How To Eat Better At Airports

Nutrition conscious travelers have finally been heard. Finding diet foods at an airport is much easier than it used to be.

There are far more healthy choices to grab on the run (or waiting between flights), but your family still has to be selective and choose wisely.

Common Sense – Plan Before The Airport

Do not to arrive at the airport hungry. Whether you’re heading to the airport from your home or a hotel, schedule time to eat ahead of time.

The one way to ensure you don’t ruin your diet while traveling is to bring your own food.

Suggestions include: Energy bars, Nuts: Almonds or cashews, Carrots, celery, cherry tomatoes, whole grain bread with light cheese or peanut butter, Fruit (apple, banana, grapes), Yogurt, unsweetened dried fruits

Hungry and Have Nothing With You At The Airport?

Takeout kiosks/news stand:

• Fruit: Apples, oranges and bananas as well as cut-up pineapple and watermelon.
• Hummus: Often found in a snack pack with raw vegetable or pita.
• Nuts: A great protein boost and easy to carry on the plane. Caution: Be sure your nuts are unsalted and don’t overeat.
• Oatmeal: Avoid overloading with too much dried fruits, brown sugar or nuts.
• Salads: They are usually quite fresh (rapid turnover). Beware of the dressing and crispy noodles, croutons or bacon.
• Sandwiches: Even if pre-made, they can be a good choice, but beware of too much cheese or tuna/ chicken salad with mayonnaise. Plain turkey or chicken can be filling and if you can eat only half of the bread, all the better. And – no – you do not need the bag of chips that comes with the sandwich.
• Yogurt: More common at airports (both in containers and frozen). Keep it plain without a lot of add on fruits and toppings.

Food Chains Now Have More Healthy Choices

• Au Bon Pain: Garden Vegetable Soup is good with only 80 calories for a medium-sized serving.
• Burger King: Select the junior Whoppers or junior sandwiches and skip the fries. Or order a salad (with the dressing on the side).
• Dunkin Donuts: The egg white veggie flatbread is a great choice and can be even lower than the 280 calories if you have them hold the cheese.
• McDonald’s: There are a lot of choices from salads and fruits to yogurt parfaits. A small hamburger or chicken sandwiches can also be good.
• Starbucks: Their oatmeal is only 150 calories. If you must have a bagel, their multigrain is less than 300 calories, but be careful smearing on the cream cheese.
• Subway: This chain has always been diet friendly, especially if you order your sub small or on a pita pocket. Just be careful with any add ons like cheeses and dressing.
• Wendy’s: Consider their baked potato (no cheese, butter or sour cream). And a Chili. This is my wife and daughters favorite food from Wendy’s anyway

Yes you can definitely make it through an airport keeping your family healthy and watching your wallet.

Of course, if you got stuck in traffic and have only five minutes to get on the plane for a four-hour flight – enjoy that little bag of the airline pretzels.