Several folks have asked me recently what I eat when I’m on the go, when I’m traveling. Travel used to be an excuse for me to not eat well when I was focused on weight-loss. After the gluten issue arose, that was replaced with worry about where I could eat safely. Not anymore!
Today I want to share with you what I take for short air-travel trips. I’ll write another post about road trips and extended trips away from home soon. The goodies I’m sharing today are what I have packed for a 36-hour trip.
Here’s a sneak peek at what looks like too much to fit in a carry-on:
And here it is a little more condensed:
And finally, this. One small lunch bag and two empty beverage containers.
Most airlines will let you carry on a small bag of food in addition to your personal bag and carry-on suitcase, so this small lunch bag may not even need to fit into your luggage!
Here’s what I’m taking and a few tips on packing .
I used two OXO Locktop containers, about the size of a sandwich. They are BPA free and have endured extensive use in my household and on the go. I’ve managed to break many food containers in my travels, but have yet to break one of these.
In one container, I packed Pineapple Coconut donut holes and Chocolate Cherry donut holes. These are made with dates, nuts and dried fruit. They are a perfect energy burst and travel very well with no refrigeration. On top of them, I’ve got a couple packets of gluten-free oatmeal. I’ve had great success getting a cup of hot water in every airport coffeehouse where I’ve asked and although I always offer and expect to pay, I’ve never been charged. Once I’m at a hotel, I use the in-room coffee maker to heat water for instant oatmeal.
In the second container, I have several packets of nut butters from Artisana. Flying with a jar of nut butter in your carry-on isn’t a good idea, TSA will probably take it from you. These little packets seem to be permissible. I’ve also got an assortment of raw bars, green juice powder, tea bags, stevia packets and flax meal.
To pack my lunch bag, I put the OXO containers in the bag first, then fill around them with a couple of bags of dried fruit. There’s plenty of room on top for a few pieces of fresh fruit. I like to travel with bananas and apples. I find myself flying with less fresh fruit these days, as more places have it available. Even my neighborhood gas station has a fruit basket on the counter. While it may not be organic, it’s much better than many of the other travel food options.
When I packed this bag, I knew I would be having breakfast in an airport where I have a long layover. I’ll have oatmeal with dried fruit and flax meal, not so different from the breakfast I would have at home. For lunch, I’ll have a raw bar, nut butter and a piece of fresh fruit. I’ll be at my destination in time for dinner at a restaurant that safely feeds folks like me.
When I’m at that restaurant that understands folks like me and our dietary restrictions, I may get a to-go meal for lunch the next day and keep it in the hotel room fridge. As much as I like exploring the food scene in every city I visit, when I’m traveling for work my time is short. Sometimes I only get to visit one really great restaurant. I’m perfectly fine having a meal from there twice!
In between those meals, I’ve got plenty of snacks and could get along just fine for a short trip with nothing other than what I’ve packed if I had to. No worrying on my part about where I’ll find safe and healthy food, plus I’ll return home feeling great because I didn’t get any accidental gluten and I ate food that fuels me well.
See? Easy!
What food do you take when on the go? I’d love to hear about it!
Full Disclosure: OXO provided Locktop Containers for me to use. The opinions and complete adoration of these containers is mine.
Ha, too damned healthy for me. I just eat a lot of salads now when traveling.
There’s no such thing as too healthy, is there? 🙂
Yes…;-)
I would have liked to have been your travel partner just to share those awesome no-bake donut hole you make! Seriously. 🙂
I’d love to share them with you, Shirley! And you know, the trip I packed these for would have been a fun one for you to come along on. I could have been in the same room with two of my superheroes, you and Seth!
I panic about not having access to real foods, even when I travel in my area. I love your ideas. They pack nicely and store nicely. My biggest problem in the work day has been no access to protein. The vending machines are filled with gluten and sugar. The Quick-trip experience is all about chips and sodas. When I’m on the road, I really just need good water and some natural protein.
I rely on nuts and seeds for protein when traveling. It IS tricky. Most quick road food is sugar and processed carbs.