Travels are fun but bad too. They tire us and our food habits get affected. Often, we are unable to take adequate, proper meals on time and end up being solely on some snacks or fast foods available along the roadside.
But these are mostly unhealthy and unsafe. Then what are the best foods to have during long travels?
Travels and best foods
Traveling is great fun. Every person enjoys it. But what upsets people is the improper foods that have to be consumed on the way.
Sometimes we pack foods made at home for travel. But if it is a long journey or a long car drive, this becomes a problem as the prepared food night goes stale during the journey. And we might have to ultimately throw it away.
Additionally, most of the foods available by roadside stalls or shops are junk foods. They are processed with high salts and sugars. Also, some might be loaded with large amounts of saturated fats.
These could have bad consequences on our health in the long term. What are the best foods and healthy foods to consume during a journey? Which foods should be avoided?
Granola bars (Source: Well played by Erin)Ideally, foods eaten during journeys should be light, nutritious, and hygienic. They should also not be caloric deficient. Therefore the best is to have healthy snacks en route.
1. Protein granola bars
These are healthy, tasty, and convenient. They are portable to carry too. Dietitian Cassidy Reeser from Cozy Peach Kitchen states:
“Granola bars or energy bars are great travel options because they are usually nutritionally balanced and easy to eat on the go,”
2. Nuts
This is gut friendly and healthy. Another dietitian and author Jackie Newgent says this about nuts:
“Along with walnuts’ digestive-friendly 2 grams of fiber per one handful, or 1-ounce serving, research on the gut microbiome suggests walnuts may be one gut-friendly food to consider thanks to their prebiotic potential,”
3. Fruits
Grapes, apple cuts, and bananas are excellent while on the go. They taste good and are nutritious. Moreover, dried fruits with no added sugars are also great to snack on during travels.
Cut fruits (Source: Pinterest)4. Organic beef jerky
This is loaded with high proteins. Nutritionist Nataly Komova opines:
“Beef jerky is loaded with proteins that aid in lowering hunger and keeping you full for longer,”
Furthermore, it does good regulation of insulin too.
5. Greek yogurt with toppings
Toppings can be fruits, veggies, or nuts. Nataly adds:
“Greek yogurt is rich in fiber and proteins, which promote smooth digestion, help boost energy levels, and keep your hunger at bay,”
But the worst foods to consume during long trips are chips, cookies, sugary beverages, pizzas, etc. Chips are unhealthy. Sarah Glasser adds:
“While chips are tempting, they will also leave you thirsty and can cause you to drink more which will lead to more frequent stops,”
Greek yogurt with toppings of choice (Source: Health line)Sarah feels that cookies have sugars and calories. Reserve those for the end of the trip. Sugary drinks are loaded with calories and sugars. Lauren Harris-Pincus, dietitian adds:
“They also do not provide any important nutrients that our immune systems need to stay healthy during our travels,”
Plain water or soda is better. Pizzas and other fast foods are not healthy. Mandy Tyler, a nutritionist says this:
“These items are highly processed, full of saturated fat and sodium, and not the nutrition you need to fuel your body,”
Read more about Protein powders, their shelf life, and safety!
They also cause energy lag and make a person more sluggish.