Christmas Health Tip: Traveling with Good Food

With the holiday season just around the corner, many of us will be packing up and heading off to spend time with loved ones. Unfortuantely most airports and roadside stops offer the standard stodgy fare. The good news is you can bring your own food! Here are some foods that you can pack to eat well, which will keep you feeling better on your trip:

 

• For early morning flights, you can't go past a packet of instant organic oatmeal along with a small bag of nuts and dried fruit.   The cabin crew will have hot water and cups for mixing.
• Cute little cracker sandwiches made from cream cheese or hummus and sliced tomatoes and capsicum make a refreshing, crunchy snack.
• Fruit bars, muesli bars, protein bars and other shelf-stable goodies are a must.
• For a light meal pack some sandwiches. Try almond butter with raisins; hummus or guacamole with veggies; or cheese and tomato.  Or you could pack a chicken, tuna or egg salad sandwich that you know you can keep cold and eat within a couple of hours.

Car and Chilly Bin Foods
Your chances of finding healthy foods along State Highway 1 are pretty slim but with a little pre-planning you can make the trip a whole lot tastier.  A large chilly bin is essential for the car.  Here are some ideas:

• Pack sandwiches, yoghurt, assorted cheesed, cold drinks, fresh cut veggies, sliced deli meats, fresh fruits and even special treats such as oat and raisin cookies.
• Pre-made snacks are perfect:  Whole grain salads such as pasta, brown rice or quinoa prepared with veggies, nuts, tofu, or tempeh are delicious at room temperature.
• Our natural cup-o-soups made from legumes, grains and dehydrated veggies are easy to pack.  They're light-weight and don't need refrigeration.  Just add hot water and stir.  A large insulated thermos keeps water piping hot for hours.
• Fruit bars, muesli bars, protein bars and other shelf-stable goodies are perfect to have on hand.

At Your Destination
We've all been there - staying with relatives or friends who aren't as conscious about good food choices.  Here are a few suggestions that may help:

• Bring along healthy food gifts.
• Offer to help in the preparation of meals or cook a meal for your hosts.
• At a conventional grocery store, shop the perimeter of the store as much as possible.  Look for wholemeal bread, fresh veggies and fruits, and whole grains such as brown rice.

We hope these tips help you enjoy staying healthy these holidays!