Sunday, March 25, 2012

Spring Break Travel Foods (Avocados Included)

Avocados enjoying some Belizian sunshine, I don't store them  outside just trying to make you jealous. Did I?

Packing clothes for a warm weather vacation is easy. Bathing suits, flip-flops, easy dresses and sunglasses and you’re pretty much set. I spent way more time organizing food to bring with us, especially since we were coming off a week of eating raw. As I packed what I consider a vacation essential, avocados, along with our swimsuits and shampoo it crossed my mind that perhaps other people don’t stress over their travel food. I looked to the twittersphere and asked, “Do normal people pack avocados in their suitcases?” It turns out they do or at least the food-focused people who I associate with. If you do not, we can still be friends though I’d give the avocado more thought (unripe in the luggage, ripe in the carry on). Avocados can be used for a smoothie in the morning, sliced in a salad at lunch or if you're really on board halved and eaten with a spoon.

Aside from the avocado I must have:
Green Juice- while they don’t go in the bags, I have one on the way to the airport. It’s part last hurrah and part laying the groundwork for a healthy trip.
Container of Crudité- I don’t leave home without a fairly large glass container of crudité. The kids love to munch when they get antsy on flights and it assures me that their travel day has some nutrients. For Saturday’s flight I had carrots, celery and jicama. The container also keeps my carry on tote of food cold.
Bars that don’t melt-there’s nothing worse than taking the time to procure proper snacks and finding they’re a mess when you’re ready to eat them. Skip any chocolate-coated bars. I brought a couple of pure bars and Sheffa bars with us.
Probiotics- if I were forced to choose one travel supplement it would be probiotics. My current probiotic is made by Renew life.
Tea- I take an assortment of tea bags with me wherever I go. For this trip it was Pukka 3 Ginger Tea.

I also asked some of the avocado packers what their must-pack snacks are:
Juli Novotny, the owner of Kookie Karma
Healthy SPF- if in tropical place, most of those spray sunblock are horrible for us to absorb via skin. (I brought Vive Sana on this trip)
 A roll up bag- I consider myself fairly fashionable and yet I MAKE myself take only 1 or two of everything. Less is more when you travel. Bring a tiny roll up bag that you can open up if you decide to buy things; Eagle Creek makes a great one
 Healthy Snacks for the plane- first class or not, better safe than sorry. You never know when there will be delays or issues and you’ll be stuck for hours with only airport food. Our Foodtrainers' March newsletter “Not a Total (Spring) Break” focused on travel snacks and we highlighted Juli’s amazing kale creations.

Amie Valone personal chef, recipe developer and more from The Healthy Apple
Chia seeds for protein
Avocados for healthy fats
Magnesium to help keep things regular

Amy Metcalf aka Amy Danger fitness instructor, nutrition enthusiast and PhD candidate
Lara bars
Steel Cut Oats (& my water heater)
Green tea
Packaged salmon,
Nuts and Shredded Coconut

Carolyn Brown fellow Foodtrainer vacay essentials
Running and yoga gear always
iPod with new playlists
Stash of healthy snacks,-Barney butter  is floating somewhere in every bag I own. luggage too 
Google ahead  of time the best active stuff to do and pre-pick restaurants

I think Juli said it best “I’d rather save those "bad" calories for great meals and cocktails at my destination.”
What are your must pack snacks or foods? Does it take longer to pack your food or your clothing? Have you ever boarded a flight with an avocado?

36 comments:

  1. I always pack Luna Bars which inevitably melt and cause a royal mess once I unwrap them to eat mid-flight! Great tips from everyone!
    Have a great trip!

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    1. Thanks Sam and thanks for my pre-trip workout. I don't love the soy in Luna Bars, maybe we need a new "bar for the mom" ha.

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  2. Have a great trip!

    I always bring food on vacation. We usually don't fly, unless we travel to Europe to visit family. If we drive, we bring most of our meals. One of my favorite snacks is a banana with Justin's almond butter (individually packaged). And I usually bring avocados, too! :)

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  3. Food is actually one of the first things I think about when it comes to what I am packing! I always pack larabars, mini packets of almond butter, and tea! I've yet to pack an avocado but now you've got me thinking it needs to be added to my list!

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  4. I am currently abroad, as you know. I spent more time & money packing snacks than clothes! Needless to say I have "nothing to wear" but I feel great! My essentials: oatmeal, almonds, gojis, chias, vega bars, and this time I added barney butter & boost energy drinks. Also, a good water bottle, Rx, and probiotics! Let's travel togetha!

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    1. Gojis another good one. Yes, a good water bottle key. I left my favorite at Flywheel the day before my trip. I have water bottle #2 here. Blogging conference perhaps?

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  5. These are some great tips!! I actually have some favorites as well (not including avocados though...I must admit); banana, Mojo Bars, my homemade granola, clementines, apples, and lots of walnuts/almonds/peanuts. And then, of course, there are all of my wonderful supplements!

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    1. See, I think the banana doesn't travel well...get black in any bag. What's on the supplement list for travel Gina?

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  6. We are away now and I brought Lara Bars and some raw nuts. Helpful to keep me full in between meals when only crap snacks seem to be available. :) I like the idea about crudités for the flight though! Great post as always Lauren.

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    1. Thanks for commenting Keirnan. Crap snacks abount so always good to be "armed". Don't leave home without crudite (or "cruds" as a client calls them). Laras and nuts are good ones to bring.

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  7. Perfect! I am getting ready for vacation this week! I always pack raw nuts and Mojo bars. Never really thought of anything else. The avocado is interesting...do you wrap it in your suitcase? I have visions of an avocado explosion all over my clothes. LOL! I'm not much of an eater in-route but the probiotic...excellent idea. THANKS! Where are you headed?

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    1. we generally have a gear bag with books, footballs etc for boys and that's where supplements/oatmeal and avocados travel. So they're separate from the clothes and since unripe have never exploded. I also keep a bag in carry on for peels/garbage so unused food doesn't get messy.

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  8. I never pack food for vacation. In fact, in my mind, vacation might be the one time a year to give myself a break and relax and enjoy myself (within reason). I mean, how much fun is it to go to Italy and not eat gelato or bread every so often. I'm wondering is most people, who don't have a profession that involves food and healthy living, really do pack food with them. To me, it seems as though it's setting up restrictions or strict boundaries before the vacation even begins. Now, don't get me wrong, we'll pay the price when we're back from vacation and find out that our pants are a little snug!

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    1. I think most people that I know, do NOT bring food and are so annoyed when they see their plane is delayed and all they have to choose from is Quiznos and Pizza. Those are the times that I'm SUPER excited {but feel bad for not sharing} that I brought kale chips! SWWEEETTT!

      And airplane food???? Forget it. Even first class isn't all that great.

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    2. Agree Juli. I can't do the "live a little" thing if it means Sbarro or a bagel. I also think anyone who has dietary restrictions (vegan, gluten, kosher etc) needs to bring food because some available options aren't even (nasty) options.

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  9. Don't get me wrong, the point of packing food is to avoid airport/airplane food and not the deliciousness that awaits away. I'd rather my kids (and us too) have fruit/veggies/nuts versus the trans fat garbage in an airport. I don't think it's about those in a food-related profession. Many of my friends in NYC and Vermont pack more than I do when traveling. It all depends if you feel good bringing some of your routine away or would rather leave it all behind. I feel much better having almonds and taking a probiotic to keep my GI system happy than eating food that isn't worth it. Good point, I think it boils down to how wedded one is to eating a certain way. For me, eating wholesome food isn't restrictive. I feel trapped if I have to eat food that isn't that good just because I'm starved. And funny enough, my "winging it" pals always dip into my food bag when they're with us.

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  10. I totally agree...the food/snacks is for the plane and layovers, etc. I never have a hard time finding healthy and/or delicious food once I hit my destination. But there's nothing worse than being hungry on a plane or in airport! And the probiotic is just a great idea if it can help keep you "regular" -- which for whatever reason is hard for me and my husband when we travel.

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    1. It's a problem for many people. I blogged about it here http://foodtrainers.blogspot.com/2010/09/potty-talk-part-deux.html
      probiotic, magnesium as Amie said (I like natural calm packets), chia and actually avocado you'll recall as a "pooping personal assistant". Too much of a dietary change among other factors can leave you binded.

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  11. I usually try to board a flight with some sushi (avocado + cucumber to avoid spoilage). I also take plantain chips with me. And a piece of chocolate. For the most part I just don't like to eat on flights! Somehow I just feel gross?

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    1. love sushi as a travel meal, I had a raw roll on our outgoing flight. I don't eat on flights and still feel gross from that nasty cabin air.

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  12. Replies
    1. I really do when away. Despite my day to day complaints put me on a trip and I'm a happy girl. I think you are same, no?

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  13. Replies
    1. good one. Pure Food and Wine makes a killer "caesar" with nori, so good for that added salty goodness.

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  14. I always pack some sort of items with me on my trip. If they have a fridge, I will try to bring healthy items for breakfast, snacks, etc.
    I do usually pack a portable fruit or veggie, nuts (since they travel well), and I always make sure to buy a water once I go through security. I always have to have water with me wherever I go.

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    1. Are you one of those super hydrators? I think I do tea because I'm not as good with water.

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  15. I eat a whole avocado almost every day, but I actually don't think I've ever traveled with one! Raw fruit and nut bars and "energy balls" are my go-to travel snacks.

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  16. Next trip Amber. Avocados in the suitcase. And explain these balls, homemade or purchased? I'm guessing homemade.

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  17. And I thought I packed it all! But, avocados, no, although, now that I think about it, why not? Staples on my travels include bars- Perfect Foods Bars or Zing bars, nuts, tangerines and or apples, tea (green and Pukka now that you've turned me on to it), and crackers (Mary's Gone Crakers or Crunchmaster). Love the probiotic too, but do you bring ones that need to be refrigerated? Yes, I am headed to NZ with family, including my parents and hubbys parents. Let's share travel notes when we both return :-)

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    1. I do refrigerate my vitamins but travel with it in my carry on and re-refrigerate upon arrival. When do you go to NZ? Total bucket list place for me. Let me know I'll gather some info for sure.

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  18. I cant go anywhere without my phone/ipad/camera and other technology ball and chains =)

    foodie-wise I carry a lot of fruit leathers, dry roasted unsalted nuts, dried fruit, water, kombucha, and fresh fruit! <3

    have fun girly!

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  19. I hope you are having an Amazing time :)

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  20. Love carrying avocados and other healthy snacks while traveling. I can't imagine how much more difficult this process will be though when I eventually have kids!

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