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How to Eat Healthy on Road Trips

Contributor
By Ryn Gargulinski
eHow Contributing Writer
(1 Ratings)
Road trip
Road trip
Photo of Sawyer and Phoebe by Ryn Garguilnski

Road trips are a blast, that is, until you gain 15 pounds from eating crummy food or end up with acid indigestion. Those scenarios can be left in the dust when you eat healthy on road trips. Some forethought and a few simple tips will help you eat healthy on road trips so the only thing that expands is your enjoyment, not your waistline.

From Quick Guide: Holiday Road Trips Checklist
Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Non-perishable snacks
  • Fruit and veggies
  • Cooler
  • Cold snacks
  • Knife, spoon, fork
  • Napkins
  • Small garbage bags
  1. Step 1

    Pack your own non-perishable snacks. This should be as automatic as packing extra underwear. Fill a box with re-sealable bags of nuts, rice cakes, granola, low-fat cereal you can eat right out of the box, seeds and other goodies that can last forever if they happen to fall under the car seat.

  2. Step 2

    Get fruity. Apples, bananas and even oranges make for other great additions to your snack cache. Save oranges for when you're not driving as they get way too messy on the steering wheel.

  3. Step 3

    Stock a cooler. Get yourself a cooler and some long-lasting frozen packs for little snack packs of Jello, fruit cocktail and fresh veggies like baby carrots and cucumbers. Take some milk for your cereal if you don’t like eating it right out of the box.

  4. Step 4

    Refuel your goodies at supermarkets. Instead of stopping at the convenience store for more snacks, pull into an area supermarket. Here you can get more fresh fruit, veggies and a bigger array of healthy stuff than offered in convenience store candy bar heaven.

  5. Step 5

    Go for delis over double cheeseburgers. When you simply must stop for food other than what’s packed in your car, go for a place where you know what’s going into it. Delis offer great sandwiches, just steer clear of the mayo on white and go for the mustard on wheat. Nix fast food joints, greasy truck stops and other high-calorie, low-nutrition options. Pick a salad sans dressing, fresh grilled anything or other menu delicacies not swimming in batter or butter.

  6. Step 6

    Drink lots of water. Yes, this may mean you are making lots of rest stops, but it will also keep you hydrated and your tummy feeling full.

  7. Step 7

    Chew gum, suck on mints or have a lollipop. When you’re bored on the road, eating seems like fun. You can mimic the eating experience without the unnecessary calories, by chewing gum or savoring hard candy. Don't eat the whole bag, now.

Tips & Warnings
  • Deli meats, if eaten before the ice packs get warm in your cooler, are another great option. Just go for the fresh turkey over the greasy pepperoni. Bring lots of bread and a jar of peanut butter, also.
  • Crackers are good. Put some cheese in the cooler. Eat it with fresh grapes or cucumber slices on the side.
  • Keep your car neat by bringing along small plastic bags to use for garbage. Bring napkins for wiping hands.
  • Don't put the box of food in the back seat with the dogs.
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