Going on a road trip means spending lots of time in your car, getting meals from fast food restaurants, buffets and convenience stores. All that unhealthy food can do severe damage to your diet. Failing to plan ahead will likely lead to a car full of soda cups, empty chip bags and candy bar wrappers. By packing healthy snacks, you can avoid these unhealthy options and eat smart for the duration of your trip.
Fruit
If you are craving something sweet, avoid purchasing sweet processed snacks like donuts loaded with fat or chocolate packed with sugar. Instead, put some fruit in your cooler. Fruit that has a natural cover, such as apples, grapefruit, oranges and bananas, make a healthy snack option with minimal mess. Grapes can be removed from their stems and placed into individual containers for easy snacking. Other healthy options include nectarines, sliced watermelon, peaches and strawberries.
Homemade Trail Mix
When you purchase pre-packaged trail mix at the grocery store, you are usually buying a combination of healthy ingredients mixed with salty, processed ones. In these cases, the good stuff is completely cancelled out by the bad stuff. By making your own at home and packing it for your trip, you'll have a snack that will keep you energized and full that contains only ingredients that are wholesome and healthy. Begin with your favorite unsalted nuts like cashews, almonds or pecans and add your favorite ingredients such as dried cherries, dried apricots, sunflower seeds, raisins and coconut flakes.
Low-Fat Yogurt
Low-fat yogurt is a good snack for the hot summer months as it is cool and creamy and can help avoid the temptation of buying an ice cream. Head to the refrigerated section of your nearest supermarket and you'll find a wide variety of low-fat and organic yogurt. Check the labels and select yogurt with no additional sugar and good amounts of vitamin C, vitamin D and protein.
Vegetables
Slice up some bell peppers, celery stalks, cherry tomatoes and carrot sticks and store them in plastic containers for easy snacking. For added taste, spread a little natural peanut butter onto celery. Feel free to add even more flavor by packing individual servings of hummus or a low-fat vegetable dip. Ensure that the vegetables are kept in a cooler with plenty of ice, especially if you plan to be in the car for a significant amount of time.
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