I'm off unexpectedly off on another trip. Thanks to my friend Trudy Scott I found out about Author101 in Las Vegas and was able to work it into my schedule. I'm so excited to be going to this conference and thrilled to be learning more of what I need to know as an author to help get the word out about my book and it's important message.
One of the not so fun parts of traveling is trying to figure out what to eat when you're on the road. As someone who eats gluten free and is very mindful of additives and GMO it's not always easy to find good food on the road. Especially in an airport. There are small changes happening though. There appear to be more salad bars, some with organic greens, there are options for fresh fruit, and I was pleasantly surprised to find a veggie juice bar in Philadelphia on my last trip.
I was walking toward my gate in Philly. Next to the Dunkin Donuts and across from the Philly Cheesteak count I saw a display of veggies and a juicer! I was amazed and delighted. I stopped and spoke with the woman behind the counter, telling her how excited I was to see a veggie juice bar (instead of the all-fruit-added-sugar smoothies that seem to be everywhere). She smiled and told me I was the third person that morning to tell her that. I ordered a carrot, cucumber, celery, greens and lemon juice. She asked me if I wanted a little ginger (I hadn't seen the ginger), I said yes and off she went to juice it all up. While some of those veggies would have been best quality if they were organic (to avoid pesticide load), it's important to remember that we don't want to get over-stressed about things like that. Just the ability to have fresh juiced vegetables in an airport is a big deal as far as I'm concern. It's a great start and one which will hopefully catch on and keep growing. I happily paid for my juice and went to my gate to wait for my flight.
So here I am one week later, back at gate 16 heading out, this time to Las Vegas. When I travel I look at my trip and decide how much food I'm bringing with me. Because I'm loaded down with conference supplies this time there's not much room for while-I'm-in-town-food, but there's definitely always room for on-the-road food. Here's what I'm taking with me this time:
Seaweed snacks are great. I find them mildly addictive, salty, great flavor, and just a little crackle. When I was in here last week several people saw me eating this "green stuff" and wondered what it was. I was engaged in reading my book when first one person and then a few more asked me what I was eating. I told them and offered them a taste. Two people actually tried it and decided that they liked it! That was kind of fun.
A hard boiled egg. A great source of protein easy to eat and in it's own protective container.
Mixed nuts and seeds that I've roasted in coconut oil and seasoned with Kelly's. This is an amazing seasoning which is made from organic garlic, hawaiian sea salt, and organic nettles. It's mouthwateringly delicious and I use it on my snack mixes but also on salads, greens, roast meats, baked potatoes and more.
Carrot and celery sticks. Wrapped in a damp paper towel (to prevent them from drying out) this is a great crunchy food for on the road and helps me get at least a little more veggie into my day.
A Raw Crunch Bar. These are my new favorite snack bar. Made from raw ingredients they've got some sweetness to them but are not overwhelmingly, cloyingly sweet like many protein bars. They're still a treat food as far as I'm concerned but I wouldn't go so far as to put them in the candy-bar-masquerading-as-protein category.
Coconut water powder. I know, it's kind of funny. Coconut water, just add water. I haven't tried this yet but plan to once I'm on the plane. I find travel to be very dehydrating. But you can't bring liquids on the plane with you. And aside from plain water or tea they don't sell any liquids that I want. I'm not a gatorade fan and certainly not interested in all the juices, power drinks and more. So I'm going to give this a try and see if they electrolyte balance helps and how it tastes.
If you plan ahead it's possible, and less expensive, to eat healthy when you're on the go. I'd love to hear your travel food tips, please share them below.
Julie, thanks for sharing this, what a great tip!! I didn’t know that Udi’s was in the airport. I hope it works out well enough for them that they will consider this idea in airports all across the country.
For those flying through Denver, check out Udi’s Cafe near near Gate B24. Udi’s offers fresh, natural ingredients in both sit-down and on-the-go options. Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and allergen-specific preferences can be accommodated.
Update: I’ve tried the coconut water and it’s fabulous! I’m definitely going to have to get more. This is one of the best ways to get a delicious beverage past airport security that I’m aware of.