Plane
Nutrition
One of the
hardest parts of maintaining a healthy
lifestyle is eating while traveling.
It’s especially rough if you are flying,
for a few reasons:
Limited options for anything healthy in
the airport. I know in Dallas’s Love Field, Southwest
Airlines home base, the first smell that
hits you once you step foot inside is
from Cinnabon, the second is McDonalds;
it goes down hill from there. It’s
tempting to stop in and grab a big,
juicy cinnamon role, but stay strong my
friend, it will cost you more than $5.
For one thing all the fake sugars and
processed carbohydrates will require a
large amount of water to digest, water
you can’t spare when you’re way up in
the air.
If you had a weak moment and caved in,
you’ll soon find that 26,000 feet high
isn’t the best place to digest it all
that sugar. Flying is hard on your
hydration levels due to the extreme
altitudes, which pull water out of your
system much faster than you think. Try
eating a piece of fruit instead, the
fruit will provide you with water and
the fiber in fruit will trigger the “I’m
full” signal much quicker than anything
processed.
Sky high prices in the airport.
Who wants to overpay for a lackluster
meal? $10 for half of a chicken breast
and some wilted lettuce, no thank you. I
wouldn’t depend on the Chili’s in the
airport to fill you with any substantial
nutrients, and since your body craves
quality, you’re still going to be hungry
by the time you board the plane. $10
dollars will go twice as far if you pack
your lunch before hand and then carry it
with you. This is especially true if
you’re traveling with kiddos. Hmmm, what
should I feed my child to make sure they
behave on the plane? Don’t you want
natural, calming, organic food from the
earth, or synthetic rocket fuel (sugar
created in a lab) that will energize the
little ones like they’re on speed?
I also suggest you eat a healthy meal
before you even get in the car to head
to the airport, and also have a lunch
packed (sandwich, salad, protein bar,
fruit and some nuts) to use as an
emergency, because if your plane is late
or cancelled, you will need it. Remember
the reason we consume food is simply to
extract nutrients and internalize
energy. Don’t look to food for
excitement; it won’t make you feel happy
for more than a second, that isn’t
food’s purpose. When was the last time
you thanked yourself for eating junky
food?
In order to avoid the pain of junk food,
plan ahead; what you are eating now will
determine how you feel in 4 or 5 hours.
If you eat junk food right before you
board at 9am, you won’t be alert and
ready to explore your new destination
when you arrive at 1pm. You’ll feel
lethargic and primed to take a nap while
your body uses preservatives and cheap
sugar as substitute for energy. Is that
how you want to start your vacation?
Written by
DanielCrouch, True Balance Health
and Wellness
Personal Trainer & Wellness
Guide.
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