Over the weekend, I experienced the Halloween spectacle at the University of Wisconsin, known for its wild, "Mardi Gras-esque" festivities. Never did I expect the celebrations to include rioting, fires and tear-gas; but then again, I didn't go there for the free candy.
Getting there was half the fun. Since traveling takes up to about six hours - between getting to the airport, flying and layovers - half the day can be spent in exhaustion, which sometimes might lead to eating whatever is in front of you. Luckily, I planned ahead and packed a lot of healthful snacks, with the help of Dewick and Jumbo, for my never-ending journey.
Whether you're out on the road or flying on a plane to visit friends at schools, it's really important to know how and where you can get food. Meals aren't served on planes now for three-hour flights or less, and I did not want to be dependent upon the airline's "party mix packages." This small sugary snack that accompanies the "complimentary beverage" is the perfect item to make you wish you didn't have only half an inch of personal space sitting next to a stranger.
Ever wonder why the dude with his involuntarily inactivated BlackBerry has the jitters and can't sit still on the plane ride? He had a cup of caffeinated soda and a "party mix pack." That's not to say it isn't fine to eat the "party mix," since it is only a small portion, but without the fiber and protein, it won't hold you over for very long.
Traveling is annoying enough, so why add any extra unsatisfying junk to your plate? Instead, choose foods that you know won't make your body feel uncomfortable during claustrophobic rides. For instance, if you know that dairy products make you gaseous, be nice to your poor traveling neighbor and don't eat them!
Prior to leaving for the airport, I made sure to prepare in advance so I could still eat healthily on the road. I had a nice bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, since it provides a quick meal that keeps me full for most of the day. Also, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends oatmeal for its high soluble fiber content, thought to lower cholesterol if eaten on a regular basis. Oatmeal, low in saturated fat, is also a good source of vitamins, calcium and iron.
Food gets expensive in airports, and our choices are better on campus. For lunch, I quickly ate a spinach salad with vegetables, and grilled chicken in olive oil at Dewick. I then bought an apple (good for fiber and the potent antioxidant quercitin) and a yogurt (calcium and protein) at Jumbo, which I had at the airport while standing in line.
Since I knew I'd be hungry on the plane and didn't want the "party mix," I made sure to buy a salad with fresh vegetables and a turkey sandwich on whole wheat at the Commons. I cut it up into quarters to have every two to three hours and ate half the salad on the plane and the leftovers of it before landing time. I never became so famished that I could eat enough to go into a food coma, a.k.a. the "Thanksgiving post-mortem-kill-yourself feeling."
The worst feeling is sitting in a car or plane, bloated and tired because you ate an entire bag of Pringles out of boredom, or just for lack of better options. This is why I highly recommend preparing food prior to leaving campus.
Unfortunately, there aren't gyms at airports for those long layovers (but since graduation is pending, researching more about this seems like a good plan) so traveling doesn't really grant room for exercise.
It's therefore important not to consume more than you burn in order to counteract weight gain. On the same note, consuming less than what you expend will initiate weight loss, versus the equal balance of energy-in, energy-out for weight maintenance.
Water is also essential while traveling, since it is easy to get nauseated while driving or flying. Drinking your eight glasses will ensure that your head isn't pounding within the first hour of the trip. Bottles of water get expensive, so I made sure to pick up a few from Jumbo and filled my Nalgene, too.
Sure, the cute couple from Ohio didn't look as cute after they had to get out of their seats three times for me to use the plane's bathroom, but don't let fear of embarrassment deter you from being good to your body. You'll never see them again anyway, so what's it to you if they label you as the annoying-pee-girl? Request an aisle seat if you're an H2O buff: the luxury of being able to peer out into the sky pales next to being able to freely use the bathroom!
Luckily, sleep prevailed on the way back to Boston, and I didn't have to bother anyone. Next piece of advice: visit the party schools so you don't have to worry about staying awake for the traveling!
