Hit the Road... & Have Your Cake Too!

As my partner-in-crime and I set off on a weekend adventure, I want to share with you our tips for making healthy choices while enjoying the giddy fun of a road trip. Driving trips can be tons of fun but the endless stream of fast food joints and fast-casual restaurants can make it very easy to overload on salty, fatty, sugary foods; foods that will do nothing to help you get through your trip and in fact may lead you to feel sluggish, bloated, gassy or cranky and may cause you to return home carrying a few extra pounds of body weight! With a little advanced planning and some thoughtful choices, you can still have delicious meals and snacks and get the energy you need to fully embrace the excitement of the road…

Shop Like a Local

Instead of settling for the first fast food restaurant you find, seek out the local grocery store. (GPS can be a great tool for this.) Stock up on easy-to-eat fruits and vegetables like apples, bananas, grapes, strawberries and baby carrots. Look for freshly made hummus, salsa or guacamole and pair with baked, whole grain chips or crackers. Pre-made sandwiches and wraps can be a good choice, but opt for those made on whole wheat bread/wraps and stuffed with veggies, lean protein (like turkey or tuna) or low fat cheese. Don’t forget to grab healthy snacks for later, like nuts, nut butters, dark chocolate and plenty of water! Farmers markets and farm stands are also great places to assemble a picnic, learn about in-season produce, and make friends with the locals. Keep a cooler in the back seat so all these goodies can stay fresh and cold.

Prioritize Protein

Keep these in mind at all times: Lean protein, low fat dairy, whole grains. When eating breakfast at a hotel or B&B, choose eggs, low fat yogurt (also good for protein) or whole grain cereal with low fat or skim milk over pastries and pancakes. Those small single serving boxes and bowls of whole grain cereals can also make a great road snack. Nuts and nut butters are portable and filled with protein, healthy fats and fiber, all of which can help you to feel fuller longer and if you will be doing any kind of physical activity on your trip, you’ll want that protein to support your muscles! Eating small, frequent meals and thoughtful snacks can also help you not overeat later.  

Stay Hydrated

FIFN: Fainting Is No Fun. If for no other reason, make sure to stay hydrated so you don’t end up passing out. This is especially important when travelling in hot weather. Also, sometimes when we think we are hungry, we are actually thirsty. Drinking plenty of water can help you keep up your energy and better understand your hunger and thirst cues.

Even when you don’t know when or where your next meal will be, just a little planning and some strategic choices can be the difference between feeling sick, slow and sluggish and having all the energy you need to get you through your next adventure!


Image: Graeme Weatherston / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

As my partner-in-crime and I set off on a weekend adventure, I want to share with you our tips for making healthy choices while enjoying the giddy fun of a road trip. Driving trips can be tons of fun but the endless stream of fast food joints and fast-casual restaurants can make it very easy to overload on salty, fatty, sugary foods; foods that will do nothing to help you get through your trip and in fact may lead you to feel sluggish, bloated, gassy or cranky and may cause you to return home carrying a few extra pounds of body weight! With a little advanced planning and some thoughtful choices, you can still have delicious meals and snacks and get the energy you need to fully embrace the excitement of the road…

Shop Like a Local

Instead of settling for the first fast food restaurant you find, seek out the local grocery store. (GPS can be a great tool for this.) Stock up on easy-to-eat fruits and vegetables like apples, bananas, grapes, strawberries and baby carrots. Look for freshly made hummus, salsa or guacamole and pair with baked, whole grain chips or crackers. Pre-made sandwiches and wraps can be a good choice, but opt for those made on whole wheat bread/wraps and stuffed with veggies, lean protein (like turkey or tuna) or low fat cheese. Don’t forget to grab healthy snacks for later, like nuts, nut butters, dark chocolate and plenty of water! Farmers markets and farm stands are also great places to assemble a picnic, learn about in-season produce, and make friends with the locals. Keep a cooler in the back seat so all these goodies can stay fresh and cold.

Prioritize Protein

Keep these in mind at all times: Lean protein, low fat dairy, whole grains. When eating breakfast at a hotel or B&B, choose eggs, low fat yogurt (also good for protein) or whole grain cereal with low fat or skim milk over pastries and pancakes. Those small single serving boxes and bowls of whole grain cereals can also make a great road snack. Nuts and nut butters are portable and filled with protein, healthy fats and fiber, all of which can help you to feel fuller longer and if you will be doing any kind of physical activity on your trip, you’ll want that protein to support your muscles! Eating small, frequent meals and thoughtful snacks can also help you not overeat later.  

Stay Hydrated

FIFN: Fainting Is No Fun. If for no other reason, make sure to stay hydrated so you don’t end up passing out. This is especially important when travelling in hot weather. Also, sometimes when we think we are hungry, we are actually thirsty. Drinking plenty of water can help you keep up your energy and better understand your hunger and thirst cues.

Even when you don’t know when or where your next meal will be, just a little planning and some strategic choices can be the difference between feeling sick, slow and sluggish and having all the energy you need to get you through your next adventure!


Image: Graeme Weatherston / FreeDigitalPhotos.net