Have Food Will Travel: Healthy Travel Snacks

As my bag runs through the X-ray machine, I cross my fingers this won’t be the time where security takes a look at the baggies of powders, the pills, boatloads of healthy travel snacks and decide they need to have a long conversation with me.

I’ve imagined some crazy scenario where they ask me to taste the white powder in a plastic bag, which I then refuse to do because darn it CALM magnesium is meant to be diluted in hot water.

Next they’ll inquire about the plethora of pills no longer in bottles and I’ll try to explain they are probiotics, digestive enzymes and oregano oil to all help keep me healthy while I travel amidst all those icky air germs.

Finally the food…mostly I’m sure they roll their eyes wondering if I think I’m heading off to a third world country. Little do they know my purse often looks like this too! I’ve learned my lesson with frequent travel, take food and ensure my stomach remains happy.

I mean how much more fun is a hike when you’ve got a great snack like this available?!

And let’s not kid ourselves, while I’m talking about travel here, I’ve always got snacks in my purse, my gym bag, my glove compartment, my jeans pocket, squirreled away every where I can!

All right it’s not quite this bad…but only because I didn’t think of it first.Source i415.photobucket.com

No really, I always travel with a few specific healthy travel snacks.

I mean when you’re living life on the go, you have to plan ahead to not be the person making excuses for eating donuts and greasy food for all your meals. Nothing wrong with that once in awhile, but I want to FEEL good and FULL during my active travels!

Healthy Travel Snacks

Longer flights involve attempting to bring heartier snacks because I know I’ll be hungrier than an apple can handle!

Foster Farms Bold Bites

I’ve been talking a lot about focusing more on my protein intake and finally these make it an easy option! Instead of buying a sandwich filled with ick at the airport, this little snack has enough protein to satisfy me and I know it’s what my body actually needs to recover from my pre-flight workout!

Why this over other protein options?? I’m so glad you asked!!

• No added nitrates
• No artificial colors or flavors
• No hormones or steroids
• 15 grams of protein
• Who wants plain chicken to munch on? Gimme the pre-flavored easy to grab-and-go!

Salad

If I have enough time, I will pack up something from a grocery store salad bar in a leftover plastic container. It’s a great way to ensure I’m getting in some veggies, alongside my perfectly portioned Bold Bites. Side note: those come in 5 flavors, but I’m extremely partial to the Koren BBQ Style seasoning!

Sweet Potato

I know you’ll think I’m kidding with this one, but I’m not! On a super long flight where I need something to hold me over, I bring a Tupperware container with a steamed sweet potato, shredded broccoli and tahini. Shake it around when ready to eat, it tastes great and doesn’t have an overwhelming smell for those around me.

Veggie Wrap

I prefer to do a salad when I can, but a wrap is a super easy way to shove a whole bunch of veggies in to something you can actually pick up with a little less fuss when crammed in to the middle seat. Go for a smaller tortilla, filled with hummus, veggies and well you probably know that I’m going to mention my favorite little chicken bites made from whole chicken breasts.
(Seriously click here to find Bold Bites near you and get to snacking!)My quick list of options for healthy travel snacks:

• Baby carrots – great crunch, takes awhile to eat, doesn’t need a dip
• Green apples – they help with motion sickness
• Dark chocolate – self explanatory
• Gluten Free cereal – a great way to get that carb fix, but without the sugar rush of cookies
• Foster Bold Bites – Quick protein source, great for recovery and feeling full
• Almonds – Protein and fiber to satisfy!
• All natural plant based protein bar or homemade protein bites
• Packet of almond butter
• Cheese sticks (for those who aren’t dairy free)

Avoid These Snacks

I try to avoid packing the following because they are way too easy to over eat or go from healthy to unhealthy fast:

• Dried fruit (perfect during a run, not while sitting for hours)
• Pretzels (again so easy to eat way too many)
• Granola (just a 1/4 cup is over 100 calories and not super filling on it’s own)
• Trail mix (usually high in fat and sugar and we eat like 5 servings instead of 1)
• Candy (I admit the only time I have cinnamon bears is when I buy them at the airport and yes I always eat too many, too fast)

Bonus: Flying dehydrates you, so make sure to travel with your water bottle! That’s going to help slow down the snaking too.

For the rest of my trip, you know I’ve got some protein powder inside a shaker bottle and each of my little in flight snacks also serve as a good tool for snacking during the day if I’m going long stretches between meals at either a conference or on the go press trip.

Planning for travel: healthy travel snacks to keep you full and not over do it! Click To Tweet

Why Travel With Snacks?

First because something happens when we board a plane that throws all hunger logic out the window and makes us feel the need to eat. Maybe it’s the snacks they pass out or just hearing the rustle of wrappers from others…or maybe it’s just a runner thing, but I really enjoy eating.

Like that moment you open your bag and remember you brought snacks, it’s magical.Ready for Hunger

Maybe it’s a hangry thing, but I’d simply rather know that I have the option for food than not…I mean up in the air or shoot half the trips I go on, it’s not always easy to make a quick stop for a snack. Especially as I know for sure us runners require more food than most!

Making Healthy Easy

I’ve just decided that if I’m going to eat I’ll do my best to make it healthy because that makes me feel better on the flight, when I land and keeps me running. As noted above, I look for snacks that are going to make it super easy to grab and go without a lot of thought.

Travel is food for the soul.

– Love this quote…but food is food for the soul too!!

Avoiding Stomach Issues

Knowing that dairy isn’t my best friend, when I travel I try to be even more diligent about avoiding it. Who wants to get headaches, feel groggy or have a stomach ache while traveling! Beyond that I’ve also been on a mission to up my protein and for some reason most available snacks are all carbs. Bringing some protein with me, just helps me avoid eating 5 bagels in a row!

And no all this planning doesn’t feel like a burden.

I learned that I can either plan ahead with healthy travel snacks or get caught in a stomach rumbling situation which leads to making less than stellar choices and to feel my best while traveling, I have to keep my food on track (thank you wonky digestion for that).

Are you a snack planner for traveling or do you wing it?

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This post is sponsored by Foster Farms, all opinions and in flight snacking are my own.