TOP 10 ROAD TRIP FOODS

Hit the Road, Jack!~with healthy foods
It's easy to buy gas station foods on the road but unfortunately it can mean spending more and let's face it, your body might not like how it feels after 20 hours of junk food. So I've decided to do a little research and find out what are the healthiest snack options that are also the least messy (for the kids) and maybe even save a penny or two in the long run. So here it is, my list of Top 10 ROAD TRIP foods and why: (note: we have both dairy and peanut allergy's so none of these snacks contain either)

10. Smart Pop Popcorn: Prepare ahead of time and toss into quart-sized ziploc bags (one for each member of your family).
SmartPop! Orville Redenbacher's SmartPop! Gourmet microwave popcorn has just 100 calories per 6 cups and is 94% fat free, so you can snack without giving up the delicious, fresh-popped taste and aroma you love.
 
9. Snap Peas: Most grocery stores carry small prepackaged snap peas. This tiny snack is packed with nutrition. This food is very low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium. It is also a good source of Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Pantothenic Acid, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Potassium, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Thiamin, Folate, Iron and Manganese. Portion yourself at about 1 cup and you have yourself a healthy little snack. About 40 calories/serving 98g.

8. Baby Carrots with hummus: If your kiddos do not like hummus then plain carrots are just fine. Prepackage them in snack-pack sized baggies which will allow about 10-15 carrots or about 15 calories. One package per family member.  
Hummus is about 27 calories per 1Tbsp.

7. Jerky: This snack is packed with protein which helps curve hunger. The best brand is Trade Joe's Buffalo Jerky or Trader Joe's Turkey Jerky. One thing to keep in mind is drink a lot of water because it is kinda salty. At 60cal/1oz. or 3 strips, 0g fat, 11g protein, 6g carbs. This is a healthy snack for the road. 

6. Cutie's Baby Oranges: My kids love these however I do recommend taking the peels off before you hit the road and storing in gallon ziploc bag. One orange is about 35cal. Can't go wrong with that.

 
5. Blueberries: Blueberries are very low in calories. 100 g fresh berries provide only 57 calories. However, they possess notable health benefiting plant-nutrients such as soluble dietary fiber, minerals, vitamins, and pigment anti-oxidants that contribute immensely towards optimum health and wellness. 

4. String Cheese: Individual packaged and easy to eat make this snack great for the car. Depending on the brand one stick is 60-80 calories.

3. Cinnamon Apple Sticks: There are 140 calories in a 38 sticks serving of Trader Joe's Cinnamon Apple Snack Sticks. Plus they are delicious.

2. Nut-free Trail Mix:Trail mix can still be crunchy and delicious without nuts. Try mixing raisins, cranberries, sunflower or pumpkin seeds, nut-free chocolate chips, and a nut-free cereal or granola, like Chex. A normal snack like this ranges from 180 cal per handful. Minus nuts and chocolate 120 cal/handful.

1. Smoothies: Whip up a smoothie drink for breakfast before you jump on the road. You can pack in a lot of healthy ingredients that are filling and keep your body energized. Here's my favorite smoothie recipe:

(serving size: feeds family of 3-4, double for a family of 5+, about 270cal/8oz.)

• 1 cup water (or 1 1/2 cup coconut water)
• 1 Tbsp. Flax seed
• 1 cup Raspberries
• 1 cup Blueberries
• 1 Banana
• 1 cup Kale (or spinach or both)
• 2 Tbsp. lemon juice 
• 1/2 Avocado
• 1 Tbsp. Almond Butter (optional)      

Here's my list of resources:

• Women's Health: Top 28 Best Healthy Snacks
• Calorie Count
• Self-Nutrition Data: Know what you eat
• Dr. Oz's 3-Day Detox Cleanse: smoothie recipes combined, we did this cleanse and I came up with the best smoothie option for me.
• Fat Secret: Food Datebase   

  All these snacks combined are less than 1,000 calories so you even have wiggle room to eat more. Drink water and you have a healthy day of eating. All of these items are things my family eat anyway so trying to convince my kids to try new things isn't a problem. I hope this list is helpful for you and maybe even gave you a new idea for when you hear those magic words, "mommy, I'm hungry."

 

Jenna