With gas prices down and plenty of warm weather days still ahead of us, there’s no better time to plan a road trip. Whether you can take some significant time off work or school and go on a cross-country journey or just squeeze in a weekend of adventure to curb your wanderlust, road trips with family, friends, or just by yourself are simply good for the soul.
But while good for the soul, road trips often wreak havoc on our diets and healthy habits. It’s definitely easier to eat fruits and vegetables and make healthy meals when you’re at home, but it can certainly be done on the road as well.
Here are some tips for packing healthy snacks and meals for your next road trip.
Road Trip Snacks
Road trip snacks should be easy and convenient to eat on-the-go without a big fuss or mess. However, they should also fuel your body with the nutrients it needs to keep up with your exciting new schedule and fun activities.
Some of the best on-the-go snacks are homemade granola bars, dried fruits, and homemade vegetable chips. Making your own snacks from scratch takes some advance planning, but you can make them much healthier than the pre-packaged and preservative-filled versions you’d pick up at the store.
You can also make your own easy trail mix snack by tossing together a few of your favorite nuts, seeds, dried fruits, and dark chocolate. To get your servings of organic fresh fruits, make a fruit salad and spray with freshly squeezed lemon juice to keep your fruits from spoiling in the car.
Here are a few snack recipes to get you started:
Road Trip Meals
Road trip meals are an even greater challenge than snacks because they typically involve more variety and nutrient needs. However, your health and your budget will thank you if you skip the tempting fast food drive thru and prepare a few things in advance.
Also try to find hotels, bed & breakfasts, or Air BnBs that have kitchens that you can use to prepare meals during your trip and for the journey back. Check out local farmer’s markets on your trip to stock up on healthy foods and get in touch with the local culture.
Sure, this all takes a bit more work and an occasional splurge is fine, but road trip meal planning can make a huge difference in how you feel while traveling and how many other activities you’re able to afford along the way.
These are some road trip meal ideas to consider for your next trip:
- Mini Roasted Vegetable Burritos
- Make-Ahead Samosas
- Potato & Broccoli Quinoa Salad with Garlic Aioli
- Garlic Chicken Hummus Wraps
Fruit and Vegetable Concentrates
If you’re having trouble finding access to fresh produce while traveling, consider stocking up on some of our fruit and vegetable concentrates before you hit the road. We grow and harvest raw materials from our own farming and fishing operations and can provide you with pure and natural concentrates processed from our delicate freeze-drying and cryogenic-grinding techniques.
Consider these natural supplements if you don’t think you’ll be able to get enough healthy fresh foods on your trip: