Travel Snacking – What to Eat and What to Avoid

The summer is a popular travel time, and while we all love fun vacations, it can be difficult to maintain a healthy diet when we’re out of our usual routine. Smart food and drink choices while we’re traveling can make all the difference in energy levels, so we can really enjoy every bit of our trip.

Here are some good (and not so good) options on how to make healthy choices when flying from a recent “Love it, Like it, Hate it” segment on WGNO.

Love It!

One important thing to remember while traveling, especially in the air, is to stay hydrated. Also, look for snacks that are high in protein and low in white carbs and sugar to maintain your energy level so that you feel great when you arrive to your destination.

To stay hydrated, be sure to drink plenty of water or unsweetened black or green tea. Unsweetened tea can hydrate just as well as water while providing a small boost of energy.

At Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans airport, the Gladiator Smoothie from Smoothie King provides a nice boost of protein in a refreshing drink. Just skip the fruits packed in sugar, and instead opt for half a banana and a scoop of peanut butter as your two optional add-ins.

Also, Harvest Snaps’ Snapea Crisps contains four grams of fiber and five grams of protein while only containing 110 calories and 17 grams of carbs.

Like It!

Packed with 45 grams of protein per pouch, Jack Links Turkey and Beef Jerky is a decent snack option, though the high sodium and added nitrates are a drawback.

Barefruit's Crunchy Cinnamon Apple Chips are also worth considering due to the low caloric content (only 180 calories per bag and 8 grams of fiber) but the fact that these chips are carb-heavy and lack healthy fats leaves something to be desired.

Hate It!

To get straight to the point, all of the obvious things like candy bars, chips and soft drinks are permanent fixtures on my “Hate It” list - traveling or not. The main things to be on look out for are the less obvious unhealthy options like some juices, teas, and trail mixes with high sugar contents.

For more snack options, watch the full “Love it, Like it, Hate it” segment on WGNO New Orleans.