If you’re like me, when hunger strikes, it REALLY strikes. Nothing is worse than sitting on an airplane hanger (so hungry you’re angry) than ever for hours. Should you pack food or pick something up after clearing security?
Careful selections will be your best friend here because flying can bring on some very unexpected and embarrassing gas. When I was younger, I always thought it only happened to me, but turns out most people experience a little gassy feel during flight.
Researchers, dietitians, and doctors agree on some common components that could be at work here. Your diet and snacking preferences play a pretty big role in just how upset you may feel on a flight. Let’s look at some no-go foods and acceptable snacks that are safe and healthy for travel.
Foods to Avoid When Flying Unless You Want Others to Notice You
While not everyone is susceptible to the gassy bi-product of indulging in delicious legumes, unfortunately for most, that ole bean adage, “they’re good for your heart and will make you…” holds true, even more so in higher altitudes.
What happens when we fly is the natural gases in our stomachs expand, which in return can cause a string of bad vibes, flatulence being just one.
You could experience an upset stomach resulting in trips to the back of the plane.
Nuts can be tricky, especially if someone onboard has peanut allergies. If you are traveling with a nut mix, be sure to bring unsalted nuts.
Sodium can increase bloating in the skies. You can also place good money on those fatty fast food places that litter the terminal.
Options may be limited, but if these greasy fatty foods are bad on the ground, what do you think they’ll be like 30,000 feet in the air?
Fiber-rich foods are going to be not so good options when flying. That means broccoli, fruits, salads, and red meat. Also, carbonated beverages can make you miserable when those fizzy bubbles start to expand with elevation.
My Hands Are Tied: What Can I Eat When Flying
This one may take a little research because we don’t want to just bring all sorts of snacks that aren’t necessarily healthy for us on our trip, now would we?
Better yet, how you store your snacks can also play a factor in what you prefer to bring. For me, I prefer using travel containers that have sections similar to a bento box, which isn’t a bad on flight meal idea.
If you are taking a short one-hour flight, then chances are you do not need to worry too much about eating, but for long flights, you will still want to avoid cabin food and their prepared beverages.
Invest in a durable tumbler or portable water bottle. Some have infusers that allow you to flavor your water with natural fruits.
Lite and Friendly Food Travel Options
However, for inflight foods you can bring aboard to fend off those hangry feelings can include some delicious lite options like low fiber fruits (grapes, bananas, nectarines), sandwich, tuna, lean meat, cooked grain (quinoa, brown rice, couscous), crackers and even tasty dairy-free smoothies are great go-to’s.
There’s no reason to let your diet go to pieces due to a few long flights and poor food choices. Packing a nutrition-packed gut-friendly snack is certainly possible.
A key rule to go by. If it gives you any problems not being in the air, do yourself and other passengers the courtesy of avoiding disaster because it will not be any better when soaring through the clouds.
