Your airport food survival guide

[celeb_2006]

Your Airport Food Survival Guide - Page 1 - MSN Health & Fitness - Healthy Habits on the Road

Whether it’s for business or pleasure, traveling always feels like work. Consider these blood pressure-elevating stats: There were more than 4 million domestic flights in America last year. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, about a quarter of them were delayed; 92,200 were cancelled outright; and 10,694 flights in progress were diverted to different airports. Talk about a headache.
Unfortunately, that headache can translate into trouble for your waistline. Researchers from the Netherlands found that anxiety can cause you to overeat when you’re not hungry. All things considered, it’s no wonder that the allure of the airport terminal food trap is so strong.

Of course, the occasional indulgent comfort food isn’t anything to worry about. But for frequent fliers, grabbing a bite each and every time you have to make a connection is a quick way to add 10, 20, or even 30 pounds of extra baggage to your frame over the course of a year. A better strategy? Look over this airport survival guide from the authors of the best-selling weight-loss series Eat This Not That.
Worst Airport Breakfast Pastry
Dunkin’ Donuts Blueberry Muffin
510 calories
16 g fat (1.5 g saturated)
490 mg sodium
51 g sugars
This might surprise you, but you’re better off ordering almost any doughnut on the Dunkin’ Donuts menu than you are ordering any of the muffins. That’s because muffins are little more than cupcakes in disguise. Nutritionally speaking, most doughnuts stack up better: They often contain less sugar, fewer carbohydrates and about half the calories. Not only is the Sugar Raised Donut one of the lowest calorie food items available at Dunkin’, it’s also one of the lowest in sugar content, as well.
Eat This Instead!
Dunkin’ Donuts Sugar Raised Donut
190 calories
9 g fat (4 g saturated)
4 g sugars
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Worst Airport Sandwich
Quizno’s Classic Club with Bacon (regular)
920 calories
54 g fat (15 g saturated, 0 g trans)
2,340 mg sodium
The bacon alone isn’t what gives this sub 600 more calories than its Subway equivalent. A good chunk of the blame lies with the gobs of fatty mayo and slices of high-calorie cheddar, as well. If you’re hankering for a sandwich between flights, hit up the airport Subway, instead. Subway’s six-inch club packs in 26 grams of belly-filling protein, thanks to the lean meat triumvirate of turkey, roast beef and ham on a bed of veggies.

Eat This Instead!
Subway Club (6 inch)
320 calories
5 g fat (1.5 g saturated)
1,160 mg sodium
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Worst Airport Snack
Auntie Anne’s Salted Pretzel
340 calories
5 g fat (3 g saturated)
400 mg sodium
Not only does this pretzel boast 80 more calories than the snack wrap from Mickey D’s, it’s also loaded with carbohydrates, which will fuel you in the short term but set you up for a crash later—not what you need during a long day of travel. McDonald’s snack wraps live up to their name: these low-calorie, protein-rich munchies will keep you feeling full for longer. Just make sure you order it grilled to keep the calorie count down.
Eat This Instead!
McDonald’s Grilled Chipotle BBQ Snack Wrap
260 calories
9 g fat (3.5 g saturated)
830 mg sodium
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Worst Airport Coffee Drink
Starbucks Caffe Vanilla Frappuccino Blended Coffee (venti)
560 calories
16 g fat (10 g saturated)
84 g sugars
The biggest difference between a vanilla frap and a vanilla latte is in the flavoring—lattes use vanilla-flavored syrup, while fraps use “rich and creamy vanilla.” Ordering the frap without whipped cream will save you 120 calories, but you’ll still consume 170 more than if you’d ordered the latte. And if you’re feeling extra good, switch to a skim milk latte and save another 40 calories. Choosing a skim grande over a venti will bring your total count down to 160 calories and 28 grams of sugar.
Drink This Instead!
Starbucks Iced Vanilla Latte (venti)
270 calories
5 g fat (3.5 g saturated)
41 g sugars
Bonus tip: Watch out forThe 20 Worst Drinks in America—you’ll be shocked at how many calories your favorite restaurant beverages contain.
Worst Airport Treat
A&W Root Beer Freeze (medium)
530 calories
11 g fat (7 g saturated)
47 g sugars
This A&W original combines two heavy-hitting ingredients: high-calorie, sugar-packed root beer and sinful ice cream. For a cold and tasty treat that’ll hold you over while you wait for your flight, the chocolate sundae is a simple option that falls well under the 500-calorie barrier.
Eat This Instead!
A&W Chocolate Sundae
320 calories
8 g fat (4 g saturated)
15 g sugars

[qwerty]

Eating well at an airport is a nightmare. And I hate spending a lot of money on crap that makes me feel like shit and throws my blood sugar off. Bring your own food. On my last plane trip in September, I snuck a healthy sandwich and 4 pieces of fruit through security without a hitch. Clearly, they've lifted food restrictions.