The Traveler’s Tales, Part 2: Eating Clean while Traveling

Aug 14, 2014

Some of you may recall that I have a mixed relationship with exercise. Although, I’m proud to report that I have exercised four times per week since writing that post! Probably through a combination of bathing suit season motivation, a conversation with Laura Vanderkam (she pushed me to maximize some 30 minute chunks in my day), and the purchase of some home exercise videos I can do in my basement after my kids are in bed.

But still, eating well while traveling is really hard. I don’t eat a lot of meat or dairy products for various reasons, and I’ve become a bit of a health nut in my late 30s. And I’m often caught in airports at odd hours with very little by way of food options.

So, I posted on my personal Facebook page a question about what kinds of healthy treats I could keep in my suitcase that didn’t require refrigeration and would make it through security. I was flooded with replies! Here’s the summary:

  • Wasa or Ak-Mak crackers
  • Packets of cashew butter or small containers of peanut butter (both available on Amazon!)
  • KIND or Larabars
  • Nuts
  • Dried fruit and fruit leather
  • Homemade oatmeal
  • Beef or turkey jerky
  • Protein powder (this one was totally new to me)
  • Bananas, apples, and oranges
  • Depending on your worry-level re: refrigeration: hard boiled eggs, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, baby carrots and string cheese
  • A REAL treat, like my favorite Trader Joe’s dark chocolate-covered almonds (pictured above!)

A few of my smart aleck friends wrote about liquor and Spam, but I think (hope!) they were kidding. What’s on your travel survival list? And more on what is on my packing list in an upcoming travel post!