Road trips can poorly affect your diet and your health. Instead of stopping at fast food restaurants and vending machines, save money by buying healthier snacks and preparing dinners from home.
Create a menu for your road trip. This will help you know what your family or friends will be eating throughout the entire trip. It will also help you when you go out to buy food.
For breakfast, some suggestions include muffins, bananas, apple bread, bagels with cream cheese, cereal with milk, hard-boiled eggs, or little smoky sausages. Instead of stopping at McDonalds, you can always eat at your hotel. Avoid foods with lots of sugar. Sugar makes you sluggish and sleepy.
For lunch and dinner, you can plan peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, lunch meat sandwiches, hot dogs, pasta salad, pre-sliced fruits, and raw vegetables. If you do stop for dinner, choose foods such as salads, baked chicken, or soup. Avoid large portions of food.
For snacks, think of healthy alternatives to what you usually eat. Choose pre-washed and sliced fruits, raw vegetables such as baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, celery, pre-packed nuts, pre-pack whole grain cereal, Stacy’s Pita Chips, string cheese, or whole grain crackers.
Make sure you prepare the food before you pack them. It will be easier to hand your child an already made sandwich instead of having to get everything out. Also, do not forget about zip lock bags or wet whips.
Make sure you remember drinks. Avoid too much sugar drinks such as pops, sports drinks, and more. Bring lots of bottled water and you can freeze it before hand to keep it cold. Other suggestions include bringing lemonade or unsweetened iced tea.