FROM HEAD TO TOE: Eco-Fabulous Goes on a Business Trip!

Photo courtesy of bahrainidiva.blogspot.com

I’m sitting in the Dallas airport as I’m writing this, and I’m a little cranky, so I may go off a bit. I really need something to eat. I had to get up at four in the morning for my flight back home to Portland. My choices are beyond grim: Taco Bell, McDonald’s, Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, Au Bon Pain, and the airport store.

I head to Au Bon Pain for a made-to-order tuna or chicken sandwich on a nine-grain roll. I can see a small sign that clearly says nine-grain rolls, and a dozen or so rolls behind the sign in the pastry case. I place my order and the gal tells me that she’s out of nine-grain rolls. I smile and point to the nine-grain rolls. She proceeds to tell me that those particular nine-grain rolls are for display only. I politely ask if it would be too much trouble to have my sandwich made on one of the display rolls. She says that is against company policy and she is already on probation for something else.

Au Bon Pain in my ass.

The Starbucks only has sandwiches made on white bread, so I head to the airport convenience store for a protein bar. Protein bars are a last resort. They typically are high in protein and fiber but are also loaded with sugar and contain a bunch of mystery ingredients. Some have the dreaded high fructose corn syrup and some form of partially hydrogenated oil (trans fats). I found the least foul one of the bunch and bought a bag of raw almonds along with it. Eating a protein bar is better than not eating at all. It has now been twelve hours since I have had any food, and my metabolism is going downhill fast, along with my mood and my ability to make good choices or be nice to my traveling companion.

Most airports completely suck. Not to toot my own state ’s horn, but Portland’s PDX is an exception — fresh scrambles, brown rice sushi, an assortment of salads, house-made soups, and made-to-order sandwiches on whole wheat bread. Way to go, Caper’s Café.

If you have a long flight ahead or a connecting flight and are forced to rely on airport food, opt for items that pack well, like turkey and avocado on a whole wheat bagel, raw nuts, and fruit. Avoid anything that won’t stay fresh, like mayonnaise, so you don’t end up lying on the teeny-tiny (and likely urinated on) floor of the plane ’s bathroom. Drink plenty of water always, but especially when you’re traveling to keep you hydrated, maintain optimum metabolism, and prevent headaches.

It’s almost not worth mentioning what tactic to take when you’re on a plane these days, as hardly any airlines serve food in the coach cabin. The complimentary snacks like smoked almonds, peanuts, pretzels, and chips are all fatmakers and won’t do much to satiate you. Do your best to avoid eating airline food in coach, even the meals you have to pay for. In first class, they tend to serve food that is a tad more palatable, but I’ve yet to see an airline serve sandwiches on whole wheat bread, and the egg and meat dishes are beyond scary.

I have to travel some for business, sometimes to real cities with real grocery stores and real restaurants, but sometimes I end up in particularly freakish places, like Gatlinburg, Tennessee. I’ve been there twice. It’s a fake town set up to attract tourists and bears. As far as I could tell, Gatlinburg doesn’t have any grocery stores. It does have all the caramel corn and cotton candy your heart desires, only it’s bigger down there. If you’re interested in salt and pepper shakers, you’ll be delighted to know that Gatlinburg is the home of the world’s only Museum of Salt & Pepper Shakers.

Curiosity got the best of me, and I can proudly claim to have seen over twenty thousand different salt and pepper shaker sets. My favorites were the vegetable-shaped ones. Hard to make a leek very attractive, but you’d be surprised at how adorable the corn-on-the-cob shakers were.

Gatlinburg does have a liquor store — which is cleverly disguised as a postal convenience store — so I wasn’t totally screwed. I bought some wine and a set of postage stamps with cute little bears on them and drove around in search of a decent restaurant. The restaurant choices weren’t a total disaster. Mostly pancakes, waffles, and fried chicken, but they also had a Planet Hollywood.

Under normal circumstances, you’d have to drag me in there kicking and shouting obscenities, but in this case, I was stuck making it my cafeteria for the week. At Planet Hollywood, even salads (unmodified) are full of fat, and the loud music — Abercrombie & Fitch loud — will make you want to scream. One day the soup was tomato, but usually they were serving something vile like cream of beer and mystery cheese. When you’re traveling for work, try your best to find a decent grocery store and a restaurant or two that serves real food.  - an excerpt from The Denim Diet

Hey, we have a plane to catch…what to wear! I’m assuming we need to head straight to a business meeting so we want to look professional and pulled together while simultaneously being as comfortable, stylie, and green as possible. It can be done!

Juneau Jacket, $88

Available at weartheearth.myshopify.com, ”66% Bamboo 28% Organic Cotton 6% Spandex French Terry Clay Dyed—Black. Made in the USA. The Warmth of the lightweight jacket and the feel of your favorite sweatshirt. You won’t want to take this off. Tie Front jacket with a shawl collar and princess seam fitting lines. Tie front or back.”

Del Forte "Marina" A-line Skirt, $79

Available at BTC Elements, “Classic dark denim knee length skirt with a nautical twist. Three fillagree buttons line the faux pockets. Flattering double pleated back with corset style tie creates the perfect look with the perfect fit. 99% Organic Cotton, 1% Spandex. Made in Los Angeles. Tierra Del Forte, the designer of Del Forte jeans, believes in uniting luxury fashion with strong ethics. Tierra stands out as a pioneer in a booming designer jean movement, proving style does not need to be compromised for responsible consumers. Her collection focuses on streamlined silhouettes with beautiful, flattering details. Good for the earth, for the producer, and incredibly hot – everything you want in a pair of jeans.”

Heidi High Top, $35

Available at weartheearth.myshopify.com, ”This top is like wearing nothing at all…Light and comfy. You feel like you are wearing a bit of heaven. The versatile funnel neck allows you flexibility in style and function. The bamboo keeps you warm without the heavy weight. 95% Viscose from Bamboo 5% Spandex. The True Red color is fabulous for the Holidays. Treat yourself.”

Beyond Skin Black Pump, $275

Available at thegreenloop.com, ”Beyond Skin is an exclusive ethical footwear label producing beautiful, classic, hand-made shoes. Founded in 2001, Beyond Skin was created in response to the challenging predicament of combining style and fashion with a cruelty-free lifestyle.”

Jane Marvel, Overhead Bag, $115

Jane Marvel, Roller Bag, $300

Available at janemarvel.com, The roller bag also comes in a 20″ size for $252. “All our products are vegan, which means that the handles and trim are not made from leather. Our bags are made of laminated canvas.