Best Foods To Eat When On The Road

Our personal trainers help people learn about good nutrition at Thrive Fitness in Pittsburg, California. By learning to make smarter food choices, eating healthier is easier, even on the road. Whether you’re traveling for a vacation or your work time is spent driving, having access to healthier options can make the difference between weight gain and weight loss, while providing many benefits. Preplanning is important. For those who feel like they live on the road because their job requires a lot of traveling, it’s even more important.

Your planning depends on the length of the trip.

Are you traveling for the day, taking a weekend trip, or are your plans even longer? If you’re only spending a day on the road, taking snacks, lunch, and water can become a simple routine. If your travels are longer, it takes more planning. Plan healthy snacks, such as fresh fruit, to eat along the way. By curbing your appetite mid-morning and mid-afternoon, you won’t be tempted to stop for a drive-through snack or fill up your stomach with junk food when you fill up your gas tank. Make sure you have several bottles of water or buy water at one of your stops. Staying hydrated should be a priority.

Investigate restaurants you’ll be passing at mealtime.

If your trip is longer or you’re traveling for business, eating in a restaurant with clients may be mandatory. Do some research. Many restaurants have online sites that display their menus. Look for salads and ask for dressing on the side. For the main dish, select grilled options. Even fast food restaurants may offer these types of food. If everything says breaded and fried, avoid the restaurant.

You don’t have to take a week’s worth of food if your trip is longer.

Some food travels well, like nuts and trail mix, while others are more difficult because they require a cooler. You can have both if plan. Not everything needs to come from home if your trip is long. Look for local farmer’s markets or groceries along the way and choose rooms with a refrigerator and ice machine. Prepare the next day’s healthy snacks in your room at night. Every night replenish your cooler.

• Avoid sugary drinks and colas along the way. Opt for unsweetened iced or hot tea, coffee, or water. If you have a special preference for hot tea, such as green tea, carry some tea bags with you.
• Yogurt, hard-boiled eggs, hummus, and veggies all travel well in a cooler. If you choose yogurt, get full-fat, live bacteria yogurt and add fruit. Low-fat yogurt often has sugar and additives to make it palatable.
• Plan a wide variety of snacks and meals to ensure you get all the macronutrients. Cubed cheese, raw veggies, a bran muffin, yogurt, whole grain crackers, and fresh fruit are some examples.
• Longer road trips are hard on the body. Stop every hour and stretch your legs for a few minutes. It may seem like a hassle that will slow you down, but if you arrive at your destination a few minutes later, but healthier, it’s worth it.

For more information, contact us today at Thrive Fitness!