Road trip!

I'm going on a cross country road trip that should take about 10 days. I'm looking for ideas to make smart food and exercise choices along the way.

Replies

  • Emmapatterson1729
    Emmapatterson1729 Posts: 1,296 Member
    edited September 2019
    atmdumont wrote: »
    I'm going on a cross country road trip that should take about 10 days. I'm looking for ideas to make smart food and exercise choices along the way.

    When I travel, I pre-plan out where I'm going to eat across the country. I love Panera's salads, Chipotle's burritos, Whole Food's hot bar, some cities have In&Out or Pita Jungles.

    So I research locations of foods I love in each location I visit or drive through.

    Have fun on your trip!
  • geraldaltman
    geraldaltman Posts: 1,739 Member
    atmdumont wrote: »
    I'm going on a cross country road trip that should take about 10 days. I'm looking for ideas to make smart food and exercise choices along the way.

    Have a theraband or resistance band in car with you. When you take your breaks to stretch your legs, you can take a couple minutes to use that to loosen your feet/ankles and stretch leg muscles before starting to drive again. I found that helpful during shorter trips I took after my hip replacements. I think it worked well. Enjoy the drive.
  • apullum
    apullum Posts: 4,838 Member
    It depends on how you view a road trip. If you're the sort who loves road trip snacks, buy things that fit your goals ahead of time rather than picking up whatever happens to be at the next gas station. If you're not into having restaurant food every day, you can take a cooler or even plan to stop at a grocery store occasionally.

    I hit my goal weight during a cross-country move. We had a reasonable restaurant dinner each evening, and snacks were things like protein bars and fruit.
  • jenncornelsen
    jenncornelsen Posts: 969 Member
    When we travel which is frequently, we buy our breakfast and lunches at grocery stores and keep them in a cooler( think premade salads, cracker and cheese packs, protein bars and smoothies) then we order one dinner me and my husband share. Not only does this cut tons of calories, it saves lots of money. Have fun!!
  • MelanieCN77
    MelanieCN77 Posts: 4,047 Member
    Groceries with salad and hot bars is a great idea. I feel like you could always do well and if you have a cooler you could pick off a couple of meals at one place.
  • Lobsterboxtops
    Lobsterboxtops Posts: 92 Member
    What are your facilities going to be like? Are you camping, RV, staying in hotels?

    A couple of years ago we bought a car fridge (look for one with a compressor unlike the car plug in cooler). This was a game changer for us in our food options.

    We typically bring deli ham and cheese and make sliders along the way, for snacks (we like to eat small on the road vs. stopping for big meals) we bring beef jerky (the Kirkland steak strips), cheese curds, nuts, dried fruit (we go to Whole Foods for their bulk selection), and yes, I bring crackers and spray cheese...it’s just not a car trip without it (don’t judge), and cut up veggies and fruit. I would bring hard boiled eggs but my husband can’t stand the smell so I leave those out.

    We’ll also try to find places for sandwiches on the way...PROTIP the diners you find at truckstops are typically very happy to make a ham and Swiss sandwich to go even if it’s not on the menu. Also, Starbucks are around every corner and their protein boxes aren’t a terrible option for on the go eating in a pinch.
  • ridiculous59
    ridiculous59 Posts: 2,908 Member
    I recently returned from a 90 day trip across Canada and back. I was thrilled because after all the regional wine and cider sampling, and sitting in a vehicle for just over 20,000 kms, I only gained 2 pounds. We had a travel trailer so actually didn't eat out that much (other than lots of east coast seafood!). My snack foods were cheese, yoghurt, jerky, fruit, salads, deli meats, etc. Pretty much what I'd eat at home. So yes, a good cooler or fridge is a must, and keep a small container handy with a sharp knife, cutlery, paper plates, napkins, etc. Make a point of stopping at a grocery store in the mornings and picking up a few things for the day. It takes no more time than stopping at a restaurant. And avoid the high calorie Starbucks-type drinks. I love a plain latte or flat white and both fit easily in my daily calories. I took resistance bands, a yoga mat, and my running gear so everyday I did something. Moving feels really good after sitting all day! And enjoy the trip :)
  • cbstewart88
    cbstewart88 Posts: 453 Member
    I like getting out of the car in the middle of the desert and doing yoga. :)
  • Emmapatterson1729
    Emmapatterson1729 Posts: 1,296 Member
    What are your facilities going to be like? Are you camping, RV, staying in hotels?

    A couple of years ago we bought a car fridge (look for one with a compressor unlike the car plug in cooler). This was a game changer for us in our food options.

    We typically bring deli ham and cheese and make sliders along the way, for snacks (we like to eat small on the road vs. stopping for big meals) we bring beef jerky (the Kirkland steak strips), cheese curds, nuts, dried fruit (we go to Whole Foods for their bulk selection), and yes, I bring crackers and spray cheese...it’s just not a car trip without it (don’t judge), and cut up veggies and fruit. I would bring hard boiled eggs but my husband can’t stand the smell so I leave those out.

    We’ll also try to find places for sandwiches on the way...PROTIP the diners you find at truckstops are typically very happy to make a ham and Swiss sandwich to go even if it’s not on the menu. Also, Starbucks are around every corner and their protein boxes aren’t a terrible option for on the go eating in a pinch.

    Forgot about Starbucks!!!... Love Starbucks' food options, even some of their sandwiches are delicious!!!

  • kosseychick
    kosseychick Posts: 244 Member
    Plug in cooler then you can bring along some healthier choices and pick up stuff to make healthy lunches/snacks enroute.
  • atmdumont
    atmdumont Posts: 4 Member
    Thanks for all the suggestions! We're driving there, flying back, so dont want to invest in too fancy of a cooler. I'm going to check out some cheaper ones though. I'm starting to formulate a plan to keep me on track. Thanks again!
  • atmdumont
    atmdumont Posts: 4 Member
    I recently returned from a 90 day trip across Canada and back. I was thrilled because after all the regional wine and cider sampling, and sitting in a vehicle for just over 20,000 kms, I only gained 2 pounds. We had a travel trailer so actually didn't eat out that much (other than lots of east coast seafood!). My snack foods were cheese, yoghurt, jerky, fruit, salads, deli meats, etc. Pretty much what I'd eat at home. So yes, a good cooler or fridge is a must, and keep a small container handy with a sharp knife, cutlery, paper plates, napkins, etc. Make a point of stopping at a grocery store in the mornings and picking up a few things for the day. It takes no more time than stopping at a restaurant. And avoid the high calorie Starbucks-type drinks. I love a plain latte or flat white and both fit easily in my daily calories. I took resistance bands, a yoga mat, and my running gear so everyday I did something. Moving feels really good after sitting all day! And enjoy the trip :)

    This is similar to what I'm doing! Driving from Calgary to PEI, but then we're flying back. I'm definitely looking forward to the seafood! :smiley: