When we travel, sometimes we fall into the trap of going through a drive thru or buying overpriced and unhealthy snacks on the road. Trust me, I’ve been there. When I learned I was pregnant a year ago, one of my best friends gave me the best advice: always carry snacks! I started bringing more snacks in my carry-on and preparing a snack bag when on road trips. Now that our piccola is five months, more than ever we make the effort to carry healthy snacks on the road. Here are my Dining Traveler tips on what to snack on the road:
Snack Bars
When thinking of what to snack on the road, snack bars quickly come to mind. They are affordable, non-perishable (most of them), and easy to pack. I have a few brands that are my favorites. I discovered Nature’s Bakery last year from a campaign I worked on and I fell in love with these fig-based fruit bars. Their mango fig bars are delicious. Although they are 150 calories, they are quite filling. I also like that they don’t squish easily while in my bags. Kashi is another one of my go-to brands. Their cherry chocolate bars are yummy. The only con of Kashi bars is that they are tiny. I always end up eating two!
Prepared Snacks
We recently went on a tri-city road trip to Charlotte, Atlanta, and Savannah, and we decided to make a series of prepared snacks for the road. We hit the road very early and the Dutchman surprised me with a parfait with Greek yogurt, granola, and agave nectar. We’re all about repurposing, so he made it in a jam jar. Not only was it tasty but it looked so cute!
Like many travelers, we tend to pack sandwiches for the road. We try to add a little flair to ours with Japanese Kewpie mayonnaise, Maille truffle mustard, or aged gouda we bring home from our trips to Holland. I don’t like white bread so I tend to go with pumpernickel, rye, or whole grain. Not only is it better for you, but I find it holds better with the fillings.
Fruit
When I forget to pack snacks, I weep when I pay $1.00 for ONE banana when I can get a bunch for the same price! The night before traveling, I set aside the fruit we’re going to take on the road. I prefer fruits like bananas, clementines, and apples that are easy to carry and peel. If I’m really motivated, I will peel and chop mangoes or pineapples and carry them in plastic containers. I also love to buy fruit at fruit stands during road trips. It gives you a great feel of what is seasonal at your destination.
Nuts and Dried Fruits
When we’re planning on what to snack on the road, nuts and dried fruit always come to the top of our list. Easy to pack and non-perishable, they can hold us over on the road. Sometimes I am bewildered with the high prices of nuts and dried fruits! We usually buy them in the bulk section of the supermarket and pack them in snack bags.
Getting Home: Detox
During our last Southern Road trip, I must admit that we did great getting from point A to point B, but when we arrived to our destinations, we couldn’t resist indulging in rich, Southern meals. When we got home, we decided to go for a detox. A product we found useful is Chan Supplements’ Feel Good Detox. I am the first to admit that I have zero discipline to adhere to a juice cleanse! What I liked about Chan Supplements’ Feel Good Detox is that we took two capsules after our meals and they did their magic. During our first days back we cut down on the processed food and Chan Supplements complemented these changes very well. The capsules contain a mix of herbs and extracts such as dandelion, Chinese rhubarb, mangosteen, and Aloe Vera. It relieved us from the bloating that sometimes comes along when snacking on the road.
What to Snack on the Road: The Verdict
I am proud of myself for packing more healthy snacks on the road and following up with a healthy routine after my travels. When planning on what to snack on the road, what goodies do you pack?
Chan supplements sounds something I need to try before summer arrives! Great tips.
http://www.spicycandydc.com
-Carla
Yes! We need to be swimsuit ready!
I do have a problem with eating out too much and also cannot fathom doing a juice cleanse. Good to know about Chan supplements! Added to my oregano oil for boosting my immune system to stay healthy, I’d be set!
Yes, we love Nature’s Bakery bars too! Definitely you need to look for bars without chocolate as they are a mess when they melt in the car. I love Jus by Julie juice cleanses because after travel I feel toxic!
I have been using digestive enzymes for years, not just to detox after, but all through the trip, especially when you are eating unfamiliar foods, you can boldly do it without a care in the world. I bring seaweed snacks with me because I like salty things. I also pack bars and nuts. Plus a bar of dark chocolate for when I get a craving. I usually only need a single piece from a tablet to satisfy me rather than needing to buy a chocolate dessert that will likely be too rich.
I have never thought about doing a detox after traveling but it seems like a good idea, especially when we eat a lot of heavy food or drink too much alcohol or coffee while traveling. I’ll keep this in mind for the future!
I find packing healthy snacks is the best defense to avoid getting hangry (never a pretty sight). I love the idea of going through a detox after a particularly indugent trip.
I wish I were that organized! I tend to buy junk food snacks wherever I stop for gas and then regret it later. I do a juice cleanse detox (Isagenix) as soon as I return from a trip though.
I’m off tomorrow night and was just wondering what I should pack to tide me over on the weird hours of the red-eye flight!
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