Road trip! Sound like fun? Not if you’re worried about the amount of money you’re going to spend on unhealthy food, in addition to the long hours in the car with the kids. Here are some tips to eat healthy – and keep your kids entertained – on road trips!
1. Snack smart in the car
Try some healthy portable road trip snacks to keep your family interested:
- Dry roasted edamame
- Clementines
- Individual bags of popcorn
- Dried fruits such as apricots, cherries, blueberries, cranberries, etc.
- Apples (whole, or cut them up before you hit the road – add a dash of cinnamon to keep things interesting)
- Trail mix (make your own using a favorite low-sugar cereal, dried fruit, nuts, edamame, etc.)
- Grapes (don’t give these to children under age 4 – they are a choking hazard)
- Washed and cut veggies like baby carrots, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, cauliflower – whatever your family likes!
2. Make life easier with divided containers
Remember when airplane food was exciting, just because it came in fun compartmented plates? Dig out the divided containers you use to pack lunches. Pack each person’s car snacks (or meal if you have a long drive ahead of you) in their own individual box. This gets you out of having to pass back another snack every ten minutes, and they’ll be happy to see what exciting new options you’ve packed for their vacation.
3. Go reusable
Fill everyone’s reusable water bottle with fresh water before you leave the house, and throw in a lemon wedge or cucumber slice to combat water boredom. Many museums and other family-friendly destinations have areas designated to refill water bottles, so take advantage of those when you’re out and about. Save your money (and calories) and avoid buying sugar-sweetened beverages on the go.
4. Eat in at your destination
Plan ahead so you don’t have to eat out every meal while you’re traveling. If you know you’ll have a fridge at your destination, stop and get some milk, cereal, and fruit for a quick breakfast in your room. If you don’t have a fridge, bring some staples like bread, peanut butter, and bananas for quick snacks or lunches.
For you and your kids to eat healthy on road trips requires a little extra planning and prep time, but you’ll be glad you did when you hit the road!
Do you have more tips for families to eat healthy on road trips? Do share them in the comments below!