Like the Bermuda Triangle, airports seem to have their own mysterious force. Walking to your departure gate or sitting through a 3+ hour flight can lure even the most well-intentioned eater into the depths of a junky fast-food abyss.
There are reasons. Sheer access and unavoidability of temptation is a big one. Like, you’re not even thinking about French fries, frozen yogurt, or cookies, until you see Smash Burger, Pinkberry, and Mrs. Field’s, or until that flight attendant offers you a warm, freshly baked chocolate chip cookie. Boredom is another reason. What else is there to do but eat? Sometimes, sitting down on a plane is the first physical and mental break you’ve had all week—a slot of time where you know you can’t do much but exhale, relax, watch a movie, and treat yourself to a tasty reward. But let’s face it, even if you’ve earned a treat, is airplane food really how you want to spend it?
If you frequently travel by air, here are 6 tips you can experiment with to reduce temptation.
1. Eat Before You Get to The Airport
The same way you never want to go to the grocery store hungry, you definitely don’t want to arrive at the airport eager to eat. Whenever possible, eat a healthy meal BEFORE leaving for the airport, and make sure it’s substantial enough that you feel like you’re done for a while. If you arrive at the airport sated, those fast food temptations lose a lot of power. In your calendar, try blocking off half-an-hour before you leave for the airport and prepare a meal at home, or if you’re on the road, stop at your favorite healthy spot beforehand.
2. Create A Travel Snack Kit
If you don’t have time to eat before the airport, pack yourself a snack kit the night before or the morning of. These are foods that travel well and won’t cause you problems getting through security.
Here’s a sample list of options:
- Grass fed beef jerky or Nick’s Sticks
- Homemade trail mix with nuts (walnuts, pecans, pistachios, brazil nuts, or hazelnuts) and some dried cherries or superfoods like cacao nibs and dried mulberries mixed in.
- Fresh organic apples/bananas
- Rhythm Kale Chips (assorted flavors)
- The Good Bean Roasted Chickpeas
If you aren’t averse to doing a bit more prep, here are a few other options that will feel like a meal rather than a snack:
- Homemade paleo muffins (recipes here and here)
- Cacao Walnut "Brain" Bites (recipe here)
- Turkey hummus wrap with veggies (recipe here)
- Homemade salad in one of these, with olive oil and lemon dressing in one of these or these containers
- Cut up organic carrots, red peppers, celery, and cucumber with hummus or guacamole (often available in single serving packs at Costco)
3. Grab These Snacks At The Airport
If you have no time to prepare food or no access to food before the airport, see if you can order a big salad with protein at the airport restaurant, either to take on the plane or to eat there. Also, try stocking up on these items at the airport store: nuts, trail mix, beef jerky, kind bars, apples or bananas, water. If you’re craving something from Starbucks, try an unsweetened tea, like green or herbal (hot or iced). Be sure to ask for no sweetener because they automatically pump in a ton of sugar.
4. If You’re An Intermittent Faster, Make It A Fast Day
If you’ve done intermittent fasting in the past, this is a great opportunity to make it a fast day. If possible, eat a full meal before your flight, then start the fasting clock. Just be sure to stay hydrated by drinking lots of water or unsweetened herbal tea.
5. Stay Hydrated
Sometimes we feel hungry when in fact we’re thirsty. Before reaching for that treat, buy yourself a bottle of water and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. If water gets boring, try adding a travel packet of Ultima Replenisher Electrolyte Powder (unless you're fasting).
6. Bring Your Own Treats
If you know you’re going to crave something sweet, bring it with you! At least it will be higher quality and you’ll avoid all those artificial colors, flavors, rancid oils, and trans fats. You'll also be able to control the portions by packing only 1 or 2 pieces along. My personal favorites are Justin’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, or a good quality dark chocolate bar (72%). Other healthier "junk food" options are: Buddha Bowl Popcorn, Heavenly Organics Double Dark Chocolate and Honey Patties, and Dang Toasted Coconut Chips.
Be Kind To Yourself & Take Note
Changing habits, especially in the face of powerful temptations, is a process. If you do end up binging on fast food or candy and find yourself regretting it later, take a moment to think about why it happened and what you might do differently next time. Maybe even write it down on your phone. Then, let it go. The more aware you become of your triggers, the less likely it is you’ll repeat the same behavior. Becoming aware is a major step forward on the journey to healthy eating.
I hope some of these tips help. If you try one, let me know what you think!