Airport Food

In a rush to get to the airport I left my lovely protein filled lunch in the refrigerator, not realizing I was leaving satiation behind.  Fortunately I had packed a large bag of nuts and a banana in my bag beforehand, saving part of the day.

Arriving at the airport I remembered my faux pas but thought I would consider it an opportunity for growth and connecting with the real world of food.  I managed to pick up a string cheese prior to departure.

When the airline food arrived it was a turkey dog wrapped in a roll containing high fructose corn syrup among other delicate additives.  There was a salad, which looked like days old, and a packet of carrots.  I ate the carrots, my purchased string cheese and pulled a few nuts out of my bag finishing with the banana.  Not too bad for thrown together meal.

Arriving in the airport for our connecting flight I perused the airport food court- McDonald’s, Ben and Jerry’s, Dunkin Donuts and a Greenleaf’s counter.  I opted for the Greenleaf’s counter trying to figure out how to find some type of nutritious looking food with protein to sustain me till my final destination.

They had a “salad bar” or at least something that resembled the concept.  For $4.59 you could purchase a bed of greens and then have the counter employees add food items to your salad.  The items ranged from 75 cents to almost two dollars. 

I chose grilled chicken, Parmesan cheese and a hard-boiled egg.   The veggies looked sad and the rest of the accoutrements I could not stomach.  Various dressings existed in squeeze bottles.  The employees added everything, as this was not truly a salad bar.

I watched them adding close to a half a cup of dressing and opted to have olive oil and vinegar on the side.  Adding a bottle of water to my bill I sat down to eat.

The chicken was barely edible so I ate a few pieces and then mostly lettuce, the egg and some cheese.  Walking to the gate I felt physically satisfied but wanting to fill my stomach with the food of home.  A Fage yogurt with nuts and fruit sounded marvelous.

 I survived the airport culinary experience or lack thereof.  Next time I probably won’t forget my travel food.  However, it did not really matter since I was soon to reach my final destination.  The experience left me the opportunity to blog.

 Perhaps a key item to remember on the list before departing your house…do you have your food?  Though I ventured out I survived with using some knowledge and not succumbing to a fast food holiday.  Poor planning or forgetful thinking does not need to lead to a binge on the belly. 

Mindful Eating for Our Kids?

Does texting, emails, faxes and needing information at light speed affect our eating?  Drive-throughs, eating in the car, and 5 minute meals does affect our eating and health, and not in a positive way.

I had dinner with some European friends last week who were amazed at how little time Americans take for eating.  Long lunches and dinners with interesting conversation and enjoyment of food are the theme.  Is mindful eating partially responsible for lower obesity rates in Europe?

Mindful eating can be an unfamiliar concept.  Since many adults do not know how to eat mindfully we are bringing up a generation who are completely unaware of the notion of savoring and enjoying their food.

Indeed, snacks on demand around the clock was a recent article in the NY Times discussing how every sporting and child event is stocked with snacks, many of them processed and refined.  A study in the Journal of Health Affairs examining the eating habits of 31,000 children showed that snacks now account for about 27% of calories consumed by children.

Barry Popkin and Carmen Piernas of the University of North Carolina state:

“Our findings suggest that children ages 2-18 are experiencing increases in snacking behavior that are moving towards higher consumption patterns.  This raises the question of whether the physiological basis for eating is becoming dysregulated, as our children are moving towards constant eating.”

What are some tips for mindful eating for ourselves and our children?

• Chewing and tasting your food to obtain as much flavor in your mouth as possible can actually increase serotonin levels which decreases your desire to continue eating
• Pausing to savor and enjoy each bite can increase satisfaction and fullness
• Taking time to eat at the table, away from distractions such as televisions and computers, and not in the car helps focus on eating from true hunger

Try “the raisin exercise” as I call it in my office.  Take one solitary raisin, smell it, and then put in your mouth.  Chew it for about 30 seconds before swallowing, something not all that easy to do. 

You might be surprised at how much taste one little raisin can have.  The burst of flavor can be quite satisfying.  Applying this exercise to the rest of your food takes work, but the results can surprisingly healthful.

Besides being satisfied with less food, you’ll actually be able to taste and enjoy your food and possibly lose weight and improve your health in the process.  Mindful eating offers a plethora of benefits…and that is information that deserves light speed.