Hi from Charlotte!! A year ago I would be home already, but I’ve got one more puddle to jump to get back to The ‘Ville.
When I got to the airport this morning I searched high and low for something to eat during my flight for lunch. I had a bunch of snacks in the event that I didn’t find anything, but I looked anyways.
Options I Pondered
Jamba Juice Smoothie – I’d just had breakfast and knew it would be several hours before I was hungry again. The thought of babysitting a wet smoothie for 2 hours didn’t seem the most practical, even though it would be delicious and nutritious.
Jamba Chicken Caesar Salad – Lettuce sounded good and I love salads. I could complement with my snack back. But this one had chicken that was probably produced in a factory and refrigerated for 2 weeks, and that was not appealing.
Starbucks Yogurt Parfait – More easily transportable and relatively nutritious, but I had just finished yogurt for breakfast..
Starbucks Veggie Tray with Fat Free Ranch Dressing – I almost got this just for the veggies, but I decided they would taste pretty gross eaten plain and I wouldn’t go near FF ranch dressing with a 26 foot pole.
Starbucks Sandwich – Considered this for an instant, but then thought about soggy bread and moved on.
California Pizza Kitchen Caesar Salad – Vegetarian and yummy looking shaved parmesan but $9 for plain romaine lettuce and cheese (since I hate salad dressing and garlic croutons didn’t sound like a good travel plan) didn’t seem worth it. I eat lettuce everyday and can go a day without it!
Naked Green Juice – Transportable, inexpensive, green and healthy, but I looked at the nutrition label to find 280 calories and 50 grams of carbs on the nutrition facts panel and only 2 grams of protein and 0 grams fat. I decided this wouldn’t really satisfy me much.
So alas, I boarded the plane with just the snacks on my back.
However, I ended up making a pretty nifty mile high meal!
During the beverage service I asked for half a cup of hot water and poured in my packet of Coach’s Oats. Let that sit for 5 minutes.
I sipped off any water from the top and added a banana, which I sliced with my silver spoon from home
On top went a packet of Justin’s Maple Almond Butter for protein + fat
And a delicious mini meal I did make.
I also snacked on my almonds from home and some Quaker Oatmeal Squares from the conference.
Just finished this book. It was good but not great. I gave it to the passenger at the end of my row to read next!
Crop circles are so weird…
HUGE bummer my cross-country flight didn’t have WiFi. Huge.
My Tempurpedic pillow has provided excellent lumbar support on this flight! I hate traveling with pillows – they do not gracefully fit into my tote bag – but they are much appreciated mid-flight.
Excited to return to normalcy!
lynn @ the actor's diet says
i love passing on books to others. we got my sister-in-law a kindle for the holidays and my only regret is now we can’t share!
Chloe (In Fine Feather) says
Those options definitely did not stand out to me either! Although, Jamba Juice sounds awesome right about now since I’m sweaty from packing 🙂
Tracey says
Chloe, I just wanted to pop on here and say how much I love your profile picture! Everytime I see it in the comments, it makes me smile. 🙂
Chloe (In Fine Feather) says
Thanks Tracey, what a sweet comment! Glad to hear you like my profile pic too 🙂
Jillian says
Aw- it *is* cute! 🙂
Jennifer says
That’s so nice that you passed the book on!!
Glad you had a nice flight!
Julie H. of Spinach and Sprinkles says
You must be over the midwest… Those are pivots for irrigation 😛 …. I wish I would have seen how you do in flight food BEFORE the trip I just went on. It would have been great to bring a packet of instant oats! So smart, A+ girl!
Maria says
No Wifi?! Oh the horror!
Lauren @ What Lauren Likes says
Haha that is a GREAT plane meal 🙂
Christine @ BookishlyB says
That was really nice of you to pass along the book to a stranger. And yeah, crop circles are strange, in part due to that creep Mel Gibson movie awhile back.
jenna k says
i’ve never seen the small packs of justin’s like that! my grocery only carries the bigger packs.
Mollie says
world market sells them, if you have one near you!
Amy* says
That was so nice of you to pass the book on to a stranger!*
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says
“I gave it to the passenger at the end of my row to read next!”–
That is the nicest thing Ive heard all day! Seriously…you just made their day and also one less piece of clutter for you to find a spot for in your house 🙂 Double bonus.
Isn’t road food fun? kidding. ugh!! Not easy to find quality things or even passable things to eat in airplanes/airports, at all!
Puddle jumpers..used to live in NC and SC, very familar with those last legs.
No wifi..I know, It sucks! Just went thru that to Mexico City. Trapped for hours in a middle seat, no wifi, not fun.
rumfunandsun says
I wish I could be normal again! LOL!
CJ @ http://healthy-happy-whole.com/ says
Wow. Definitely impressed by your hodge-podge meal skills. If you ask me it looked pretty darn tasty! Anything with bananas and nut butter is right up my alley.
Sarah @ Sarah's Modern Bites says
Ha. Crop circles ARE so weird. Very weird. Your mini meal however looks perf. I love how you went over each meal option and its pros and cons… it’s exactly how I think in situations like that. Good thing you came prepared!
Happy Sunday! 🙂
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
Wow, I admire your dedication to eating healthfully and not wasting money! I am not as dedicated, LOL. Not be any means! I would have bought something at the airport and it probably wouldn’t have been remotely healthful, haha.
Kathy @ newlywedindc says
I travel a lot for work and go through that exact same decision-making process at the airport…hate it! I wish all veggie trays that came with ff ranch would replace that stuff with HUMMUS! That would help a lot.
Were your seatmates jealous of your meal….and did they ask why you were taking pictures of it? 🙂 I guess people might ask you that a lot! 🙂
KathEats says
They didn’t ask but if they do – I just explain the blog!
cathy says
i love how you gave away your book. that is so cool!
someone needs to grab this idea and make a big *thing* happen!!!
Angel7 says
Great way to make-do with what you had on-hand!
What is the purpose of crop circles? The crop circles look cool, as opposed to the average field!
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
Hilary says
Wow! Looks like you McGuiver’d up a great meal…way to go!
Lauren says
Way to improvise. You obviously made the best choice. Oats never fail.
Brittany @ Itty Bits of Balance says
Haha look at you making OOAP (Oats On A Plane)!
KathEats says
Hahah!
Jillian says
omg- I’m cracking up over here..
Margo @ Peanut Butter Trees says
That’s a pretty great air plane snack! And props to you for thoroughly examining all the airport snack options .. it’s really hard to find good, healthy ones that’s for sure.
Sweet and Savvy says
Such a cute and portable meal!!:) Love the resourcefulness!
robin says
Target carries the nut butter like you have( for the person who cant find it.) Why would you not touch the ff ranch dressing?
KathEats says
I just think fat free dressings are disgusting…and they’re full of preservatives and fake food
Jennifer says
I was going to ask that same question. Is that why you don’t like salad dressings in general? I don’t like the FF ones because of the funky flavor and I’ve heard they usually put in additional sugar or salt to make up for lack of taste. But, I do like the lowfat but I’m thinking twice now. Are the preservatives that you mention things that are listed under the ingredients that maintain freshness? There are quite a bit of things on there that I have no idea what they are. Maybe just oil/vinegar is a better idea.
Sarah says
I think that passing along books is a great practice!!
But seriously, calm down about the airport options, its not that bad.
KathEats says
Just thought it would be helpful to some to walk through a decision making process..no need to get upset!
Ma Fea says
And it WAS absolutely helpful, Kath! I’m about to embark on an air trip, and you put into print the thought process I go through each time. Thanks for that. 🙂
Dalia says
Kath, I’ve been following your blog for a while now and although I do like it a lot for the most part, I’ve noticed that you get extremely defensive and catty if anyone says anything in the slightest bit challenging to something you have posted. You have a ton of people oohing and aahing over your every bowl of oatmeal on here, who cares if someone has a different opinion once in a while? I’ve seen WAY worse comments on other blogs, and most of those bloggers just take it in stride. You seem to have a major problem with anyone critiquing anything you do or say, and unfortunately, that’s just life. No one is going to love everything you do – and when you are putting it all out there for the world to see three times a day, you should be open to more criticism than the average person.
KathEats says
I think you’re projecting more of a catty tone than I ever intend to come across. And usually, my tone matches the commenters. Plenty of people critique or challenge but they do so in an incredibly respectful way – and I respond back the same. Someone who tells me to “calm down” isn’t going to get as thoughtful of a response
Katie @ Peace Love and Oats says
VERY creative idea with the oatmeal! I would never have thought of that! And I LOVE crop circles! I think they look so cool from above and they’re shaped like that because of the way the crops are watered (I’m a midwestern girl… if you couldn’t tell).
Katherina @ Zephyr Runs says
Sometimes I forget what high standards you have for food- it’s wonderful and I’d love to read more about what you would and wouldn’t touch with a 26 foot pole 😛
KathEats says
fat-free flavored yogurts are another – I think they are so gross in texture, flavor and ingredients
Katherina @ Zephyr Runs says
Fat free everything is pretty gross in my opinion!
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen says
No wifi? What kind of airline were you flying!? haha Isn’t it funny that even a year ago, wifi was considered a “specialty” and now we expect it 🙂 I’m the same way. I can’t imagine a cross country flight without it!
KathEats says
Same one I flew out on – US Air!
Ashley @ Coffee Cake and Cardio says
I was totally thinking the same thing on my flight to Vegas this weekend. Crop circles are SUPER weird. I’m still trying to figure out how they are perfect circles. They kinda freak me out.
Jackie @ That Deep Breath says
Airlines need to step their game up…soggy bread and expensive salads are just annoying! Can you imagine if every airport had an amazing salad bar? ohhhhhhh no…..an oatmeal bar! a girl can dream.
Molly @ RDexposed says
You’re thought process sounds like mine during my Austin layover in May. There really needs to be better options at airports.
Ellie@fitforthesoul says
You’re right~crop circles are so strange!! they look trippy–especially if I think about the movie “signs” hahaha. 😉 I love how oatmeal can be made so easily, anywhere and any time!
Annabet says
The reason for the crop circles is center pivot irrigation. The irrigation well is in the center of the field and the sprinkler pivots around in a circle. The reason the circles are a perfect is simple, the tractors and planters utilize GPS units. Just like a garmin in your car or on your wrist, the farming is accurate to within 1 inch. Some people freak out that you could get easily lost in a field, but the rows are planted straight back and forth, so all you have to do is walk to the edge of the circle! There’s really nothing freaky about them, just a farmer and a tractor out there growing crops to feed the world!
KathEats says
That is so cool
Shauna says
And telling the world how it’s done. 😉 But I remember lots of really great circles and pretty straight rows in the days before GPS. Farmers have skills.
Kristen says
I love your mile high meal, and your thought process on airport food options is very familiar. Chicken and veggies that have been packed, transported, and sitting in a cooler = NASTY! Oatmeal is definitely the way to go, I will try this on my next trip!!
Katherine says
Wow, you guys moved to C’ville less than a year ago? Seems like way longer.
KathEats says
Just over a year ago
Meg says
That’s probably the most amazing and savvy in-flight meal, ever, Kath. Go you! 🙂
Jillian says
Jeez- way to ruin everyone’s alien-life conspiracy theories with your knowledge, Annabet ! 😉
Annabet says
Sorry, it’s just that farming and ranching is the way we chose to pay our bills!! But by all means, I could help come up with some other interesting stories!! 🙂
Maria @ Beautiful Busy Bee says
That is such a great idea for an airplane meal!!! Especially slicing the banana with a spoon, so clever!!! I would have gotten the JJ Chicken Caesar salad and maybe removed the chicken if it looked nasty.
Maren says
This is such great inspiration for when traveling. I find that I definitely sacrifice nutrition for quick and easy.
Kristen, Sweetly says
Even though obviously you said 26 foot pole, about staying away from the fat free ranch, the Grinch song is now on loop in my head… “I wouldn’t touch him with a … 39 & a 1/2 foot pole!” Haha.
Welcome (soon) back to normalcy!
KathEats says
Haha
staceyhealthylife says
Meals when flying are so difficult. It’s hard to find a fresh healthy meal. Sometimes snacks from home are the best option. At least you were prepared.
Lilly says
love the oats idea: I prob would have gone with oats from jamba or sbucks, but you were thinkin ahead and B.Y.O.O. 🙂 thanks for sharing you tips and thoughts, loved it.
Hannah says
Brilliant meal inventioning! But wow, you get WiFi on usual planes?! So envious!
Khushboo says
That, right there, is proof that healthy eating can be eaten anywhere at as part of the tightest of schedules!
Sarah Lienard says
Hats off to you, that looks like one of the yummiest and most satisfying plane snacks ever. An inspiration as always!
Sara says
In England the veggie packs at Starbucks come with hummus! They don’t eat much ranch over here. Also, funny story about passing books on. One time I was just sitting innocently in the terminal and a woman comes marching over, shoves the book in my face and says “Here, I’m done with this – you can have it.” And then just drops it and marches off again before I even realized what happened. THEN about 20 minutes later I sit down at the gate and find another book someone had forgotten. It was a weird day!
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
Trying to pick food at an airport or food court is like trying to pick the lesser of two evils. There really are no good options! Yesterday I was at the mall and got a Greek salad with pita and hummus. But the veggies tasted old and the salad was sitting in an inch of watery dressing. Yuck!
I love the meal you came up with on the plane. Good thinking! 😀
Lauren says
So glad you are sharing with your readers that you feel it’s important to avoid factory-farmed meat!
Marci says
I like to hear how picky you are at airports. I feel the same but think of things different about food since becoming more educated about where food comes from. I also find that foods I bring are carb-heavy, like oats, or granola bars, or dry cereals. have to find a protein to eat with it. admirals/prez clubs are helpful with cheese i’ve found!
Monica says
That is the most impressive in-flight meal I have ever seen! Major props given because it is sometimes all too easy to make excuses to eat what one typically wouldn’t when at the airport.
Lexi @ A Spoonful of Sunshine says
Crop circles confuse me as well. Correct me if I’m wrong, but wouldn’t they be less practical than a normal ‘ole square?
Maybe I’m missing something…