After many months on the ground, many of us are getting back on a plane to travel for work or pleasure.
I have been lucky enough to travel again - to visit family I hadn't seen for almost two years - and as I have been doing for many years, I brought food from home for the trip.
On the journey I've taken, which was quite long, they served food—not just snacks—but my response when the flight attendants passed by was always "no thanks" because I never liked airplane food, and almost worse, it never agreed with me.
I don't doubt that airplane food is designed by professionals, but I personally prefer not to eat it, and since I started refusing it, I arrive at my destination lighter, without gas or bloating, and without feeling dehydrated.
So, what do you take on the plane to eat?
- If your destination is domestic, you can really carry whatever you want, since you won't have to declare anything, although due to security regulations you cannot carry liquids.
- If your destination is international, it's pretty much the same, although you will have to eat or throw away any meat, vegetables and fresh fruit you are carrying with you before disembarking to prevent introducing pests into the destination country.
What am I taking with me?
- Nuts are best if they're unsalted. Traveling always leaves me dehydrated, and adding a lot of salt only makes it worse. Roasted, unsalted almonds are my favorite.
- Whole fresh fruit: Washed apples and pears stored in a small bag are my choice—I add a little lemon juice to prevent browning—although I've also brought peaches. If it's summer, you can cut up a watermelon and carry it in a reusable container that you can also use for the trip home.
- For the children I bring small sandwiches with almond cream and jam, or cheese, although I prefer not to eat bread if I am going to be sitting all day because it makes me feel bloated.
- A sweet treat, like dark chocolate, that is easy to eat and satisfying.
- Cookies and energy bars, just in case; flights are delayed, and sometimes layovers feel endless. Having something extra to eat, like energy bars or cookies on hand (homemade if possible, or with healthy ingredients if not), can make the time pass more pleasantly, or at least prevent you from adding hunger to a difficult situation, and keep you from having to resort to whatever they sell at the airport.
- I also always carry an empty reusable water bottle, which I fill once I pass through security, paper or cloth napkins depending on the final destination, baby wipes in case I need to clean myself or my children, and a plastic bag in case I have trash.
- I could pack a salad or a more substantial meal, but the truth is, I'm never very hungry when I travel. For trips that start very early in the morning, I sometimes pack overnight porridge that I make in compostable paper cups, which my children eat at the airport before going through security.
As a general rule, I avoid packing foods with a strong smell, like bananas, tuna, or chorizo (I don't eat cured meats, but it's the first thing that comes to mind), or foods that are difficult to eat on a plane, for example, mango, which is quite sticky even when cut up. I also try to avoid packing peanuts or peanut products, because many people have severe allergies.
These tips also apply to journeys by bus, car or train.
What do you take with you to eat when you travel?