Perfect Snacks for Traveling

Having snacks on hand when you travel is very important. You never know what can happen or when a meal might get waylaid. I, especially, always have snacks for my plane trips, because a Biscoff or pretzels will only hold me for so long. It also helps if you have snacks that are higher in protein to keep your energy up and help avoid the dreaded jet lag.

Here are some snacks to keep in your bag, whether you're on the plane or on-the-go:

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Jerky

Dried meat is all protein, packed with flavor, and transports really easily. Toss some in a bag and it doesn't take up too much room either. Look for one that's low in added sugar, or make your own in the oven or a dehydrator. That way you can add the seasonings you like.

Dried fruit

Find your favorite fruits in dried form and eat them for a burst of energy and sweetness. I like prunes, raisins, banana chips, and blueberries. You can find these in our local grocery store, but also Trader Joe's has the widest assortment of dried fruits I've seen.

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Nuts

Very high in protein and tasty to boot, choose your favorite nuts, or opt for almonds and pistachios, which have higher levels than other nuts. A little goes a long way, so a handful is healthy amount. You can mix with dried fruit to make your own trail mix.

Hard-boiled eggs

Peel your eggs before leaving the house and pack them in your carry-on. They are an easy-to-eat snack, because they're really portable and contain almost all the nutrients your body needs. Sprinkle with a bit of salt to give it a little more flavor.

Roasted chickpeas

Chickpeas a high in fiber and are nutritious. They don't travel well on their own, but if you roast them, they become crunchy like chips. Sprinkle with spices to give them a bit of a kick and flavor. Your choice. You can make them salty, spicy, or any other flavor profile you enjoy.

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Cheese

If you have an ice pack or a lunch bag, bring along some of your favorite cheese cubes or slices. Not only is cheese high in calcium, but it also has a lot of protein. Don't go overboard, because too much cheese can make you sad, but it's also an appetite suppressant, which means you don't even need to eat much of it to feel full. Also, cheese and fruit go awesomely together, so a small container is the perfect travel companion on an airplane trip.

Pumpkin seeds

Not only do pumpkin seeds have high levels of protein, but they have antioxidants, vitamin E and fiber, so a handful will do you, and even help your immune system fight back against that germy airplane air.

Cheesy popcorn

Popcorn has been proven to help you feel full, so you eat less than you would if you chose another snack, like pretzels or potato chips. It's healthier, too! It doesn't really contain much protein, but if you sprinkle it with a delicious cheese, like parmesan, that covers that base and makes your popcorn even yummier. Don't be surprised if you find that you're getting jealous looks on the plane when  you crack open your bag.

Now you can pack your bag with a few really good snacks that will keep you full, give you energy and not make you sleepy, even after a long flight. Not only that, but you'll save money at the airport by not spending $18 on a sandwich to take onto your flight.

What's your favorite travel snack?

How Not to Get Sick On The Airplane

I've had my share of being sick on vacation, and it sucks hard. You wait for months to go on a fun trip and it's mostly ruined because you feel disgusting and want to sleep all the time, even though you want to do all the cool things. You want to start pumping up your immune system before you leave home, but you also need to be vigilant on the plane, where the stale recycled air can get you.

Here's how to amp yourself up and keep it going so you have an awesome trip while you're healthy.

Before you leave home

About a week before your trip, you're going to want to add a few things to your routine and pack some items in preparation.

Add some Vitamin C to your day

Whether you normally take vitamins or not, purchase some Vitamin C tabs, Emergen-C or immune-boosting chewables and take them each day the week before your trip. Pack some in your toiletry bag as well, because you might want to also take them while you're on vacation.

Drink extra water

You're body's mostly water, so water not only rebalances and refreshes, but it also helps flush out toxins, meaning your immune system can do its job instead of adding stresses to what it normally has to fight off.

Pack anti-bacterial wipes

Germs lurk in places where many people are and on surfaces that are touched a ton. I've seen the plane being cleaned in between flights and I'm almost positive they don't have enough time to wipe down all the tray tables, so not only can you use these wipes on your hands, but on all the hard surfaces around your seat, like the window ledge and arm rest.

Eat your fruits and vegetables

Start your routine of eating better, so you aren't fighting the grossness of fried foods when your immune system is trying to be 100%. The better you can eat, the better you'll feel and less tired you'll be during and after your flight.

On the plane

Stay hydrated

Pack a reusable water bottle or pick up a bottle of water at the airport, so you don't have to wait for drink services. Avoid soda and alcohol, as they can dehydrate you. Extra water will keep your skin from drying out as well, and saves you from drinking tea, coffee or water on the plane. Most planes don't clean their water tanks regularly and a good portion of them have been found to have bacteria in them, so if they don't give out closed bottles of water on your flight, just pass and drink your own.

Keep your hands clean

This is where your antibacterial wipes will come in handy. Bring them with you to the bathroom as well, because the water that comes from the tiny sink is also from those possibly-bacteria-laden water tanks. Better to be safe than sorry.

Bring along some mouthwash

You can pick up a tiny bottle at the airport. The mouthwash will keep your mouth from getting all dry and also coat your mouth against airborne germs.

Take some extra vitamins

On flight day, you may want to take a double dose of vitamins that you've been taking all week. At the very least, nothing will happen. At the most, it'll keep your immune system kicking a bit harder.

Eat healthfully

On travel day, you'll want to eat lighter than usual and avoid a bunch of carbs if possible. Eat a pre-flight meal that's rich in protein, which will keep you alert and not feeling all groggy and jetlaggy. Something like salmon and veggies or a salad with chicken on it is a perfect travel meal, because you also won't feel heavy once you get to 35,000 feet.

Tilt the overhead vent away from your face

Nothing is worse than having recycled air hitting your straight in the eyes. Not only is is cold (which I know a lot of people want, because the plane can be hot), but you're basically just spraying germs at your face, so if you must have it on, tilt it away from your face if you can. The first thing I do when I get on plane is to close that vent. I'm prone to eye problems, but even if I wasn't, I'd close it off to eliminate the chance of gross germs.

Now that you know how to get to your destination hale and hearty, you can get excited to enjoy everything it has to offer without slowing down before you even arrive.

How many trips have been ruined for you by sickness?

Awesome Places to Travel for St Patrick's Day

In just a few days, the world will be overcome with green: Green beer. Green shirts. Green beads. Green hats. And corned beef and cabbage. What? Don't ask me. I've never heard of anyone eating corned beef and cabbage outside of an Irish restaurant or St. Patrick's Day. I'm not sure it's for me, but I made colcannon, which is basically mashed potatoes and cabbage, and I liked it, so maybe I should give it a try. Anyway, back to St. Patrick's Day - the celebration of St. Patrick driving the (non-existent) snakes out of Ireland, by drinking green beer until you can't see straight. Why? Because that's how Americans celebrate almost everything. 

While you can probably find that old Kiss Me I'm Irish shirt in your closet and hit up your local parade, a change of scenery may not be a bad thing. Maybe you're traveling over the holiday and are looking for something fun. Here are some of the best celebrations around the world:

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Bueno Aires, Argentina

Argentinians love to party and they have the 5th largest Irish population in the world, so not getting in on this celebratory time is simply crazy talk. The parade and a ton of activities, food stalls and more go one throughout the day. Because it's not an official holiday, it's celebrated on the Saturday closest to St. Patrick's Day (this year the 18th), so you can actually celebrate twice if you want, or spend the actual day going to church and the traditional things one would do on Friday, which I'm sure many of the 500,000 Irish in Argentina take advantage of.

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Chicago, Illinois

The city is famous for turning their river green each year for St. Patrick's Day. Once the Chicago River has been colored, it's time for the festivities to start. The parade takes place on the Saturday nearest the 17th, but there is a second celebration that takes place in the city as well. The South Side Irish Parade takes place the day after the downtown parade, so you can make a weekend of it. There are also many Irish pubs around town to indulge in some beer, music and food.

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Dublin, Ireland

The ultimate place to get in on the festivities is where it all began. Well, not the parties. The holiday was quite religious and secular in Ireland until fairly recently. The first festival to be held in Ireland didn't occur until 1996 and it was only one day. Since then, it has grown into a week-long celebration of all things Irish that draws hundreds of thousand of visitors every year who come to party, join parades, watch concerts, witness fireworks, attend sporting events, take in theater performances and, of course, to drink beer.

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Montreal, Quebec

Who knew that there was a place in Canada that was like being in a little version of Ireland? Despite being in the heart of French Canada, you can find a selection of Irish pubs and a St. Patrick's Day parade that's like the US Postal Service. Whether snow, rain, sleet or hail, the parade must go on. It always takes place on a Sunday and is surrounded by an Irish Film Festival, charity ball, luncheon and more. 

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New York City

There's no surprise that a city built on immigrants has a large population of Irish and makes their celebrations its own. The city still has one of the largest concentrations of Irish in the world and their history can't be forgotten. New York's St. Patrick's Day parade lasts nearly 6 hours, and if you can't make it there, or hate crowds, you can watch it online. If nothing else, you won't be surrounded by a bunch of drunks, as alcohol is strictly prohibited. 

These are just a few of the places that throw a great bash. It's by no means a complete list, as you can also find wonderful celebrations in Boston, London, the West Indies, LA and possibly even your own city. You won't catch me at pub chugging a green beer, wearing shamrock sunglasses, but I might be quietly sipping a Guinness and watching a local parade on TV.

How do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day?