Eating Out and Traveling

I was sitting in the airport in Dallas/Ft Worth looking at my food options. I left on the 0600 flight out of Phoenix and at the time that you have to be at the airport, nothing is open. At the airport your options are limited…Starbucks, basically. So I deferred. In flight, your options are limited to anything that you brought with you plus coffee, juice, soda, or alcohol. As I am a bit of a nervous flier I opted with ginger ale wishing there was a diet option. Just couldn’t do tomato juice with a nervous stomach. BTW—ginger is a natural treatment for queasy stomach and motion sickness.

Once in Dallas arriving after 1030 and the food include smoothies, McDonald’s, Au Bon Pain, and Haagen Daaz. Since it still feels like 0830 to me a hamburger isn’t going to do it and neither does the thought of ice cream. So what to do? A protein meal replacement is a quick and easy option that is also OK with airport security. The powder packets are shelf stable and quickly placed in the carry on. The flight attendant will give you water and a stirrer if you ask or coffee can be a reasonable base fluid as well. Feeling pretty proud of myself I had breakfast for a little over a dollar for the cup of coffee and the chocolate protein powder I added…not bad compared to the cost both in dollars and waistline expansion to Starbucks mocha.

That is not to say that McDonalds and Pizza Hut can’t be on your travel menu of options. I have been surprised at which restaurants will customize the menu if you just ask. For example: McDonalds will do a no McMuffin Sausage and Egg McMuffin. McDonald’s also has a really nice grilled chicken salad that without the croutons and fruit is a great vegetable and protein option. Also pizza restaurants will do a “crustless” pizza if you explain how: non-stick pizza pan, cheese layer, toppings layer, another cheese layer and quick oven time until it melts. Cool, cut, serve with pizza sauce on the side for dipping.

Learning how to just say, “No,” to the items that that come with the entrée is important when eating out. These extras often include pancakes, toast, fries, hash browns, muffins, bread, etc, but of course these foods are diet-busters. Listen to Nancy Reagan and, “Just Say No.” Don’t worry about getting your money’s worth as you are still managing your, “bottom line.”