A Fresh Focus
Join us at the City of Manassas Farmers Market Thursdays at the Harris Pavilion and Saturdays in Parking Lot B (corner of West and Prince William Streets) from 7:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.
By ANNIE BLEWETT
Farmer’s Market Coordinator
Something about plane travel makes a person feel like they’ve just come out of a time warp that requires a second round of daily hygiene. Stale air, a seat that’s been worn by the rumps of hundreds of people prior, and the delicacies of airplane food are the recipe for a body that feels a little “off” the moment you step out of the plane.
As I was off of work for Memorial Day, I took a long weekend trip out of state. I am actually quite the frequent flyer, and consequently, I have started to get into a routine that prepares me for the best possible start to my trip post-landing. A few of my personal tips include:
–Pack a pair of cozy socks. It gets cold when you’re flying through clouds. I think the second worst time to get cold feet is on a plane (your wedding being the first).
–Keep your toothbrush and travel-sized toothpaste accessible for a quick refresh in the bathroom after landing (make sure you get that sitting-up nap drool off your face).
–Bring an empty water bottle. Without fail, the flight attendant always fills my bottle up with water and I don’t have to keep my tray table down when I want to keep hydrated.
-Most importantly: Bring healthy snacks!
It seems so much easier to prepare healthy, delicious, local food when you’re in your own kitchen on a normal day. However, life can be messy, and it’s important to take care of your body and feed it freshness whether you’re on a plane, a greyhound bus, or lounging at the beach. Trying to maintain a few healthy habits while on your vacation can help to alleviate the struggle that ensues in your first week back to reality. Here are a couple of market-approved suggestions for your summer travel:
Plane Snacks or Food for a Beach Picnic:
-Granola
-Berries (rinsed and cut into bite-sized pieces)
-Kale Chips- see recipe below
-An apple (when in season)
-Carrots (when in season; rinsed, peeled, and cut into sticks)
-Cookies from one of the talented bakers. Everyone needs a little treat and a homemade cookie is more delicious than a pack of Oreos from the gas station!
-Sandwiches- Made from fresh bread from the Farmer’s Market, home-baked ham or turkey, fresh lettuce, tomatoes and cheese.
Kale Chips– A friend turned me on to these- they are super addictive.
-Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
-Rinse kale and break off the hard stems.
-Place kale on a cookie sheet in one layer.
-Lightly spray with cooking spray.
-Sprinkle with garlic salt (or your preferred type of seasoned salt).
-Bake for 10-15 minutes in the middle rack, until crispy. Enjoy!
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