This guide examines how to eat healthy on the road and what food to consume.
It's expected that if you're on a road trip, the most obvious choice for food would be fast food. That's because you'd be looking for a quick fix so that you can continue with the trip.
However, this is not the best way to eat while on the road, and it's essential to plan for healthier meals, too.
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Eating Healthy on the Road
Eating healthy doesn't have to be complicated. Let's look at how to keep it healthy even on a road trip.
Make Plans
Your healthy eating habits shouldn't stop because you're on a road trip. What you need to do is plan to have healthy food for the journey.
We recommend working on your packaging skills, as you may have to decide what to pack and what to leave behind. Consider getting dark chocolate chips, water, breakfast bars, and more.
Where You Stop Matters
Other than buying and carrying your food, it might also be wise to plan where to stop.
No need to stop for fast food or gas station snacks. It'd be nice if you could stop in places with restaurants that offer you good food. You can also look for a health food store nearby for more supplies.
Make Google Maps your friend to find more details about your location and nearby restaurants.
Eat More Protein
Proteins will always be vital in your diet; they're essential for building muscles and enable the body to function normally.
Hard-boiled eggs and grilled chicken are two easy protein options available almost everywhere. If you get the right amount of protein in your daily diet, you can maintain good energy levels during your trip.
If you have to eat carbohydrates, try to keep the portions low. Whole grain bread, for example, is not so bad. Just make sure you're also eating vegetables with your proteins.
While proteins can be more expensive, they should also fill you up longer than carbs; they have the potential to help you control your cravings better.
Related: How To Save Money on Food
Avoid Eating Your Emotions
If something happens to cause you stress or anxiety, you may find yourself eating potato chips or other foods that make you feel good at that moment.
Eating your emotions is not highly recommended. When you're on the road, such junk food can quickly leave you with low energy or deflate your mood.
Instead, aim to consistently eat foods that improve your health. Try a trail mix with dried fruit to reap the health benefits of different nuts and seeds.
We recommend that you avoid deep-fried foods and those with added sugar, as they can make you feel like eating more.
Stay Hydrated
Just as eating healthy is essential, so too is staying hydrated. Drink plenty of water during your road trip.
Water is essential for flushing toxins from the body. Other benefits of staying well-hydrated include healthy-looking skin and eating less food overall.
Water is critical for dealing with travel lag and calming junk food cravings. Consider keeping your water bottles filled so you don't have to buy single-use bottles at every stop.
Don't Forget Your Greens
Lindsey Desoto, a clinical dietitian, advises that we always embrace using super greens. Since they're made of leafy vegetables, we recommend that you head to a local grocery store and get enough greens for the trip if necessary.
Consider dried fruits, salad bars, and baby carrots, among many other vegetables you can get. Fruits play an essential role in a healthy diet, too. Buy freeze-dried fruits too, and have smoothies in a cooler to make the whole trip fun and healthy.
Supplements Are Recommended
HealthCanal largely advocates taking supplements during road trips. A supplement such as melatonin can help you acclimate to a new time zone and maintain a regular sleep schedule, which is vital for your overall health.
You can always consult your doctor for supplements you might need. Other than travel snacks, you can improve your health with supplements.
Related: How To Beat Jet Lag
Minimize Booze
It's best if you can keep alcohol consumption to a minimum. Drinking too much booze can cause a significant increase in calories and leave you feeling less up to the task of driving.
Getting drunk is not good for your image at a work conference. Focus more on networking and building new and valuable connections.
Scan the Buffet Options
Whenever you have a buffet as a choice, there will be many options, such as a hard-boiled egg, cottage cheese, and fruit juices. So, how do you manage a healthy meal from it?
Focus more on the protein and watch the portion sizes. Choose foods that'll leave you feeling full for longer. High-protein foods are recommended because they help you avoid craving pizza later.
Aim always to make the healthiest choices when you buy food for travel, whether by air or land. If you make intelligent choices and pack healthy snacks, you'll have more energy to enjoy the experience.
Eating healthy isn't just for the home alone. Try to eat healthy as a matter of practice, whether at home or on the road.
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This story is brought to you in partnership with HealthCanal.
