Eating right is hard enough, but sticking to a healthy diet on a road trip is an even bigger challenge. Check out these travel-friendly tips and recipes.

From the roadside, the signs for hamburgers, fried chicken, tacos, and “country cooking” emit their siren songs, luring you to satisfy that hunger – and experience nutritional demise.

With fast-food restaurants on every corner, it’s all too easy to give in to junk food, especially when you're traveling with kids. Yes, more fast-food chains include healthy options on their menus and even the Colonel’s chicken no longer contains artery-clogging trans fat. Still, long car trips can get boring, and many travelers cure boredom with unhealthy food.
 
About 19 percent of our meals are consumed in cars, so the results of unhealthy eating on the road can really add up. Even though it’s convenient, fast food isn’t always the most nutritious option. It's often high in calories, full of salt, and loaded with fat.

Tips to healthy traveling

Fortunately, a little preparation goes a long way. So here are some tips to help you avoid fast-food temptations on the road.

•  Decide in advance that you're going to stick to a mealtime schedule. If you’re going on a hike, plan and pack a lunch and enough snacks to get you through it.

•  Bring a cooler for perishables. Animal proteins like meat, eggs, and dairy are especially susceptible to spoiling on a long summer road trip.

•  Avoid yellow arches, meat-loving kings, and any other places that smell like fries from miles away. Stop at sandwich shops and grocery stores where you’re more likely to find healthy options.

•  Keep a sports bottle full of water in the car. If you find yourself getting hungry between mealtimes, fill up on a few sips of water and wait out the urge until mealtime.

•  Bring a few good snacks with you. Take some dried fruit and nut mixes along for the ride. They’ll fill you up and give you a healthy boost.

•  Stay entertained. Play games, sing, or listen to music, audio books or talk radio. Staying entertained will help keep your mind off of food. A good plan if you're prone to grazing when you're bored.

•  Avoid the convenience food when you stop to get gas. Don't grab chips and sodas. If it’s time for a meal or a snack, load up on fruit, nuts and sugar-free juices.

•  Stop at farm stands along the way. There’s nothing better than fresh fruits or veggies straight from the farm.
 
•  Watch what you drink. Beverages like sodas and sticky-sweet coffee drinks can be a major source of nutritionally empty calories. Stick to water, unsweetened tea, or diet soda. And pass on the thick shakes and ice cream drinks!

•  Have it wrapped. Instead of burgers, try healthy wraps filled with veggies or lean meats. They’re easy to eat without making a mess - a definite plus for road trips. But watch out for the fatty condiments that some restaurants put on their wraps.

Most importantly, remember to have fun and look for adventure! That's the reason you're on the road. Besides, it will help keep your mind occupied on something other than the fast-food signs flashing by every two minutes.

Try these recipes!

You don't need to pack a ton of food, but if can't plan ahead, don't worry - check out our guide to making healthy fast food choices. And, while you're at it, see what farmer's markets may be near your route.

Or before you leave on your trip, whip up the following meals to take along:

•  Breakfast: Geared Up Ginger Granola

•  Lunch: Smooth Sailing Seafood Salad Wraps

•  Dinner: Roadside Bean & Potato Salad

•  Backseat Snacks: Hot Pepper Pretzels, Fresh Mushroom Pate

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Source: Eater’s Digest

Nubella News, a division of Marketing Technology Solutions, Inc., offers content intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We encourage our readers to seek prompt medical care for health issues and consult their physicians before starting a new diet, fitness regimen, or medical treatment.