Food

Carry-on snacks

Danielle Geva Travel Snacks
| Danielle Geva

When I’m last-minute packing for a trip, I always throw in a couple of snacks in my carry-on luggage. Here’s what I packed for my flight to Japan.

Danielle Geva Travel Snacks
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Chocolate Milk or Juice Boxes

Before I even make it to the airport, I have a snack for the bus, train, or cab there. It’s usually too weird of a time to eat, so a chocolate milk or juice box make for the perfect alternative. It’s a good way to get some energy, and calm down the anxiety and motion sickness. After security, I refill my reusable water bottle with more liquids to avoid getting dehydrated on the flight.

Tic Tacs

Yes, the first snack was consumed hours before departure. And yes, Tic Tacs aren’t technically food. However, Tic Tacs are also must-have on any journey. Beyond freshening my breath on this ~30 hour trip, they’ll come in handy if the food isn’t great (either to get rid of the weird taste or distract from my hunger). Tic Tacs also help prevent my ears popping during takeoff and landing as I fidget nervously with the container. Can you tell I’m not at all stressed about flying?

Granola Bars

The only thing worse than bad airplane food, is no food. Last time I travelled to Japan, there was a mixed up with my meals. Both ways. Luckily granola bars are very filling for their size. This time around, I have 6 different varieties since I get extra picky when I’m overtired. The vegan Clif Bar is a white chocolate macadamia nut flavour, which used to be my favourite Tim Horton’s cookie. I have the Chocolate Chip, Mixed Berry, and Strawberry MadeGood bars. These vegan bars somehow contain one full serving of vegetables, which makes them sound even healthier. Finally, I have Nature Valley’s Sweet & Salty bars. These are a family favourite, since we grew up on peanut butter. Instead of the traditional peanut butter though, I went with almond butter and toasted coconut.

Maria Biscuits  

When I don’t feel well, I crave bland foods. I used to travel with a loaf of bread (yes, really), but have since switched to Maria Biscuits. Growing up, I had Marie Biscuits (the British version), but apparently Maria is the original name. These biscuits are the equivalent of toast and butter to me, as they provide comfort and some sustenance without an overwhelming flavour.

Hopefully this list helps you pack from your next vacation. If you’re thinking of visiting Japan, I’ll be sharing my favourite foods from Osaka and Kyoto next!

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Sweet Endings

Sweet Endings Danielle Geva
| Danielle Geva

Mantra Raw Danielle Geva

Last October, I travelled to France and Italy with Francois to celebrate our birthdays. While in Milan, I planned to dine at Mantra Raw. Even though I’m not usually a fan of raw gluten-free food, the plant based restaurant seemed like the perfect treat for Francois. Mantra Raw’s reviews were all extremely positive, and best of all they served Matcha. Another selling point was their grab-and-go market. That way if we were running short on time, we could pick up some snacks for the way.

Mantra Raw Danielle Geva

Three days flew by, and after our last dinner in Milan we were ready to call it a night. Since Mantra Raw was a couple of blocks away from our hotel, I insisted we at least stop by. As soon as we entered, we decided to stay longer. The restaurant decor was gorgeous, and it had a wonderful vibe. We ordered tea while looking over the many appetizing dessert options on the menu. Seeing as we were in Italy, tasting the Tiramisu was a given. Then we narrowed it down to the Tiramisu and Lime & Ginger Cheesecake.

Mantra Raw Danielle Geva

When the dessert was served, it threw me off that the cheesecake was deconstructed. I find that overly fancy foods usually have much better presentation than flavour. However, I was quickly proved wrong. Every bite of the cheesecake was more heavenly than the next. The Tiramisu didn’t disappoint either.

Mantra Raw Danielle Geva

After devouring both of the delicious cakes, we couldn’t resist ordering another. We chose the bold Persimmon, Orange, & Pistachio Cheesecake. Right before the trip, I watched a video about persimmons. Weirdly, it has been years since I’ve heard about the fruit, but suddenly it was everywhere. Especially in Italy. The adventurous choice paid off, as it was the perfect sweet ending for our final day in Milan.

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