Traveling and healthy eating

epazia

I am going on a 7 day road trip in March and am concerned about healthy eating. In the past we have just stopped at the rest stops, but this is not the healthiest way to go. Not going to have much room for a cooler. Does anyone have any good travel and eating tips?

crepes_

Rest stops often sell mixed nuts, sometimes single serving packs of cheese and hardboiled eggs. You can also pack these for yourself in a cooler. You can also get salads from Subway (I get tuna, all veggies, no dressing - doesn't need it), and from Wendy's (lunch sized portions are adequate and there is a lot of variety). Jimmy John's has unwiches and Burger King has bunless burgers, that will be lower in calorie than others, but it's still high sodium and processed meats, which I'm not sure you may consider healthy eating. Protein powder can be stored in your car and combined with milk from a rest stop store, as well.

waltcote

i would say that since you have probably been here a while, you have some knowledge of what to eat. I would pack my healthy snack bars and fruit that doesn't need a cooler. When you stop to eat make what you know is the better choice and ask for substitutions on the sides with a meal. When I started trying to lose weight we were actually on vacation. I sacrificed missing pizza for other choices at places to eat. We did alot of baseball games on the road and I enjoyed my brats and nachos. I just made sure my other meals were very healthy choices. I really didn't track calories then and still managed to lose weight. Also you may want to limit certain snacks in the car and substitute others for the car to keep yourself busy. My choices were sunflower seeds and beef jerky. I think they are better options then a bag of Doritoes in the car. take breaks from driving if weather permits by walking around at rest stops or parks along the way. I love road trips way more then flying. We tend to travel east from Colorado every summer to visit family. We try to see fun sites along the way. we are avid baseball fans too. Last summer we attended a number of minor league games along the way. We are doing the same in June and plan on ball games on the trip. The food at the ballparks is part of the fun because of some of the unique choices some ballparks have. I allow myself one good unique food at each game. Just because we are on "diet" doesn't mean we have to put life on hold until we get to our goal weight. Enjoy your trip and be safe. Sorry for the long post. :bigsmile:

writergeek313

Before you leave, stock up on healthy snacks that travel well, like Larabars, nuts (you might measure these out into single servings and put them in snack size plastic bags since it's easy to eat too many without realizing it), apples, etc. The single-serve containers of peanut butter are ridiculously expensive vs. a regular jar, but they're ideal for traveling. Take refillable water bottles so you can fill up at rest stops. Subway is usually my go-to lunch stop when I'm traveling, and I'm noticing that convenience stores are getting better with healthier options like yogurt, single-serve hummus cups, and protein bars.

If you have a sense of the general area you'll be in each day, try to find grocery stores. Then you can hit the salad bar, buy single pieces of fruit or a fruit cup, get a yogurt, or pick up anything that you can either take along or will eat right away.

1two3four

I am going on a 7 day road trip in March and am concerned about healthy eating. In the past we have just stopped at the rest stops, but this is not the healthiest way to go. Not going to have much room for a cooler. Does anyone have any good travel and eating tips?

Well, this all depends. When we pack a picnic lunch or we're doing a road trip where we need two meals plus snacks we don't pack one cooler--everyone packs their own insulated lunch bag. This is for several reasons, it's easier to store and transport (if we're moving each person carries their own and say we're in the car it can be at each person's feet). Everyone gets exactly what they want because no one can eat someone else's yogurt or sandwich and if we're in the car people in the back seats can eat whatever they want whenever they want.

And for another meal you could all eat out somewhere for one meal OR pack a smaller cooler with one family meal. You're going to have to do a refill on this every night at a grocery store.

We do this for cost cutting factors but you can make this as healthy as you'd like without much issue.

Or in this day and age of the internet, Map Quest, Google, Yelp and GPS plan your trip around places to stop and get the foods at restaurants that fit your criteria. It could be as simple as Subway or a grocery store with a food/salad bar and deli and bakery.

And if none of that is possible plan a menu around shelf stable foods and snacks, but that could just get boring after seven days.

If it were me, I'd do the first suggested thing or make room for a cooler.

martyqueen52

Barbecue up a few lbs. of chicken / turkey.

Get some Quest protein bars from GNC.

Can of almonds / peanuts / rice cakes / brown rice crackers

epazia

Thanks everyone these all excellent ideas.

rmdaly

If you don't have room for a cooler, could you get a largish insulated lunch bag?

When I have done extended road trips, I take simple things for breakfast and lunch (cereal, milk, fruit, bread, sandwich fixings, healthy snacks) and I would stop at rest areas to eat and then stop for a nice dinner in a restaurant. Fixing your own meals for breakfast and lunch is generally healthier than eating out. Also, if the rest stops are nice, you might be able to do some walking to get a little exercise.