We’re well into the New Year and although some people have given up on their resolutions to eat healthier, some have remained committed to staying on the path to a healthier lifestyle by choosing to consume more vegetables and fruits and less fried and greasy foods. Congratulations if you’re one of the 20% who held onto that resolution! (did you know that nearly 80% of people give up their resolutions by February?)
Eating healthy is much easier when you’re home; you can plan your meals ahead of time and shop for healthy items and cook meals yourself. In addition to being able to plan your meals ahead of time and cooking meals yourself, you’re also not as rushed to eat as you are when you travel.
Airport travel makes it much harder to stick to your healthy lifestyle; there’s flights to catch, limited layover time, tempting snacks on the plane, etc. Luckily, eating on the go doesn’t have to be unhealthy! Keep reading for some tips on how to eat well at the airport so you can maintain your healthy lifestyle.
1. Pack snacks in your carry-on
What’s the easiest way to make sure you stick with your healthy lifestyle while flying? Packing snacks in your carry-on! The next time you have a short layover with only enough time to grab a quick bite, you won’t be tempted to stop at one of the convenience stores in the airport or a fast food restaurant to grab a snack. You’ll have healthy options in your carry-on that you can simply pull out when needed! Bonus? You’ll end up saving money in the long run simply by avoiding higher airport prices!
We all know that the TSA has some strict regulations when it comes to what you can and can’t pack in your carry-on. Here’s a list of TSA-approved healthy snacks:
- Cereal
- Cheese (less than 3.4 oz. for creamy cheeses)
- Dark chocolate
- Crackers
- Granola bars
- Dried fruits
- Fresh whole fruits/berries
- Hummus (less than 3.4 oz.)
For a complete list of foods you’re allowed to pack in your carry-on, click here.
2. Purchase healthy snacks from convenience stores
If you aren’t able to pack snacks in your carry-on, choose purchasing healthy snacks from a convenience store in the airport over grabbing a danish from a coffee shop or fries from a fast food joint. Yes, you’ll probably end up paying more since snacks are more expensive in airports versus anywhere else, but you’re paying for quality, healthy snacks. A $3.00 granola bar is much better for you than a $3.00 order of fries!
3. Choose healthier options from restaurants
Airports are notorious for having many restaurants in each terminal (at least the major airports). Luckily, this means there are many choices when it comes to choosing a place to grab breakfast, lunch or dinner, but unfortunately, these restaurants don’t always provide healthy options since they’re usually catered to people on the go with short layovers. With that said, some restaurants do provide healthier options when it comes to food on the go, you just have to know what to look for. Here’s a list of some of the healthier options available at most airports:
- Chick-fil-a Egg White Chicken Grill
- Chick-fil-a Market Salad
- Dunkin’ Donuts Multigrain Bagel
- Dunkin’ Donuts Turkey Sausage Flatbread
- Starbucks Classic Oatmeal
- Starbucks Spinach, Feta and Egg White Breakfast Wrap
Most of the options above are lower in carbs and higher in protein than other menu items, making it easier to stick to your healthy meal plan.
4. Skip the free airline snacks
Most airlines offer a free snack during flights which usually consists of peanuts, pretzels or cookies. While peanuts are a healthy choice, pretzels and cookies contain more carbs, salt and sugar than snacks you could pack yourself. If you do find yourself without any packed snacks on a flight and are hungry, skip the free cookies- as tempting as they may be- and purchase some of their healthier in-flight snack options like a fruit and cheese plate, side salad, granola bar- anything that’s similar to what you’ve been eating on your healthy meal plan.
Be sure to follow the tips above for your next airport travel day if you want to stick to your healthy meal plan. Traveling always makes eating healthy harder, but it can be done!
The next time you’re traveling for business or pleasure and need to book airport car service to and from the airport, keep Overland Chauffeured Services in mind! Our professionally-trained chauffeurs will get you to the airport with plenty of time before your flight and will assist with the loading and unloading of your luggage. In addition to providing airport transportation in the Greater Kansas City area, we can also arrange and manage all of your ground transportation needs in over 350 cities worldwide through our network affiliations! To book airport car service for your next trip, contact us or book online today.