A Road Trip Does Not Have to Ruin Your Diet
Road Trip Essentials: Packing Healthy Snacks for the Car
The world is opened back up and we have all been bitten by the travel bug! Some of us will fly to our destination, some will cruise, a few will take a train but many of us are taking a road trip. Recently I saw a meme that said “buying snacks for a road trip should look like an unsupervised 9-yeard old has $100” and I have seen enough people stocking up for a road trip to know that they may be taking this a little too seriously.
While the continual junk food intake may help relieve some boredom, it can wreak havoc on your gut. And for many of my clients that have weight loss goals a full day of very little movement and eating a bunch of junk food can set them back quite a bit.
Now, I know how hard it would be to get through a whole road trip with no snacks at all, especially with kids, so I am not crazy enough to propose that. And while I can’t do anything about your car mate’s signing voice, I can tell you that there are better snack choices for your time in the car. Here are my go-to snacks for a road trip:
1. Roasted nuts
2. Beef sticks, not a Slim Jim. Try a cleaner grass-fed option like Paleo Valley grass fed beef or turkey stick.
3. Apples, more packable than a banana or any stone fruit
4. Sea Weed packs, I know this is not everyone’s cup of tea but if you like it, it makes a great snack full of nutrients.
5. Dark chocolate bars (72% cacao or more), they have great antioxidants and polyphenols!
6. Plantain chips if you need a crunch, look for something that is not fried and does not use any "bad oils".
7. Nut butter packets, just make sure they don’t have any added sugar or oils.
8. Hard boiled eggs, if you like salt and pepper on your eggs put some in a little bag on the side.
9. Sliced cheese, but make sure you slice it yourself. There are anti-caking agents added to pre-sliced cheese.
10. Carrot sticks are a great option, bonus points if you cut them yourself without peeling them!
With all those great snacks you are going to get thirsty so make sure to pack plenty of water. If that is too boring you can add some LMNT electrolyte powder to give it some flavor and the right mix of electrolytes to keep you hydrated.
Many of these snacks won’t be found in your local gas station so you will have to plan ahead a little but it is worth it.
Making better choices and skipping the highly processed junk food (they call it junk food for a reason) will keep your body happy and healthy for all your travels, present and future.