So here I am, in the midst of a fairly long travel jaunt. 2 hours early to JFK airport, then 5 1/2 hours to LA from NYC, a 2 and a half hour layover, then 8 hours to Tahiti, a 2 hour layover, then 1 hour to Bora Bora, then a boat ride to an outer island. Over 23 hours of travel.
Who’s complaining though?? The long journey will be well worth it- as I’ll be shooting my first yoga video for my company, Envision Beauty, in friggin’ Bora Bora!
But how to cope with the journey itself- in terms of food and supplies. People often ask me what I eat when I am in transit. The first thing is that unless I have to leave at 6 AM for a flight, I always practice yoga before I leave. I feel so much better about myself if I have done my physical asanas and had a chance to meditate before I go. Otherwise, I feel like a slug sitting on the plane for so long.
Before I leave, I down an enormous green juice or smoothie (depending on how rushed I am), to fortify myself with as many readily available antioxidants as possible to protect against all the radiation from air travel. I supplement that green juice (juice not smoothie was the case for this trip), with raw hemp protein (which has lots of raw plant protein and fiber so I stay full longer), bee pollen (for extra enzymes and bioflavenoids), maca powder (for B vitamins and to give my endocrine system a boost), and spirulina.
Here’s what I tote along, to avoid eating the horribly processed airline food (reheated and microwaved and dead as dead can be, sucking our precious enzymes to digest it that we so desparately need to deal with the rigors of travel) and the extremely limited choices in the airport terminals:
- Sprouted bread (Ezekiel or Hemp) sandwiches with raw almond butter and organic apple butter
- Figs- #1 blood cleaner!
- Soaked almonds- I gave them to the girl (my new friend Bridgette!) on the plane seat next to me, and she couldn’t believe how much better almonds taste when they are soaked and sprouted. Plus the enzyme content increases 300%+ !!
- Organic Greens+ bars- I like the chocolate flavor. These are the only kind of packaged bars that I advocate eating. They are made with spirulina and algae, so there is plenty of healthy protein and fat to feel satisfied and stave off hunger. I much prefer them to sugary, date-based raw Lara bars.
That’s it! I keep drinking tons of water 20 minutes on either side of eating my snacks (so as not to dilute my digestive enxymes), so I don’t get dehydrated and bring on “false hunger.” At LAX I did see a decent looking sushi place, so the only food I bought was a raw seaweed salad and a tiny avocado roll. It was easy for me to sleep on the flights because I didn’t feel bloated and weighed down with gross food. In fact, I feel great!! I highly recommend always thinking ahead and packing your own travel snacks for long travel.
There are many foods that increase metabolism, so pick your favorites and start getting creative!
A bientot! Talk soon from the beautiful isles of French Polynesia. ☺
When you first started being really healthy, how hard did you find it.
I know every time I try to switch my junk food for vegetables and herbs I fall victim to cravings within days. Off ocurse a big part of any lifestyle change is willpower, but did you find somethung to supplement your willpower?
Hi Elena- switching from eating unhealthy food to healthy food can be a major transition. That’s why I don’t really believe in diets, I think that people have to make long-term lifestyle changes.
For me, the raw diet made it much easier because the food is so delicious, and I eat raw deserts every day that are amazing for you but won’t make you fat. I never feel deprived because both the food I eat and the deserts are so satisfying.
It’s important to do a cleanse or some kind of detox- it may involved a series of colonics or a juice fast. This will help pull toxins out of your body, old remnants of bad food, that can still circulate in your blood and contribute to cravings.
In the beginning I used to get cravings, but now they are all gone. It definitely gets easier over time, so don’t think that you’ll always have those cravings.
As you stick to the plan, you start to feel so much better that you don’t really ever want bad food anyway. Sometimes it’s nice to have a friend transition with you, so you can self-motivate each other. For me, it was very helpful that most everyone in my yoga studio was raw, and they helped me stick to it.
Good luck and let me know how you do Elena!
PS- try my raw fudge recipe. It can help you switch off bad deserts and still feel totally satisfied!
What an excellent post! Love the suggestions on what snacks to take along on the flight, as well as what you do beforehand. Do you have any tips on what to do for your skin while on the plane to keep it from suffering due to the cabin atmosphere? Any stretches or exercises to do in-flight? Thanks!
This is a great post and a great blog! Thank you for the air travel food ideas. I’m flying to China soon and was fretting about what to bring.
Hey Regina,
Make sure you drink a ton of water on the plane. It sounds obvious, but it’s really important for your skin. Also, when you get up to go to the bathroom do some kind of forward bend (it’s hard to do in your seat). This will bring fresh blood to your face and skin, since you’ll be stationary in a seat for so long.
I would also apply a moisturizer mid-flight as your skin starts to dry up. My product, The Solution, is great b/c it’s one ounce in an airtight container that you can take on the plane. :)
Also, avoid all caffeine when you fly! So your liver and other organs can focus on combating the effects of radiation on the flights.
Hope that helps!
All my best,
Kimberly
Hello Kimberly, Can you tell me about the flavor of maca powder and is it easily added to your green smoothies? And do you mix a spirulina powder in with your smoothies as well? I could never get pure spirulina powder to mix with water. It would just sort of float on the water.That was 12-13 years ago and I have since taken other “green” powders that had spirulina included and mixed fine with the water but would love other suggestions on how to include spirulina in my diet. Can you suggest a certain brand of maca and spirulina powder? Thanks Holly
Hi Holly!
Maca powder sort of tastes like sweet potatoes. I add it to my green smoothies (about 1 tsp) every day! It goes really well I think. I use the Navitas brand. I don’t mix in pure spirulina but Green Vibrance, which works really well. It has blue-green algae, probiotics, and many other ingredients other than spirulina.
Have you tried my spirulina pie??? If not you have to. It’s absolutely delicious and amazing.
Also, I just experimented with a spirulina recipe and will perfect it soon and post it.
All my best!
Kimberly
Hello Kimberly,
Your site has played a part of influencing me to go organic. I am starting out a little at a time. Last Saturday, I started from your 1st post and worked my way through November….now I’m catching up again. Thank you so much for sharing all of your information and knowledge, you are already blessed and will continue to be, because of your wonderful spirit.
I am on a journey to become a healthier person inside and out. Spiritually, physically and mentally stronger.
I was trying to locate the Organic Greens+ bars that you spoke of in this post at Trader Joe’s. Is that where you pick yours up at?
Hi Shanda!
Thanks so much for reaching out to me and for your kind words! I am so happy that you are on a path to improve yourself. If I can help in any way, let me know. :)
The Greens+ bars are sold at Trader Joe’s, and they are also sold at Wholefoods and other healthfood stores. Lara bars are raw bars, but just date-based, not algae-based, so I don’t find them very filling. And remember to stay away from those Luna, Zone, Cliff, etc. bars.
Please let me know how are doing on your path!
Keep in touch.
xx
Kimberly
Hi kimberly,i’m eni From Indonesia..you look very beautiful..by the way i will to make your apple pie recipe,i’m sorry because bad my write english
HI Eni! Thank you so much. Try the Pecan Pie also. :)
Hi Kimberly,
I’ve been yearning to take a spiritual trip, no destination decided on as of yet. The only thing stopping me is my financial state. Do you have any adivce or tips from your experience in travels?
Hi Kim,
I just came across Keen-Wah Decadence bars, can you tell me your thoughts on these? I really love the Green + bars when I’m on road trips, but was also curious about these.
Thanks!