Yes! The notification from your agency pops up in your email: you have an audition! The excitement wanes a bit as you realize it’s half a city away at 4pm. While the dread of traffic is normal, my Health Coach brain starts thinking of what snacks I am going to bring for the length of time I’ll be in the car. Performers spend an exorbitant amount of their day on subways or driving to auditions, set, etc. Staying properly fueled to arrive strong and smart—as well as snacking on foods that encourage a calm and centered mind while returning home—makes all the difference.
I’ve got you! Here are my top 7 car snacks that book the role!
1) High fiber fruit
Most people don’t get enough fiber in their diets. How much do we need you ask? Around 25 grams a day. This is an easy way to up that number. Fiber keeps you full longer, lowers cholesterol, protects your heart, assists in weight loss, and keeps the “pipes” clean.
I always grab a green apple because they have the least amount of sugar. No one wants to sugar crash as they walk into the audition room. At almost five grams of fiber, they’re also loaded with vitamins and minerals. Plus, green apples help with digestion and prevent diarrhea. Don’t act like you’ve never gotten nervous runs. This green bad boy also improves memory—no more “what was my line?” And you can thank Mother Nature for making the crunch of an apple the toothbrush of produce.
Another favorite are pears, which come in at almost six grams of fiber! Move over energy drinks, because pears have a crazy high serving of the energy-rich mineral copper. I also love antioxidant filled berries—think blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries. Maybe save berries for the ride home, so you’re not picking seeds out of your teeth while trying to slate. I highly recommend buying these babies organic to prevent consuming pesticides and herbicides.
2) Raw nuts and seeds
Healthy fats feed your brain! You want to remember all those lines you learned, right? I can already hear some of you asking, “But aren’t nuts and seeds fattening?” No, pulling into the drive thru for a factory-farmed burger on a high fructose bun with a side of genetically modified fries bathed in inflammatory oil is. Good fats are instrumental to our overall health. Fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K need the fat that nuts provide to help the body absorb them. Want your skin, hair, and nails to glow on-camera? Well, the fat from nuts and seeds has a bigger job than hair and make-up.
Stores like Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Ralphs, and Vons all sell individual grab-and-go bags of nuts. It doesn’t get easier.
Remember, all nuts and seeds contain a respectable amount of protein and fiber, plus specific vitamins and minerals, so give them all a shot. When toting, I prefer a glass container, like a Mason jar, over plastic Tupperware, to prevent BPA exposure, and it’s better for the environment. Fill it with any or all: almonds, walnuts, cashews, brazil nuts, hazelnuts, pistachios, macadamia nuts, pecans, pumpkin seeds, or sunflower seeds!
3) Protein powder with shaker bottle
Everyone loves easy and inexpensive. BPA-free plastic shaker bottles can be bought on Amazon or any GNC type store. This is a great, clean way to get in high amounts of straight protein. Purchase a tub of protein powder and just add a scoop before you head out, and grab a big bottle of water. I’m a huge fan of vegan protein powders because they never include artificial flavors, colors, sugars, or weird fillers. The best tasting brands I consume are Nutiva Plant Protein Superfood 30 Vanilla, Garden of Life Raw Protein and Greens, and Vega Sport Performance Protein in Strawberry.
4) Raw veggies
One benefit: it gives you something to do and is a much healthier way to expend that nervous energy than other bad habits, like yelling at the jerk who won’t let you merge. Raw veggies also naturally clean your teeth so you can flash a killer smile on the big screen. They contain fiber (which keeps the bloat away), will balance your pH levels (making you more alkaline), they keep you hydrated and cool (because of the high water content), and contain minimal amounts of fat and calories—and raw veggies lower your cancer risk too. So snack away, my friend. One more accolade of raw: no nutrients have been lost in heating, so you’re receiving their complete life force energy. I know that sounds hippie, but you’ll thank me when you get off an hour long subway or car ride and run up the stairs with vigor!
5) Clean protein bars
When you just don’t have time to prep anything, grab a bar. I tell all my clients to just keep a stash in the glove compartment, “License, registration, snack bar.” When checking the headshot/resume of a bar, look at the Ingredient List and make sure you can pronounce every item listed. I look for nuts, seeds, ancient grains, sweeteners from dates or honey, and absolutely nothing artificial. Some of my favorites are Go Macro, Health Warrior Chia Bar and Protein Bar, Oatmega, Larabar, Koog Bar, and Rise Bar. Most are available in stores, but I find them cheapest online at Amazon or Vitacost. Health Warrior can be purchased directly from their site, www.HealthWarrior.com, and save 30% with code: JAL30.
6) Water with lemon
Lemon purifies your liver, brightens skin, balances body pH and alkalinity, and adds a boost of vitamin C for immune system health. Never, I repeat for dramatic effect, never leave the house without a water bottle—glass or stainless steel, of course. Dehydration is linked to a foggy mind, dry or saggy skin, constipation, drowsiness, and lack of nutrient absorption, to name just a few side-effects.
7) Green or herbal tea
Skip the “after audition coffee” treat, which only feeds anxiety and road rage, and swap to tea. Green tea is loaded with antioxidants, speeds up your metabolism, and is beneficial for all bodily systems. If green ain’t your thang, all herbal teas deserve their close up, as they each provide incredible health-promoting qualities to your body.
Sure, all the prep in the world can’t guarantee a booking—the only thing we have absolute control over is feeding our body, mind, and cells the best possible nutrition to leave us feeling like a star.
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