Air Travel: Such a Pain But Sooo Worth It!
Like all fit foodies, I love to eat and eat well. My standard procedure is to consume three squares daily, plus a couple of snacks on a regimented schedule as faithful as the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. But every so often I have to sacrifice my perfect eating routine for the greater good—namely vacation.
Up at 3:30 a.m. and out the door 45 minutes later, adrenaline pumping, I am jazzed about my trip to Hawaii. (Hawaii!) I can survive without sleep but not without food, so I mix up a quick smoothie for the road. Nothing spectacular, just a few leavings from the fridge—some cottage cheese, the tail end of the juice, a really black banana, a few blackberries and a heaping tablespoon of flax seed meal to give it a little chew factor.
At the airport I have just enough time to pay my respects to the coffee gods and leave my tithe at the Church of Starbucks.
By the time the plane touches down, I am starving. With a three-hour layover, I’ve got plenty of time to scout out something decent for lunch. Unfortunately, it is only 8 a.m. in Phoenix, so breakfast it is! I try to make a healthy choice but end up with a giant breakfast quesadilla stuffed with eggs, cheese and sausage. I devour everything on my plate and don’t feel guilty one bit—it was delicious!
Back on board at 11 a.m., I settle in for the duration. Half a John Grisham later, I am getting hungry and pull out my emergency stash. This bar has 20 grams of protein and actually sticks with you for a while.
Four time zones later, I land, collect my rent-a-Jeep and head off to my final destination. How pretty is this?!
Once settled, I dress properly for dinner: flip-flops, T-shirt and a ponytail is in order. I opt for an oriental chicken stir-fry and a glass of wine. After a day with virtually no veggies, it is perfect, although I secretly wish restaurants would utilize brown rice.
After dinner, I meander through the property, pick a spot, lie back and listen to the distant waves with a beer. Not exactly my usual day, but I’ll take it anytime.
How do you attempt to stay on track when your schedule is disrupted by travel? —Karen