There is nothing worse than being stranded without food in an airport (well maybe a few things!).
Even though I consider myself someone who is well prepared when travelling and always planning ahead – it doesn’t always work out that way. Sometimes you have to be creative and make do with limited resources. Whenever I am flying, I always bring food and never rely on what is at the airport or on the plane. I will do my very best to avoid processed foods and empty calories at all costs. As these foods will actually put your body through more stress than the flight itself.
No matter where I am going, I always bring with me something to munch on. It can be as simple as some rice cakes with almond butter to a blender bottle with a packet of vega or sun warrior protein (which I shake up with water once I get through security) and of course some all-natural bars (lara, organic food bar or trail mix). I try to keep it simple. However, as I said you can’t always plan ahead or bring enough food to cover more than one meal. Like last week when I was sitting in airport lounge in Chicago because my flight was delayed and we missed our connection. So I had an extra eight unplanned hours on my side – yeah you heard me eight. I certainly didn’t plan on that one. I was hoping to be in sunny Arizona by noon.
After thinking I was doomed and going to have to starve for the remainder of the day, I took a walk through the terminal only to discover that the airport was surprisingly filled with goodies that I could indulge in.
First I came across a random salad spot where I was lucky enough to build my own salad. Happy to not be tied to a plastic box of iceberg with cheese, croutons and creamy sauce – instead I got a spinach salad with chickpeas, onions, cucumber, carrots and cabbage. Then I found a little stand with all kinds of stuff from toasted organic soybeans, to coconut water (who knew?), to dark organic chocolate with acai and cacao nibs (always good to keep up those antioxidants when flying), to Mrs May’s organic toasted cashews. I have to say for a make shift meal – I did pretty well considering I thought that there was no hope.
Even if your airport may accommodate you – it is not worth going through the stress that you may not be eating for the next few hours. Yes I am that stubborn, I will not resort to anything with white sugar, white flour or anything that is fried. It’s not worth it.
What I learned from this lesson, is that it is still important to travel with more snacks and food than you had planned on. Even though I got very lucky and found enough food to satisfy my palette, you may also just need to be a bit creative when you are on the fly!
