Anti-Virus Hot Toddy and Simple Calming Tea. (You can find empty tea bags to fill with your own spice mixes at naturalteabags.com. TIP: Pack spice teas in nested snapware containers, to avoid "spicing up" your luggage with unwanted aromas!)

Then, I pack fresh and packaged foods such as:

• Packaged, pre-washed fresh dark greens such as spinach or arugula
• Individual salad dressing mini-cups (such as Hidden Valley Ranch To Go Light)
• Apples
• Bananas
• Red grapes
• Blueberries
• Shredded cheese
• Avocados
• Individual packs of fish, chicken or other protein 

In a separate, roomy plastic container, I make a big salad for the day, with greens, grapes or blueberries, nuts and seeds, shredded cheese, and salad dressing. (Make sure to also pack plastic or metal silverware so you can mix foods in your room if necessary.)

With all of the above, I'm assured of meeting my basic daily nutrition needs, and can supplement the travel foods with snacks or meals I purchase on the trip.

Simple Calming Tea

In addition to flavoring foods, spices have particular effects on our bodies. For instance, you can make a simple calming tea as follows:

*CCF Tea (*Cumin, Coriander & Fennel)

• 1/4 tsp coriander seed
• 1/4 tsp cumin
• 1/4 tsp fennel seeds

Place the seeds into a tea ball. 
Add the tea ball and cumin to a cup of boiling water and let steep for a few minutes. 
For a creamier flavor, add a little rice milk to the brew.

Try CCF Tea the next time you're feeling stressed or tense. Hard to believe that such a simple recipe can be so effective, but I find it nicely calming and relaxing.

TIP: If you want to make up a larger quantity of this tea in advance, you can portion it into individual tea bags by ordering (bleach-free) bags from naturalteabags.com. This is especially helpful if you travel, since you may not have the individual spices at hand where you're staying.

Light & Tasty Green Juice

Whenever possible, I prefer to use foods to stay healthy. 

In addition to containing healthy ingredients, they need to taste good. My favorite basic veggie juice tastes light and happy. Enjoy!

LIGHT & TASTY GREEN JUICE

• 2-3 large leaves of kale
• juice of 1/2 lemon
• 3" to 4" of cucumber
• spritz of cayenne powder (optional)
• small apple, sliced
• (3) 1/8" slices of ginger root

(You can always add or substitute other fresh fruits or vegetables. Just be aware of the sugar content. For instance, carrots, beets, and fruits are high in sugar. Try to keep the juice mostly veggie.)

• Put all into blender. Add water about 1/2-way up. 
• Grate. Then blend on high.
• Pour through strainer into a pot. Use a bowl to push maximum juice through the strainer.
• Compost or dump the scraps.

Soothing Anti-Virus Hot Toddy

When I feel a cold, bronchitis, cold sore, achiness, or flu approaching, I immediately start drinking this tea several times throughout the day and evening.

It features spices that are anti-inflammatory, as well as Vitamin C and Echinacea. The warm liquid helps soothe chest ache and congestion, too.

NOTE: No promises, guarantees or claims here. It usually works for me, and maybe you'll like it, too.

SOOTHING ANTI-VIRUS HOT TODDY

• 1/4" slice of ginger root, peeled and chopped - put into a tea-ball so you can retrieve the pieces after steeping; OR 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• pinch of cayenne powder
• 1 tsp turmeric powder (anti-inflammatory)
• pinch of ground cloves
• contents of 1 capsule 1000mg Vit C (it's anti-viral)
• contents of 1 capsule Echinacea* (it's reputed to be anti-viral)
• 1 tsp honey
• juice of 1/4 to 1/2 lemon
• optional - non-dairy milk (Rice, Almond) to make it taste creamier
• optional - Yogi DeTox tea or Yogi Ginger tea

Add boiling water, cover, and steep for a minute or two.

Remove tea-ball.

Drink this several times a day when you feel like something viral is starting (cold, sore throat, cough, cold sores).

TIP: If you want to make up a larger quantity of this tea in advance, you can portion it into individual tea bags by ordering (bleach-free) bags from naturalteabags.com. This is especially helpful if you travel, since you may not have the individual spices at hand where you're staying.

NOTE: A little more about Echinacea: Echinacea is generally seen as a safe supplement that results in few side effects. However, it is noted that if you take it as an oral supplement, you may experience some tingling or numbness in your mouth. Additionally, if you’re allergic to plants in the daisy family or have asthma, it’s recommended that you steer clear of it. It’s advised that folks with a liver disorder, an auto-immune disorder (including HIV/AIDS), leukemia, connective tissue disorder, diabetes, or tuberculosis avoid this supplement. Though there’s little evidence to suggest that using echinacea during pregnancy results in any birth defects, it’s generally recommended that women who are pregnant or breastfeeding forgo taking this supplement. There are some noted drug interactions as well, so your best bet is to consult a health care provider if you’re using any medications before picking this up at a store.  (from Go Ask Alice!)