Airport Almond Butter Oatmeal

The best part of waking up in a weird place is this on-the-go oatmeal in your bag.

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Season: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Dosha: Kapha, Pitta, Vata

As I type this, I’m 30,000 feet up in the air (which seems to be the only time I find to write recipes + share things with you here. Yipes.) I’m headed to California to ride 300 miles in 3 days w/250 amazing culinary professionals all to help put healthy, delicious food on the tables and in the mouths of American children everywhere on ChefsCycle for NoKidHungry. I’m so excited to get there; it’s been a big year of fundraising since we were all together last. And, I’m so excited to use my cycling legs for this purpose. And I know that my fellow ChefsCycler’s are excited too (I’ve been watching them pack on Instagram.)

What’s amazing to me is that I haven’t seen more snacks. (We’re going to ride 300 miles! We’re gonna be HUNGRY! And we all already love food!) Lots of helmets, spare kits, rain jackets, special new socks and fancy cycling team jerseys and stretching tools that look like medieval torture devices are all evidently making their way into suitcases bound for Santa Rosa. Maybe it’s because I spend so much time packing to cook/ride and play on bikes that I don’t think much about “the kit” anymore. (It’s true that the kit is important! SO important – I’d be amiss not to say that I certainly picked up this and these for the trip.) But, when I formulate my packing list, I’m much more focused on creature comforts these days. My favorite lotion to slather on after long rides to soothe muscles. A Turkish towel to wrap up for the pool. Headphones and a book to decompress after a long day of riding/socializing. A box of this to recover from lots of miles and potentially lots of wine. And, snacks. Lots of favorite snacks and staples to make early mornings, late nights, hectic weeks on the road a bit more bearable.

I don’t remember when my gourmet oatmeal packs started making their way into my carry-on, but it’s basically become one of my survival kit items and one of the best “recipe hacks” I have and love to share. Having the packets always packed and on hand means I never have to suffer over a mediocre plate of airport eggs + toast before an early morning flight or cry tears of mediocrity over a piece of Sbarro pizza late night. And, even when the timing isn’t brutal, I have a little ritual snack that is satisfying, grounding and makes me feel like I have my sh*t together when I’m bouncing from place to place (which is just the inspiration I need to ACTUALLY GET MY SH*T together when I’m on the road. Fake it till you make it, they say.)

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