Portable healthy food

wildfreightess

wildfreightess

Well-Known Member
Hey all. I'm not sure if this is in the appropriate forum, but I am interested in your suggestions. I recently got my first airline job, and since I've become an FO, I've packed on a bunch of weight. And it's only been a short amount of time. So, my questions for you are:

1) how do you stay active on a 4-day trip when most of your job involves sitting - either in a hotel, crew room, or plane?

2) how do you eat healthy when there are few options available?

I'm interested in packing healthy food, but packing space is limited, and refridgeration is often not an option. What do all of you do?

Please help. Uniforms are expensive, and I want to continue to wear the one I bought. Thanks!
 
I'm not replying in a weight-loss sort of way but just for exercise, going for a long walk at a decent pace is good. Of course some people also jog. If the hotel has a pool you can do some laps or a workout in the weight room.

Take fruit from the free breakfasts and eat them later as snacks if there isn't healthy food available in the airport.
 
Good ideas Nick. The upside is that I've eaten so much fast food and grease that the thought of another hamburger or burrito at Qdoba is almost nauseating.
 
I've been taking along pre packed Indian and Asian food. It's not freeze so it is actually pretty tasty. Just throw it in a microwave (if your room doesn't have one the hotel restaurant or bar will normally let you use their's) and then eat. If I can get two meals a trip out of that, I am happy.
 
wildfreightess said:
1) how do you stay active on a 4-day trip when most of your job involves sitting - either in a hotel, crew room, or plane?
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For me, hotel gyms are my best friend. If it's a short overnight or they don't have a gym (which is rare), I'll do situps, push ups, dead lift my PNS bag, whatever in the room. Good news about PCL on the exercise front is we change planes often, and normally they're on the other side of the airport. We call it the "Pinnacle Fitness Plan."

2) how do you eat healthy when there are few options available?
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This is the hardest thing for me. Wheelsup posted a "cheap" alternative list not too long ago, but I don't have the willpower to drag all of that, my laptop, my flight kit and my rollerbag around. I try to go for heathier alternatives. If you just eat burgers all the time, you're gonna lose your medical and die of a heart attack. I try to opt for chicken over red meat, Subway instead of McDonald's, etc. It's easier in some airports than others. Apparently, NWA has an agreement signed with people that manufacture fatty foods that gives them dibs on the food places in MSP, DTW and MEM. :)
 
Some people take that vacuum bagged tuna along. Personally I hate that stuff, Its like eating soggy cardboard.

Kell, do they still have Einstein's next to B1 in DTW? That had some decent bagles and stuff.
 
wildfreightess said:
I recently got my first airline job, and since I've become an FO, I've packed on a bunch of weight. And it's only been a short amount of time.
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What is your secret?? I play hockey two or three times a week, eat pretty good, and I've actually lost a few pounds! Seriously, how the heck can I gain weight??
 
FlyChicaga said:
What is your secret?? I play hockey two or three times a week, eat pretty good, and I've actually lost a few pounds! Seriously, how the heck can I gain weight??
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LOL. Perhaps I should start playin hockey! Personally, the key to my success has been eating the crap they serve at airports and sitting on my ass all day!
 
Good thread. I've been in training here at Colgan, finally coming into the home stretch with only 3 days left. But, my wallet as well as my health have taken a huge beating here in training. We have zero transportation in some locations, like Manassass and here in LGA. The airport shuttle only goes to the airport. Not to mention our training schedule has been so inconsistent. Class from 3:30 to midnight, sims from 5-9pm, from 7-11pm, from 12-4pm. I haven't eaten three meals in a day yet.

I've been sick twice, and am still struggling to get rid of this flu. I hate this crap. It would be nice to eat three decent meals a day without breaking the bank. I can only imagine what it will be like on the line.
 
Airdale said:
It would be nice to eat three decent meals a day without breaking the bank. I can only imagine what it will be like on the line.
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Would you believe I can spend $15.00 on 4-days' worth of food?

It can be done, you just have to change your attitude. IOW, fast food is out the door...

I was too lazy to search for my post, but I've changed my stock a bit with the addition of an ebags cooler that's much smaller. What I currently bring:

-Leftovers form the previous nights dinner - normally home-made pizza or some other hearty food. That'll get me thru the first night's dinner.
-6 Packets of instant oatmeal (for breakfast if the hotel doesn't offer it)
-2 Salmon Packets ($0.99 @ WAL-MART). I like it MUCH better than tuna, and I heat it up on the coffee maker.
-1/2 box Triscots - put salmon on them
-1 pack Unsalted, roasted, sunflower seeds (for the "good" cholesterol)
-1 Can of Progresso soup
-Chex mix/Trail mix/Nuts

You're talking ~$10 for all that. That'll feed you on a 3-day, but it gets a little old. You might start running a little short at the end of a 4-day so be sure to carry some cash for a Subway or Charlies sub or two. I figure eating once out, which is how I come up with $15/4-day.

You will have the benefit of going "home" (or to the crashpad) every night. Which means there is no excuse for not having tasty food every day that you bring from home!!
 
Since, I'm not an airline pilot, but I have a difficult time working in the ICU to get 10 minutes to wolf down a cold burger or mystery meat from the cafeteria.What I have been doing is bringing in a sandwitch from home and adding the mustard at work. NO MAYO! I also bring in a pre made salad to put on my sandwitch. Then I have a can of chipolte smoked almonds for snacking. You may want to get one of those insulated lunch totebags and take the making of a sanwitch with you and just put ice in a ziplock baggie and just refill as needed. I've been using wrap bread recently and it folds up very nicely. At night, you may be able to put your lunchmeats in the hotel room fridge or raid the ice machine.

Not sure if you will be able to do this or not but, I hope it helps.
 
On a typical 4 day trip, I will not spend any money on food because I bring it all in a lunch bag. For perishables, freeze some water in an airtight container to keep everything cold. I usually pack 4-5 sandwiches, some crackers, lots of raisins, granola bars, fruit cups, and some other misc stuff that I come across. For the overnights, I have macaroni and cheese boxes (not the easy mac) in my overnight bag and make it in the microwave. I do, however, allow myself at least one meal or snack on a trip just to change it up. I usually get a gyro in ORD if I am going that way.

Also, when at hotels, I like to refill my bag at breakfast with bagels and cereal. When flying United, we can usually get a few of those snack boxes per trip.
 
Wildfreight I'm in the same boat as you, getting tired of eating nasty fast-food and also not having the time to eat at all. I usually keep some protein bars or beef jerky in my flight kit, but eating the same protein bar does get old after a while.

What kind of snacks do you all keep for the cockpit?

I'll start bringing some oatmeal packets along for those hotels that don't offer breakfast - good advice.
 
wheelsup said:
Would you believe I can spend $15.00 on 4-days' worth of food?

It can be done, you just have to change your attitude. IOW, fast food is out the door...

I was too lazy to search for my post, but I've changed my stock a bit with the addition of an ebags cooler that's much smaller. What I currently bring:

-Leftovers form the previous nights dinner - normally home-made pizza or some other hearty food. That'll get me thru the first night's dinner.
-6 Packets of instant oatmeal (for breakfast if the hotel doesn't offer it)
-2 Salmon Packets ($0.99 @ WAL-MART). I like it MUCH better than tuna, and I heat it up on the coffee maker.
-1/2 box Triscots - put salmon on them
-1 pack Unsalted, roasted, sunflower seeds (for the "good" cholesterol)
-1 Can of Progresso soup
-Chex mix/Trail mix/Nuts

You're talking ~$10 for all that. That'll feed you on a 3-day, but it gets a little old. You might start running a little short at the end of a 4-day so be sure to carry some cash for a Subway or Charlies sub or two. I figure eating once out, which is how I come up with $15/4-day.

You will have the benefit of going "home" (or to the crashpad) every night. Which means there is no excuse for not having tasty food every day that you bring from home!!
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I won't knock what ya'll are doing because who knows, someday I might be in your boat.

We plan for a two-pilot cost of $400-$800 a day, which inludes food and hotel. Sometimes we're near the $400, but obviously we can reach $800 if we're in an expensive city.

I had my first full lobster two weeks ago. It was nervous because I'm not a seafood guy, but it was excellent. Ate at a Legal Sea Foods last week too, and their clam chowder is some of the best I've tasted. This is one part about my job I love. We eat where we want and stay in nice places.
 
I had my first full lobster two weeks ago. It was nervous because I'm not a seafood guy, but it was excellent. Ate at a Legal Sea Foods last week too, and their clam chowder is some of the best I've tasted.
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Mmmmm, my cousins best friend works at legal seafood in NY. 50% discount so we had 3 appetizers, 3 entrees and some alchohol for $65 :nana2:
 
stuckingfk said:
We eat where we want and stay in nice places.
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That's awesome man. There are certainly corporate gigs out there that are waaaaaay better than the regionals. Getting into a regional these days is cake - the good corporate gigs not so much.
 
TheOneMarine said:
Mmmmm, my cousins best friend works at legal seafood in NY. 50% discount so we had 3 appetizers, 3 entrees and some alchohol for $65 :nana2:
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It was my first trip there but I hope to go back. I had the Imperical Cod because our server recommended it. It was great, but I when she mentioned it, I was wondering how it could be that good if they use cod for bait in Disovery Channel's Deadliest Catch!!!

Growing up in ND didn't give me much of an opportunity to try Seafood, which is kind of funny since everyone I work with loves Seafood. I'm slowly expanding my palate.
 
It was my first trip there but I hope to go back. I had the Imperical Cod because our server recommended it. It was great, but I when she mentioned it, I was wondering how it could be that good if they use cod for bait in Disovery Channel's Deadliest Catch!!!

Growing up in ND didn't give me much of an opportunity to try Seafood, which is kind of funny since everyone I work with loves Seafood. I'm slowly expanding my palate.
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It was my first time trying Tuna, and man, it was great stuff. Definately something I will get again :cool:
 
Ebags cooler:
-3/4 lb of Ham
-3/4 lb of cheese
-Pitas
-Oatmeal....sometimes I make my wife make me oatmeal cookies with oatmeal/raisins/nuts in them---kinda like eating a breakfast bar
-horseradish mustard
-PBJ
-Bread
-crackers, trail mix, sunflower seeds, beef jerkey (usually some combo of these)

~$15... I'm losing weight.... and my per diem=income :)
 
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