How to Pack Healthy Meals for a Day of Flying
Sadly, the food offered on airplanes and in airports has never been great but how has it now become completely inedible?! If I am able, I always try to bring my own food when I fly. This way I avoid reaching my destination bloated, constipated and irritated. Here are a few easy ways to prep and pack healthy meals and snacks for travel days!
WHAT TO PACK FOOD IN
Several options for this and I have done it all, including my own glassware! That option is the last resort because then you’re lugging it around your whole vacation. Your best options:
Saved Plastic Take-Out Containers
Old Plastic Containers - ones you plan to toss anyway.
Reusable Silicone Bags - easy to clean and store flat in the bottom of your suitcase.
reusable Silicone sandwich bag - easy to clean and store during your trip to bring home.
EASY MEALS TO PACK
The options are endless for this! Pack anything you don’t mind eating cold, that you love and makes you feel good when you eat it. Meals with high protein, healthy fats and complex carbs are ideal for a day of travel. You get all the nutrients and energy you need for your arrival and vacation to begin! pro tip: put your prepped meal in the freezer the night before you leave so by the time you’re onboard and ready to eat it’s still cold but not soggy! Here are a few of my go-to's:
QUINOA Bowls – you can pack these full of veggies like zucchini, carrot, onion, asparagus, mushrooms etc... and proteins like steak, chicken, beans or tofu. Drizzle with a tahini dressing or soy sauce and top with seeds or nuts and some cubed avocado and a squeeze of lime.
Loaded Salad – pack down a bunch of lettuce drizzle with olive oil and balsamic and top with nuts, seeds, dates, protein of your choice, chopped fresh veggies, avocado and a drizzle of your favorite sauce or dressing.
Sandwiches – the easiest option. Whole grain bread or sourdough packed with lettuce, tomato, pickle, turkey or ham and all the fixings or a simple pb or ab and honey or jam.
Pasta – pre-make a pasta salad loaded with veggies and your choice of protein or a pesto pasta topped with pine nuts and avocado (it’s great cold).
HEALTHY SNACK OPTIONS
Bringing your own snacks is the easiest way to avoid nibbling on those stale pretzels and unsatisfying nuts they hand out with the drink service. And seeing how this is the only food included with most flights these days most of us (including myself) fall victim to these snacks if we haven’t planned ahead. Throw these goodies into your personal item instead:
Sprouted Trail Mix - so delicious and sprouted nuts are so good for you.
Organic Macadamia Nuts - the best snack high in fiber, magnesium, vit e and protein.
Grass Fed Beef Jerky - a high protein satisfying healthy snack.
Organic Peanut Butter Cups - because we all get a little sweet tooth in the air.
Masa Corn Chips - the actual best corn chip you’ll ever have and simple clean ingredients.
Vandy 3 Ingredient Potato Chips - we can’t resist a clean, salty, crispy potato chip.
Peanut Butter Filled Chocolate Covered Dates - A healthy sweet option with added protein.
BOn Bon Sour Raspberry Swedish Gummies - for a sour candy without artificial flavors and colors
Sliced Fruit and Veggies – pre slice all your faves (squeeze lime juice over the fruit to prevent browning)
Lastly, bring along a large either collapsable water bottle or your reusable water bottle with some LMNT electrolyte packets. Enjoy reaching your destination feeling hydrated, fueled and less inflamed than if you had filled up on all that airplane/airport food! if you still bloat from travel (trust me i alwasy do) don’t forget to bring arrae bloat i swear by these! they truly do work.