Eating Healthy on the Road

Summer will be here before you know it and many of you have already started planning your Summertime getaways. Likewise, you may have begun thinking about how you want to look in your more revealing sunny weather attire. Maybe these days you have been eating healthier and watching what you put in your mouth. So don’t negate all your efforts by eating what my mother called “come across”. When my siblings and I were teenagers (and my mother didn’t feel like cooking) she would say, when asked what we were having for dinner, “We’re eating come across…whatever you come across is what you can eat.” I know a lot of you eat whatever you come across too, especially while traveling and much of that food is full of calories and low in nutrients.

To help you stay on track and stick to your healthier eating plan, AAA has a few suggestions for your next road trip, and I added a little common-sense commentary…to help the medicine go down. ♫

• Be prepared. Pack a cooler with food and drinks so that you always have healthy options close at hand. Bringing your own food can help prevent cravings for less healthy things like chips and soda. It will also save you money, preserving your vacation budget.

• Look for pre-portioned foods to control your calorie intake. Read the labels and pay attention to serving sizes.

• Watch out for convenience store pitfalls. Two for a dollar Honey Buns anyone? Many modern convenience stores now offer healthier options like fresh fruits, salad greens, whole grain products, and high protein foods.

• Know before you go and choose restaurants wisely. More and more fast-food chains like Chick-fil-A, and fast casual restaurants like Panera offer better options if you are watching your waistline. It’s a good idea to read up on their menu selections before going in. That way you won’t be tempted by the ubiquitous cookie display or the “try it before it’s gone” seasonal thirst trap.

The more you know.

©Tasha D. Manigo-Bizzell