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Photo: Photography / Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling / Ruth Blackburn
Pictured Recipe:Chickpea Salad Sandwich
Welcome toThrifty. A weekly column where nutrition editor and registered dietitian, Jessica Ball, keeps it real on how to grocery shop on a budget, make healthy meals for one or two and make Earth-friendly choices without overhauling your entire life.
Summer vacations can mean a lot of things, and one thing they’ve always meant for me are road trips. I live in Vermont while the rest of my family is in Michigan, so every summer I pack up my car and head back to the Great Lakes State for a sun-filled weekend at the lake. Though I don’t look forward to the length of the drive, I always look forward to the road-trip snacks.
That said, buying all of your snacks and meals on the road can leave a little to be desired. Options are limitedand the quality of the food might not be as high as what you’re used to eating(which might leave you feeling less-energized while driving). Plus, stopping to pick up food can be time-consuming and lead to last-minute impulse purchases. Instead, I plan ahead and pack a cooler of delicious, healthy, budget-friendly foods that I can nosh on all the way to my destination. Here are my top five go-to snacks when I have a long drive ahead (note: all snacks arepacked in a coolerwith ice packs so they stay at a safe temp for the duration of my drive).
Veggies & Hummus
Fruit
Homemade Trail Mix
Sure, fruits and veggies are great and all, but sometimes I just need something crunchy to munch on while I count down the miles. Instead of buying pre-made trail mix at a rest stop, I make my own at home before I leave. It helps me use up the pantry goods I have on hand, like nuts, cereal, dried fruit and chips (and maybe some chocolate). Plus,homemade trail mixcan be made sweet or savory (or a bag of each) to suit your preferences or any dietary restrictions you have. I’ll usually make this in a reusable food-storage container to keep it from getting smashed in the car. As an added bonus, it can be kept safely at room temperature, so you can save cooler space for other snacks.
18 Healthy Homemade Snack Mixes to Munch On
Veggie-Packed Sandwich
Here atEatingWell, we love a goodveggie sandwich, but it can be hard to find one that checks all the boxes while you’re on the road. And you can make your own sandwich at home that is healthier and more affordable. Before I leave, I make sure the bread I’m using is well-toasted (read: lightly browned on both sides) to help keep it from getting soggy as it sits. Then I’ll layer on a nutritious and flavorful spread like hummus, mashed avocado or tzatziki, add some cheese and pile on as many thinly sliced veggies and leafy greens as I can. It’s also a great way to use up any leftovers you have in the fridge, because anything can be a sandwich ingredient if you’re creative enough. Wrap it up tightly in plastic wrap or reusable food wrap and stow it away in the cooler until hunger strikes. After the first time I did this, I vowed to never skip making a homemade sandwich for a road trip again.
Our 27 Most Satisfying Veggie Sandwiches
Coconut Water
Whether you’re flying, boating or driving, one of the biggest challenges while traveling is staying hydrated. Trust me, it’s worth the extra bathroom stops to meet your water intake needs and avoid thenasty side effects of dehydration, like mental fog and headaches. To prevent dehydration, I’ll stash somecoconut waterat the top of my cooler for easy access. It deliverspotassium, phosphorus and magnesiumto help me get plenty ofelectrolytes, along with the water. Plus, it can come in some fun flavors like pineapple and mango, but be sure to choose unsweetened and watch the added sugar content to avoid an energy crash down the line.
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