Food author/ journalist Michael Pollan estimated in his book Food Rules that in the U.S., 20% of food is consumed behind the wheel of a car. In the summertime, I would bet that this number increases as people take more road trips and vacations. Pollan recommends that as a general rule, people do not buy food where you can buy gas for your car. He recommends this for two reasons: 1) the majority of food available for sale at gas stations and convenience stores is exactly the type of highly processed frankenfood that has no place in a healthy diet and 2) you can’t be mindful of what you eat or how much you are eating while you are also driving. This is a great rule to follow the majority of the time, but when you’re on the road for work or vacation, sometimes you just don’t have a choice but to hit up the closest gas station or rest stop for something quick and convenient to eat. Luckily, there are an increasing number of decent food options available in grab and go locations. Seeking out the good choices that are available, and preparing ahead of time for these situations can ensure you will make good food choices and skip the drive through on your next road trip.
Tip #1: prepare by packing ahead
Pack a small cooler on your road trip with healthy snacks or even a meal you can pull over to enjoy. If pulling over for a meal, find a scenic overlook or recreational area where you can get outside to eat, walk and enjoy the outdoors a bit. Eating something healthy and getting a little physical activity will break up your trip and keep you more alert if you are driving. Driving and traveling can be physically exhausting if you are on the road for many hours- but I can guarantee you, if you eat a healthy meal and get outside for 15-20 min mid-trip, you will arrive at your destination with way more energy.
Tip #2: seek out healthy(ier) options when you do stop on the road.
Hard boiled eggs, beef jerky and bananas are great go to’s and can be found at most rest stops and gas stations. Beef jerky made with clean ingredients and less preservatives is becoming easier to find. Lately, I have been lucky to find Epic jerky and jerky trail mix at a few rest stops.
Bars: That’s it! Bar (available at Starbucks) is made with fruit and that’s it! Lara Bars and Rx Bars contain fewer ingredients than you could count on one hand. Warning: dried fruit is often one of the main ingredients in real foods bars like these, so they can be potentially high in sugar. With all things considered, they are definitely not the worst thing you could choose for a snack on a road trip, just don’t eat more than one per trip.
Nuts and seeds: mixed nuts and sunflower seeds are available at most convenience stores. Like bars, they are definitely not the worst thing you could eat on a road trip, but watch out for mindless munching behind the wheel with these things as they pack a lot of fat and calories.
Dark chocolate: sometimes you just need to treat yourself. Many dark chocolate bars actually have less sugar than granola bars that appear to be healthy choices. Compare labels and choose a variety with the highest percent cacao you can find. If you are craving something sweet, bring it in for the real thing and enjoy some quality dark chocolate.
With a little preparation and mindful choices, eating on the road doesn’t have to set you back if you are trying to stay on track with your diet. Enjoy your adventures behind the wheel this summer with these tips!