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Monday, May 21, 2018

Healthier Food And Snack Choices For Our Road Trips

Read this post before you start throwing chips in a bag for healthier food and snack choices for when you get hungry on the road.

Another good idea, before you leave your home, is to make sure your car is ready for the long trip. Check out this post before you go. Getting The Car Ready For A Road Trip.


I'm not sure how many road trips we make a year.  At the very least four.  We live in North Carolina half the year and Florida the other half so there and back is two already.  Our family and friends live in New York and this year alone we were there and will be there for our daughter-in-laws baby shower, birth of our grandchild, our soon-to-be daughter-in-laws bridal shower, our grandchild's christening and our son's wedding.  Add ten more ten hour rides in the car!  Then there's a few more vacations and weekend trips to make in between.

I think that we are very fortunate to have such an active retirement life.  The only problem is, since retiring, we have been spending a lot more time in the car and still have old habits of not counting calories of the food we consume on the road.  For some reason we thought it was OK to eat a whole bag of chips, along with our huge sandwich, because we were eating in the car and not at the kitchen table.  And we never left home without a gigantic bag filled with calorie laden snacks.  We finally decided, when we were planning  our trip to New York for the birth of our grandson, that we needed to start making better choices when eating on the road.

Better Choices For Breakfast


Instead of stopping at McDonald's and getting a sausage, egg and cheese McMuffin (470 calories), our new breakfast choices are: 

     Hard boiled eggs (I peel and salt them at home) -  78 cals per large egg     
     Cereal* - 120 cals per 3/4 cup
     Greek yogurt (Don't forget your spoon) - 120 cals per 6oz. cup
            Add a tablespoon of nuts - 48 cals and sliced apple - 95 cal for an even healthier meal


If we forget to pack a breakfast, a healthier choice at McDonalds's would be to have their oatmeal plain (150 cals) or parfait without granola (128 cals).

*Healthy Cereal Choices (containing whole grains and low sugar)
     1. Cheerios   2. Kashi Honey Puffs or Go Lean Original   3. Fiber One   4. Ezekiel 4:9   5. Grape-       nuts   6. Special K Protein   7. Nature's Path Millet Rice or Heritage Crunch   8. Alpen No Sugar         Added   9. Cascadian Farm Hearty Morning   10. Post Shredded Wheat   11. Uncle Sam Original        Whole Wheat & Flaxseed Cereal   12. Quaker Oatmeal Square Cinnamon

Better Choices For Lunch


We loved stopping at Burger King to get a Whopper for lunch but at a whopping 630 cals (without cheese) this lunch definitely needs a healthier substitute.

Banana Roll-up - (This could definitely work for breakfast also.) - 224 cals
Wrap medium banana with a whole wheat burrito-size tortilla spread with 1 tbsp. peanut butter.

Chicken Sandwich - 240 cals
Instead of buying cold cuts which are very high in sodium, we bake chicken breasts or get an already prepared roasted chicken at the grocery store to make our sandwiches with.  Whole wheat bread, romaine lettuce and avocado spread*, for a healthier fat, makes this a healthy choice.

*1 ripe avocado, 2 tbsp. light mayo and 1 tsp. lemon juice.  Blend and spread. - 30 cals per tbsp.

Better Choices For Snacks

Snacks contributed to the majority of our overeating in the car.  We got in a bad habit of filling an entire grocery bag with salty and sweet goodies.  Eating snacks in the car kept the kids entertained and helped pass the time away in the car.  We could get away with snacking when we were younger and our bodies could work off the calories, not so much anymore!

100 Calorie Snacks



I like 100 calorie snack packages when I'm keeping track of calories.  But the cookies and chocolate snacks are empty calories.  These two snacks are better choices.

Popcorn - 1/4 cup of kernels popped in a brown lunch bag in the microwave with a quick spray of popcorn flavoring and a dash of salt.  Popcorn gives us some of the fiber we need in our daily diet.

Edamame - packaged individually in 100 calorie packages.  (There is no need to cook the edamame although the package tells you too.  I grab the packages and go and they are thawed and ready to eat when I am ready to eat them.)  Edamame is rich in protein, antioxidants and fiber.

Veggie Snacks



I know that vegetables have zero calories if you are on Weight Watchers.   We are not on Weight Watchers but I don't count the calories of most vegetables.  Besides for a few, like corn, peas and potatoes that are high in starch, and higher in calories, vegetables are low in calories anyway.  I do like to use a light ranch dressing so I count the 80 calories for 2 tbsp.  Or I bring individual serving packs of hummus that I get at Costco to dip the veggies in.  Each pack is 2.4 oz. and are 160 cal.  Making individual portions, using snack bags, makes it easier for us to eat the veggies in the car.

We love snacking on leftover veggies, especially green beans.  I like to roast veggies in the oven with a little olive oil, garlic and salt for dinner.  I always make extra because we enjoy them as a snack right out of fridge the next day.  I will sometimes cook extra veggies for dinner the night before a road trip so we can take some on the road.  

My daughter makes the best pickles.  And the pickles make a great snack on the road.

Fruit Snacks


Fruit is our favorite snack on the road.  We count calories and use portion control with fruit.  I portion the fruit so that each serving is 50 calories which makes it easier to keep track of.

Grapes  - 15 grapes = 50 cals
Apples - 1/2 apple = 50 cals (I slice the apples and put them in cold water with a pinch of salt so they                                                don't turn brown.)
Orange - medium = 50 cals
Blackberries - 6 oz. package = 50 cals (I keep berries in their original packaging when I take them on                                                                the road.)

Other Snacks



The snack that we really miss the most is the chips.  Potato chips, nachos and the rest.  The salty, crunchy snack has always been a treat that we avoid normally but we'd always bring a bag or two on the road with us.  We haven't found a great substitute for the chips yet but have found that roasted beans and peas gives us the saltiness we want and a bit of the crunch.

Garbanzo Beans - 100 cals per 1/2 cup
Peas - 50 cals per 1/2 cup

Roast beans or peas in 400 degree oven for 30 minutes.  Put roasted beans or peas in bowl and add a small amount of olive oil, salt and any of your favorite seasonings.  Mix to coat then return to oven for another 15 minutes.

Enjoy your trip!

Check your list of items you've packed in case of an emergency with ours before you go.



This post was featured!

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What do you eat in the car on your long road trips?  Do you have favorite healthy snacks you like to bring in the car with you?  We would love to add your favorites to our list!







46 comments:

  1. What a great list! Thank you for this! I think my son would really like the banana wrap!

    Blessings,

    Amy

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    1. So glad you found something new for your son to try here. Thanks for stopping by!

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  2. My husband and I were just talking about how we need better snack ideas for our road trips! We are headed to Canada in three weeks, a 12 hour trip. These are some great ideas. Thanks for sharing!
    ~Eveliina @confessionsofparenting

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    1. I'm glad you found some snack ideas for your road trip here. Have a wonderful vacation!

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  3. This post made me hungry! My husband is a chip addict and we solve the problem by portioning out the chips just as you portioned out the fruit. I don't eat chips often, but occasionally enjoy a few organic white corn tortilla chips. For car, or any other kind of, trips I like to bring along nuts for protein. I divide equal amounts of raw almonds and salted roasted cashews into individual servings. And I stick with my 16/8 Intermittent Fasting schedule on the road just like at home, which helps prevent mindless snacking on boring stretches of road! :D

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    1. Thank you so much for sharing your ideas for healthier snacking. I will add them to my list!

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  4. Isn't funny a road trip food can feel like an opportunity to eat whatever you want? I guess that's okay if you only travel occasionally, but as you pointed out, if it's a way of life, it adds up quick. Thanks for the healthy snack ideas. These would work well for me during a long work day as well. Thanks for linking up at #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty! Safe travels!

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    1. Making individual bags makes it easier to keep track of snacking during the day also. Glad you found some helpful ideas!

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  5. great suggestions. We too are snow birds and have a 20 hour drive up and back- I like to pack some healthy food for the ride for a few reasons. I am gluten free, vegetarian, and it is hard to find in the fast food stops and who wants to stop !! We like to drive as far as we can without stopping . We eat our own food and stop only for bathroom stops and once to sleep for the night. Great ideas thanks

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    1. Yes! Eating in the car is much easier than having to stop and get something on the road and there's not too many choices for sure. Thanks for sharing.

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  6. Great tips! I love all your suggestions. I always blow my normal healthy diet every time I travel too. Have you tried dipping your veggies in hummus instead of ranch dressing? It's really good for you!

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    1. I do love hummus but don't always have it around. That is a great suggestion!! I'm adding it to my list. Thanks!

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  7. Some really good and delicious ideas! Thanks.

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  8. This is much better than chips and junk food

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    1. I do miss the days when we could each chips without worrying too much about it though haha!

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  9. We also travel by car a lot and do have unhealthy snacking habits. The last time we drove to Fl. husband spent $100 on snacks.Thanks for the great tips.

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    1. Your husband must have entered the store with an empty stomach!

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  10. Great post! We are currently on a road trip enjoying any of these same snacks!

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  11. I've been thinking it's about time to change some of my snacking habits while traveling. Thanks for the great ideas!

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  12. That's a great list you put together Cathy! It sure beats all those loaded calories from fast food places. Seems I learn something new all the time - I had to go look up edamame, had never heard that word before. Shared this post x 4 ♥

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    1. You might like edamame. It's fun popping the little seeds into your mouth and they are delicious and so good for you!

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  13. Well, what a good list. We always pop the calorie-laden snacks in the car as well. I love popcorn so that is an excellent choice for us and making our own sandwiches is a great idea as well. I had never heard of edamame. So will be checking that out.

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    1. Edamame are soy beans and are a really healthy snack so I hope you will try them. Put the whole pod in your mouth (I like to salt the pods if they are not salted already) and, using your teeth, pop the beans into your mouth and then discard the pod. Hope you like them!

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  14. Thanks so much for linking up at the #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 3! Shared.

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  15. Congrats! Your post is FEATURED at the #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 4. Party open now!

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  16. It is so easy to snack on unhealthy junk in the car! Great alternative ideas. Thanks for sharing with us at Encouraging Hearts and Home. Pinned.

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    1. I think it was a bad habit we picked up when we had our kids to entertain during a long road trip. One day I realized it was only the two of us in the car and I was packing the same amount of high calorie snacks as if we still had a whole carload of people with us lol!!

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  17. CONGRATULATIONS: Our Julie has chosen your post to be FEATURED on the next Blogger's Pit Stop. We love promoting our bloggers, keep up the good work!
    Kathleen

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    1. Thank you so much for this exciting news!! I am looking forward to seeing the feature at your party this week. Thanks for hosting!!

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  18. It is so easy to eat unhealthy while in the car so we started packing lunches and snacks years ago. You have included some great ideas for us to try out. Thanks for sharing this week. #HomeMattersParty

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    1. So glad you will try some of our food and snack ideas! Thank you so much for hosting your great party every week!!

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  19. Thank you for bringing these great ideas to Fiesta Friday. My husband needs to eat constantly in the car to stay awake when he's driving??? What is that about? I, on the other hand, don't want anything to eat just water or tea to drink. So, you have given me some ideas of what to give him other than his preferred whole box of crackers or chips.

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    1. I feel the same way as your husband, lol! I feel less guilty about it now that I'm eating a healthier snack!

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  20. Great ideas. Saves a fair bit of money too! #Heatheandsoul

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    1. Saving money is a big reason we like to bring our own food!

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  21. Thank you from your SSPS Team and Esme for sharing your various links with us at #268 SSPS Linky. I am busy designing and creating an access database of IG and FB links and handles as you share your links with SSPS.
    If you have an account please let me know your IG and FB information then I can add and easily tag you when you're in the top 5 and I promote your post. Feel free to email me at esme@esmesalon.com or in the comments

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    1. I will email you my information. Thank you for asking.

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  22. These are all great ideas Cathy! When I had to go gluten free, I missed croutons on my salad, missed that crunch. I started adding sunflower seeds for the crunch I desperately wanted. Maybe this would work for your travels too? Can't wait to see the next trip ideas and travels!

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    1. I use sunflower seeds at home on my salad too! I measure one tablespoon (50 calories lol!) The seeds not only make the salad taste better but they are very healthy for you! Thanks so much for your suggestion. I will find a way to add it to my post!

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  23. Great ideas for healthy snacks, this is perfect for our summer trips.

    I would love to invite you to share your post on my Tell It To Me Tuesday link party, and have the chance to be featured. You can find the most recent one at https://perfectlyimperfect-lwl.com/tell-it-to-me-tuesday-5-7-11-23-link-party/. I hope you to see you there!

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    1. Thank you for inviting me to your party. I will definitely check it out!

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  24. Wow! What great ideas for healthier eating. I love your collection.
    I'm so happy you shared this with Sweet Tea & Friends this month dear friends.

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  25. I love all of your snack/meal ideas when road tripping! We spend a lot of time in the car, visiting our kids/grandkids and these healthy options will be wonderful additions when planning! Visiting via the SSPS #270 link party. Thank you!

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