Are you ready for a family road trip? If you’re like most people, the thought of road-tripping for an extended period of time fills you with equal parts excitement and dread. You can’t wait to get on the open road, but at the same time, you know that eating healthy is going to be a challenge. Never fear – follow these simple tips on how to eat healthy on a family road trip, and you’ll be able to eat well even when you’re on the go! Whether you’re seeing family for the holidays or just choosing to drive rather than fly here’s how you can keep your family healthy while on the road.
Pack an Ice Chest
Packing an ice chest and having it available in the car has been a lifesaver for us on each of our road trips everyone’s favorite drink options are available to them with just a reach behind a bag of ice keeps everything cool and food items can be packed such as string cheese pre-sliced or chopped fruit veggies like it, or cucumber you can slice them squeeze a little bit of lemon and a little Tajin and you’ve got a snack that everyone’s happy with.
You can make fruit-infused water ahead of time and keep it refreshingly cool in the ice chest. Not only does this reduce single-use plastics by cutting back on packing bottled water, but it also gives you a more flavorful option for hydrating.
You can also pack dry snacks such as chips, bananas, nuts, dried fruit, and health bars to help keep everyone happy while on a long stretch of a drive
Eating Outdoors
There are lots of rest stops that have spots to eat, take an extended break at a viewpoint, or grab a bench at a park along the way. You can pre-pack burritos or sandwiches or find a smaller local brick-and-mortar shop along the way that can provide healthy meal choices.
Also prioritizing the outdoors for eating encourages activity. The kids have a place to walk around and play. The adults can shake off that highway daze with a quick walk around the area.
Grocery Stores
Stop at a grocery deli over fast food and you’re guaranteed to have a greater opportunity to make a healthier choice. Decent in taste and easier on the wallet a grocery store deli can save the day. And you don’t have to settle for the traditional fried chicken tenders, mac and cheese, and Jojo potatoes. Though those are great you do have other options. For example, there is a black bean hummus in the refrigerator section right next to the deli counter that my husband and I absolutely love and I can find it at Walmarts and the Safeway family of stores across multiple states. I will have that over a hamburger and fries any day. I can eat the whole container!
Grocery stores also have options that satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. You have a wider selection than what you would have at any given fast food place as well. Chances are in a well-stocked grocery store you can find a version of that thing someone in your group is craving that’s healthier than what you’d find at your typical fast food. Craving the crunch of chips? Then go ahead! You can look for chips that have less sodium or a veggie-based chip that can still satisfy the need for crunch.
Fast Food Options
Still, let’s just admit that sometimes it’s fast food or nothing. Every once in a while that’s ok. You can still choose the healthiest option available to you once you’re there. For example, instead of everyone getting their own fries, what if you all shared one order? Instead of the fried chicken sandwich, can you do grilled? You can ask for no cheese or no added salt. Thanks to health advocates there really are more healthy options today than in the past. To get a bit of guidance you can check out the Healthy Fast Food HelpGuide here.
Road trips are a time for family, friends, and adventure. But eating healthy can be a challenge when you’re on the go. Follow these simple tips to make sure you and your loved ones stay healthy while traveling this season! Do you have any other tips to share? Let us know in the comments below!
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