healthy snacks to take along
Oct 14th, 2007, 07:09 AM
#21
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I sometimes take a small baggie of nuts on a plane trip, but that's in case I want some protein and really don't like the meal on board, or they don't serve one. For instance, I had a flight from the US to some Caribbean island that involved 1-2 transfers, and even though it took about 7 hours total, no plane served a meal. I won't eat any of the snacks they serve on board a plane as I think it is all junk.
I don't snack in general, and wouldn't ever pack a bunch of junk food to take on a trip in order to eat between meals. I don't think most of this stuff people are touting as healthy are healthy at all. Granola bars, trail mix and dried fruit are not much better than candy. Dried fruit in particular is about 75 perecent sugar and has little fiber. I read an article that eating dried fruit is about the same as some sugar-coated cereal (maybe worse as there isn't much fiber left). Also, because the water is out of it, it is very high calorie for the amount you eat. Those granola bars are basically like candy bars, also.
A lot of Americans, in particular, eat too much in general, I think . With a few exceptions for medical reasons, people should stop needing to pack junk food snacks and eat them all the time, or to constantly need to be eating all the time. A lot of people just eat to be eating, they have no need for it and aren't even really hungry. I personally don't think packaged snack bars, etc., are particularly healthy as packaged, processed food generally isn't and is full of sugar and fats, as well as chemicals. I never eat that kind of stuff.
I don't snack in general, and wouldn't ever pack a bunch of junk food to take on a trip in order to eat between meals. I don't think most of this stuff people are touting as healthy are healthy at all. Granola bars, trail mix and dried fruit are not much better than candy. Dried fruit in particular is about 75 perecent sugar and has little fiber. I read an article that eating dried fruit is about the same as some sugar-coated cereal (maybe worse as there isn't much fiber left). Also, because the water is out of it, it is very high calorie for the amount you eat. Those granola bars are basically like candy bars, also.
A lot of Americans, in particular, eat too much in general, I think . With a few exceptions for medical reasons, people should stop needing to pack junk food snacks and eat them all the time, or to constantly need to be eating all the time. A lot of people just eat to be eating, they have no need for it and aren't even really hungry. I personally don't think packaged snack bars, etc., are particularly healthy as packaged, processed food generally isn't and is full of sugar and fats, as well as chemicals. I never eat that kind of stuff.
Oct 14th, 2007, 07:36 AM
#22
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Good points about the unhealthy snacks. I think the unsalted almond packs are about the best. I keep little packs in my purse to stave off hunger, a few almonds at a time do the trick. Then for dessert I have one or two little dried apricots with water. Exciting, isn't it.
Oct 14th, 2007, 09:01 AM
#24
Now I think I'm beginning to understand all of the people who talk about Paris as though it is a walk from crêpe stand to crêpe stand. It appears that some of you 'need' to eat something every 15 minutes.
If you watch French television while you visit the country, you may be amused to note that every single TV commercial for food items now has a variable health warning at the bottom of the screen, one of which is about the avoidance of snacking. 3 healthy meals a day without snacks in the goal for normal people (in France).
If you watch French television while you visit the country, you may be amused to note that every single TV commercial for food items now has a variable health warning at the bottom of the screen, one of which is about the avoidance of snacking. 3 healthy meals a day without snacks in the goal for normal people (in France).
Oct 14th, 2007, 09:13 AM
#25
Sure at home, 3 small healthy meals per day is good. But when you're traveling, you may be 'stuck' out doing something and not want to stop and eat, or when you get hungry there's nothing appealing available at the moment. I don't see the problem with carrying a few nuts or dried fruits in your bag when you're on plane, or touring a new city. Hardly makes you a junk-food-junkie.
Oct 14th, 2007, 10:46 AM
#26
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I try to pick out a small variety of healthy-ish (lower sugar, no candy, small portions) snacks from the local natural food co-op or the organic section of the grocery store. I don't like taking anything too delicious because I don't want to do too much snacking.
These have definitely come in handy during air travel layover, crazy jet-lagged, starving 2 a.m. wide-awake spells, etc.
I try to only use them when I am genuinely starving (usually due to confused body schedule at beginning of trip) and not for mindless snacking. Ever since a snack-free suitcase led me to tearfully beg the staff of a Paris hotel for a croissant at 6:45 in the morning (after no sleep for several hours due to painfully starving, confused stomach), I don't leave home without them.
My husband on the other hand - he's happy with a bag of potato chips and won't tough my "squirrel food"
These have definitely come in handy during air travel layover, crazy jet-lagged, starving 2 a.m. wide-awake spells, etc.
I try to only use them when I am genuinely starving (usually due to confused body schedule at beginning of trip) and not for mindless snacking. Ever since a snack-free suitcase led me to tearfully beg the staff of a Paris hotel for a croissant at 6:45 in the morning (after no sleep for several hours due to painfully starving, confused stomach), I don't leave home without them.
My husband on the other hand - he's happy with a bag of potato chips and won't tough my "squirrel food"
Oct 15th, 2007, 09:00 AM
#35
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Yeah - me thinks kerouac's blood sugar is running a bit low. I know that is generally the case when I get a bit nasty and extra sarcastic 
The reality is that SOME people do better with 3 meals a day, no snacking, SOME people do better with 3 slightly smaller meals and a couple small snacks, and SOME people do best with 4-6 small meals each day. People just need to figure out what works best for their own bodies and go with it.
For myself - I like to have snacks on hand because if I go too long between meals, I will get one heck of a migraine and that can spoil the rest of the day. A nice little snack can bring the blood sugar back up to normal levels and tie me over until the next meal.
The reality is that SOME people do better with 3 meals a day, no snacking, SOME people do better with 3 slightly smaller meals and a couple small snacks, and SOME people do best with 4-6 small meals each day. People just need to figure out what works best for their own bodies and go with it.
For myself - I like to have snacks on hand because if I go too long between meals, I will get one heck of a migraine and that can spoil the rest of the day. A nice little snack can bring the blood sugar back up to normal levels and tie me over until the next meal.
Oct 15th, 2007, 09:35 AM
#36
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I don't snack in normal life but I do tend to snack a bit when I'm travelling - all that walking round all day is more tiring than my usual desk-bound Mon-Fri, so I can understand why some people like to be prepared for that 3pm energy dive! I don't take anything with me though, I just dive into the nearest shop for a bar of chocolate 
