If you know me at all, you know that I travel a lot for a living. Some months, I’m on the road more than I am at home! It’s not always easy being away from home, especially when it comes to dining. I love my kitchen, and I miss my kitchen and all the awesome veggies and fruits hanging out in the refrigerator!
No matter where you are in your food life, I think we all look for ways to eat healthier and save money when we can, which isn’t an easy task when you’re traveling. Last week, I made a last-minute trip to Pennsylvania and there were horrible delays due to rain. Major bummer! I ended up having several meals at the airport.
But not to worry — as a seasoned traveler who travels through the same airports, I have an arsenal of health weapons at my beck and call. Among the many eateries at the Atlanta Airport (ATL – Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport), there are several places I like to go to, and they aren’t expensive. As I sipped on my green juice at the airport last Monday morning, I was inspired to share some of my favorite places at ATL where you can grab some healthy & cheap meals.
I’m centering the eateries on this list from my experience at the Atlanta airport, only because I tend to catch a lot of flights out of there. If you’re in the southeast, this is probably true for you too!
1. Chipotle Mexican Grill — If you’re lucky enough to have a Chipotle restaurant near you, then you already know why it’s such an amazing place to eat! Chipotle strives to use quality, fresh ingredients that are locally and organically produced, as much as possible. This is not only true for their veggies, but also their meats. Whenever possible, they use antibiotic-free meat from family farmers who respect both land and life. Anyway, at Chipotle, you have the ability to customize your salad, rice bowl, or burrito with meat & non-meats and top it with all kinds of great beans & veggies, and guacamole and cheese if your heart desires. You’ll shell out about $7 to $9, depending on your choices… not bad for a wonderful meal full of good-for-you ingredients! Chipotle is located on Concourse D near gate D29.
2. Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill – Any establishment that offers hummus is good by me! You’ll find gyros and pita wraps, and also some delectable salads and platters. Like Chipotle, their menu is highly customizable, which gives you the flexibility of creating a healthy and fresh meal. You’ll find interesting dishes like falafel (which is fried — not so great for you but delish!) and kabobs, too. I really love their sides and sauces. You can also grab yourself some tabuleh salad, babaganoush, and tzatziki sauce. Can we say yum?? I really wish there was a Garbanzo near me! At just around $9 for plenty of food, it’s a steal. Often, there’s enough food for you to take some with you on the plane for the next time you’re hungry. You can find Garbanzo at the centerpoint on Concourse D.
3. Fresh Healthy Cafe — When I first encountered Fresh Healthy Cafe, I was skeptical. See, lots of things are labeled as “fresh” and “healthy” when it’s clearly not. Well, let’s just say that Fresh Healthy Cafe really lives up to it’s name with great salads and sandwiches on their menu, and fast to-go options like quinoa salad and fruit cups. The bonus here is fresh juice, which isn’t always easy to find especially living in the southeast. They have traditional fruit juices, but the best thing they offer is the Create Your Own juice where you can choose up to 7 fresh ingredients like spinach, kale, ginger, cucumber, celery, and apple. This means fresh green juice which is a big YAY! My juice was around $6.79 if I remember correctly. It might seem expensive for a beverage, but if you’ve ever been to a juice bar, you’re likely to pay at least $7 for juice, if not more. You can find Fresh Healthy Cafe at Concourse C at gate C45.
So there you have it! Healthy choices on-the-go. Some of you might say that $7 to $9 isn’t a cheap meal, but consider this: you can get a combo meal at Wendy’s or McDonald’s, or any fast-food joint at the airport for around $6. Aren’t you worth a couple dollars more for quality food that’s really good for you? This is one of those instances where fabulous beats out frugal by an inch. Besides, you’ll save some money by not having to down a bottle of Tums from the indigestion you’ll get from eating heavy, grease-laden food!
If you don’t have any of these options at your airport, consider the following:
Mexican food — most Mexican places at the airport offers options you can customize, like salads or burritos where you can leave out less-than-healthy options like sour cream or cheese. You can load up a great salad or rice bowl with salsa, corn, cilantro, black beans, green peppers, and all kinds of awesomeness.
Convenience stores & newsstands — if you are at a small airport, your options may be limited. I’ve been in plentyof small airports, so I know it’s challenging to find something healthy to eat. No matter how small, though, you’ll find a variety of nuts & trail mixes, fruit cups, apples & bananas, and even single servings of Sabra hummus with pretzel thins.
Chinese food — You’ll be able to find some good options like mixed (preferably steamed) vegetables or chicken & broccoli, and even some hot and sour soup. Sure, it might be loaded with salt, but it still beats out burgers & fries (which for some reason, every airport seems to offer no matter how small!)
Substitutions & Omissions — As a last resort, if you must succumb to fast food restaurants, look for salad with low-fat dressing, if possible. You can also ask for chicken grilled and not fried, and omit items like cheese and mayo in your sandwiches. And of course, skip the fries and any fried sides!
When all else fails, at least there’s exercise… take a nice long walk between concourses and terminals and try to burn off some of those pizza, hot dog, or cheese fries calories you consumed. Wishing you happy & safe travels!