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.