Pass on the stroopwafel, and say yes to plant-based options.
A lack of nutritious and satisfying food has been a confounding reality since the beginning of the modern-day airport. Based on my experience and trends in travel and airport competition, we are seeing some culinary improvements in higher volume international airports. But if you don’t step off your flight into the right terminal with the right amount of time to wander and assess menus, you may be left scrambling.
Here are four travel snacks I found to be effective when searching for plant-based sustenance on-the-fly:
- Made-to-order veggie sandwiches
- Veggie burritos or burrito bowls – Load up on vegan rice, beans, guacamole and vegetables.
- Smoothies or juices – Be on the lookout for potential sugar overloads/additives that can make you crash later.
- Newsstand scavenging – If there isn’t a solid restaurant option in-site and you have to make your flight, stop by the newsstand and pick up any of the following: almonds or cashews, trail mix, dried and fresh fruit, or Lara bars. These are all good options for interim nutrition.
The following airports offer great plant-based food diversity: Los Angeles Airport (LAX), San Francisco International (SFO), Denver International (DEN), Chicago O’Hare International (ORD), Baltimore Washington International (BWI), Las Vegas, LaGuardia (LGA), Newark Liberty International (EWR), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL), Portland (PDX), and DFW Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW).
Once you land you’ll have more options, but it’s great to do some advance planning about where your next meal is coming from! A couple of quick solutions include: searching Instagram hashtags for crowd-sourced recommendations or consulting a Vegan Restaurant Finder directory like Happy Cow. Eating on the road can be a challenge, but it can also be an opportunity. Get the fuel you need, and explore more when you reach your destination.
