Healthy Snacks to Pack when Traveling
Whether you’re traveling or have a busy day out of the house, not prepping snacks ahead of time can end up costing you more money and calories than expected. It’s easy to stay on track with your health if you plan ahead.
Burgers and fries, fried chicken, candy bars, soda, and energy drinks - AKA, the Western diet. More often than not, you’re eating many more ingredients than those listed on the menu due to flavor enhancers and preservatives. Even salads, thought to be healthy, are easily ruined by high-calorie, preservative filled dressings. It's known that candy bars should be eaten sparingly but remember to watch out for items marketed as healthy which can sometimes have more sugar than candy. I'm sorry to say, diet soda is no healthier than regular but I'll save that for another post. Keep your on-the-go beverages to water, tea or coffee - though not the ones in bottles which are full of artificial sweeteners.
Fast food restaurants, gas stations and airport convenience shops are all filled with more unhealthy options than healthy ones. Preportioned travel size snacks are also more expensive since you’re paying for convenience. Purchase items at your normal grocery store and portion them yourself using resealable bags or reusable containers.
Airports, amusement parks and zoos are just a few places you can expect to find huge markups. Check park rules ahead of time and pack a cooler if access is allowed. You can take food through airport security but no liquids. Bring an empty, reusable water bottle and fill it once you get through the gate. Most airport water fountains now have bottle filling stations. Stop overpaying for water!
While on a road trip this weekend I was sure to pack a reusable water bottle and plenty of snacks. When we stopped for gas I bought two pre-peeled hard-boiled eggs and ate them with free condiments - salt, pepper and mustard. Deviled eggs at its finest. Cheat meals are one thing but eating junk because you didn’t plan ahead is another.
A few of my favorite snacks include:
veggies and hummus - carrots, peppers, cucumber, celery
fruit - apples, grapes, bananas
hard-boiled eggs
nuts, seeds, nut butter
homemade green smoothie
plain Greek yogurt w/ cinnamon, nuts and berries
cheese and rice crackers
Homemade lettuce wraps or sandwiches on whole grain bread are also great to pack if you need something more filling. Read my last post on bread for more info.
Although many unhealthy foods are easy to detect, "good" marketing can lead to confusion. Your best bet for saving money and your health is to prep your meals yourself. Save your money for a new pair of smaller jeans. Trust me, you'll need them.
- Mallory
