Filling up healthily isn’t easy in airports, but a little thought in the boarding lounge will get you off to a soaring start.
Feeling bloated and sluggish mid-flight isn’t fun, so choose water or fresh fruit juice — not pop or alcohol — and you’ll feel fresh as daisies onboard. Small snacks from home (like individual packs of almonds, granola bars or dried fruit) will keep your energy levels up and away from the chips and cookies.
But there’s plenty to curb your hunger in the food courts. Follow these six tips and keep your naughty purchases to the duty-free shop.
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Pack Snacks
Food packed in solid containers is great, because you can take the leftovers on the plane. Try a salad box with chicken breast and low-fat dressing, or fruit salads. Try pre-packaged snacks like almonds, pretzels or mixed nuts to fill you up if you’re travelling in between meals.
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Sensible Sushi
Sushi is easy to pick at through the flight, but some pieces are healthier than others. Brown rice has a low glycemic index so will keep you feeling fuller longer, while lightening-up on soy sauce cuts out sodium. Nigiri and sashimi are low in calories but watch out for anything with tempura or mayonnaise, like dynamite and spider rolls.
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Sass Up Your Sandwich
Sandwiches can be both healthy and filling, but only if we’re careful with the contents. Bulk them up with raw vegetables, increasing fibre while shunning sodium, fat and calories. Keep up the good work with a low-fat dressing like vinegar and olive oil, and skip bread infused with cheese.
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Healthy Hot Bowls
A hearty bowl of soup or chili will fuel you up (and warm you up) before a flight. Avoid bread – even if it comes with the hot bowl – which can leave you feeling sluggish and bloated. Try a small chili or a vegetable-heavy, broth-based soup.
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Better Burgers
Sometimes, check-in nightmares send us straight to the golden arches for our fix. Don’t despair — most burger chains offer healthy choices, too. Grilled chicken is often lower in fat and calories, but you can’t go wrong with a basic cheeseburger. Whichever burger joint you choose, resist fatty extras like fries, onion rings and desserts.
Slice Pizza’s Calories
Hard-to-please kids can make pizza slices easy picks at the airport. Eat smartly with a vegetable option, or pick a grilled chicken topped pizza for extra protein. Leave the crust if you can and avoid fizzy drinks and fatty sides, like chicken wings.
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