Healthy Choices for Family Road Trips

healthy road trip food

Yeah, you could eat half a bag of chips. (I recommend salt and vinegar.) Stop the car now and then for a stretch and a coffee and some sunshine and a packet of chocolate chip cookies - hydrogenated oils included! Don't worry about it ... Springsteen's blaring on the radio and you're on the open road, baby. 

But ... maybe ... you do want to worry about it. Because (oh, yeah) the kids are in the back and they need more than junk food (and iPads) to sustain them on the 12 hour road trip. So do you. And your hands are greasy, their hands are greasy, and you feel bored and hungry despite all those handfuls of Doritos. The car is covered in fine, particulate, orange dust. Chip motes. 

There's another way - all you have to do is plan a little bit ahead. And avoid panic. I'll show you how.

this is a tiffin - the best ever lunchbox / picnic box / camping food carrier

First things first, this is a tiffin: three stackable stainless steel layers that keep your food separate and can be held together (and carried) with a heavy duty locking handle system. You don't need one, but if you can find a good quality, stainless steel one - buy two of them. I bought mine in Malaysia ... you can get the same one on Amazon here .

Second? Pack your tiffin full of rainbow colours for the road trip. Let's be honest, you don't really get ravenous when you're driving ... you just want to munch on things. Crispy things. And you don't have to limit yourself to chips. Try carrot sticks, zucchini sticks, multi-coloured mini tomatoes, sugar snap or snow peas, fresh green beans. Try berries and almonds and crisp, washed grapes. The key (as always) is variety and rainbow colours. Plus - the kids are trapped! No chips in the car? Too bad. Heh, heh, heh.

Don't forget to pack a picnic or two for some nice stops or a casual outdoor dinner at the hotel.

picnic, not panic - simple and nutritious and without rushing

Just don't panic about the packing. You'll get there. Preferably, without spilling a jar of poppy seeds in your mad rush out the door (as I did. Oops.) 

It's holiday time.

Have a great weekend out there!

Amanda xx