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CAN YOU EAT HEALTHY AT AN AIRPORT?
The answer is, YES, you can make healthy choices at Brisbane Airport. Contrary to the misconception that airport food is unhealthy, you’ll be pleased to know that there are some great places within the airport where you can fuel up the healthy way.

I was lucky enough to recently try the menu at Corretto Cafe & Bar at the Brisbane International Terminaland it changed my perspective on what there is to eat at an airport.

With an incredible variety of healthy, gluten free, dairy free, refined sugar free items and even vegan options Corretto Cafe & Bar is the perfect place to nourish your body pre-flight.

Kick off your holiday the best way you can, by starting with a good, nutritious meal that gives you nourishment, energy and provides nutritional value.

WHAT TO EAT PRE-FLIGHT?

A long flight can be taxing on your body so you want to give it the best chance to feel great when you land to then enjoy your journey ahead.

What you eat before your flight can make a big difference to your experience and will help you to relax (and sleep) well on the plane and land with energy and feeling more refreshed.

Eating unhealthy foods pre-flight can leave you feeling sluggish, heavy, with discomfort and likely to land feeling fatigued. Common symptoms experienced when flying, particularly on long haul flights, include dehydration and gastrointestinal discomfort. Staying hydrated and being aware of what you eat will help to minimise these.

Ideally, you want to nourish your body with a nutrient-dense meal that will sustain you throughout your flight and propel you into your holiday healthily without feeling heavy. Choose options that are nutritious and leave you feeling light.

It is best to not over eat but instead enjoy a small nutritious meal which will also help with sleep and comfort on your flight.

I recommend trying to include a source of protein (such as eggs, chia seeds, nuts etc), a small amount of healthy fats (such as avocado, extra virgin olive oil, nuts, seeds, coconut milk, coconut oil or coconut yoghurt) and small amount of good quality carbohydrates (such as from fruit and easy to digest vegetables) in your pre-holiday meal to provide your body with the key nutrients it needs to feel its best. This will also help to keep your blood sugar levels stable, reduce cravings, curb hunger pangs and provide your body with nutrition to feel good.

Avoid refined foods, deep fried foods, foods high in sugar, unhealthy fats, refined starches, excessive salt (salt has a dehydrating effect) and sugars and instead look for whole food options made with fresh ingredients.

Corretto Cafe & Bar menu stocks healthy, light pre-flight options which include chia pudding, refined sugar free granola with coconut yoghurt and berries, quinoa porridge, gluten free corn fritters with avocado and salsa or a savoury vegetable-based dish such as balsamic mushrooms served with avocado and a poached egg. See images for these menu items.

Starting your trip with the fuel to nourish is key to a happy and healthy holiday ahead. When you kick start your holiday with healthy intentions you are also more likely to continue to make good choices beyond rather than feeling sluggish and unhealthy with typical ‘holiday/travelling’ food. Of course, enjoy fun food on holidays but when you choose foods that your body thrives on you’ll experience a much more enjoyable holiday without feeling tired, bloated or lacking energy.

WHAT I LOOK FOR IN A HEALTHY AIRPORT CAFE?
When I look for a healthy cafe in an airport there are a few key things I look for:

Does the menu contain healthy items?Does the menu feature healthy, real food ingredients? Are there a variety of options that will nourish your body and leave you feeling energised and healthy? Ask yourself, how will I feel after I eat this? Will this best support me to feel great?

Are there gluten free, dairy free options available? Do they cater for dietary requirements and are committed to providing a menu with a variety of choice?

Do they provide refined sugar free options? Are the menu items high in sugar or do they use a natural alternatives to sweeten items or provide savoury options?

Do they use fresh, real food? Does the menu celebrate fresh whole food ingredients opposed to packaged and refined ingredients?

Where are the ingredients are sourced from? Are ingredients locally sourced where possible and celebrate our local farmers without food miles and whilst maintaining optimal nutritional value?

Ultimately you want to feel energised, nourished and light before your trip away so making a good choice that will nourish your body back is key.

A great example of ticking all of the above boxes from healthy food options, fresh and local ingredients and catering for gluten free, dairy free and sugar free lifestyles is the Corretto Cafe & Bar. To explore more options using the tips above check out what Brisbane International Terminal has to offer.

Next time you plan your holiday be sure to consider how you will kickstart your trip in a healthy way to get the most out of feeling energized on your travels.

If you are flying out of Brisbane International Terminal, Corretto Cafe & Bar have got you covered for your pre-flight meal!

I hope these tips help!

This blog post was written by nutritionist and naturopath Casey-Lee Lyons in collaboration with Corretto Cafe & Bar, Brisbane International Terminal.

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