Eating healthy on the road can seem like a difficult task. There are so many temptations all around you, and it’s easy to succumb to the unhealthy options when you’re driving long distances. However, if you want to stay energized while traveling, there are some things that you need to do to maintain good health. We’ll go over some of those things below!
Today, as we all know, it has become a trend to eat in the car. Maybe you are eating a snack on your way home from work or picking up dinner while shopping for groceries. Eating in the car may seem like an easy solution, but some hidden dangers come with this habit. In fact, according to one study by Baylor College of Medicine and Texas A&M University’s Transportation Institute, “eating while driving can lead to increased levels of stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol.” So if you’re trying not to get stressed out about traffic, then maybe it is time you put down that food bagel before getting back on the road!
Hidden Dangers of Eating in the Moving Car
Eating while driving is a dangerous habit that puts you and other drivers on the road in danger. You should avoid eating anything, even if it’s just to hold hunger at bay unless you are parked and not moving.
- Road trips are tough on your wardrobe. Keep eating opportunities to a minimum and stick to things you can wrap in napkins. You will be much more comfortable, stress-free, and able to focus on the road.
- Eating fried food and pizza might make your hands too greasy to drive.
- Eating healthy on road trips is difficult, but drivers can easily clean up scraps of food before they spill into their lap.
How to Eat a Healthy Meal While Driving
Bring a cooler. Road trips can make it hard to escape the temptation of unhealthy temptations. Having healthy snacks ready during those stops will help you stay on track.
Keep bite-sized fruits and vegetables on hand. Healthy snacks are advisable during road trips in case traffic, or other delays occur.
Suppose you must eat while driving, including healthy sources of protein. Protein is vital for road trips as it helps keep you feeling full and keeps your body fueled. Stock your cooler with less-heavy protein that won’t weigh you down on the drive and are easy to eat quickly when pulled over at a rest stop.
Road Trip Packing List
- License and registration. Don’t leave home without these. They’re the ultimate road trip essentials!
- Spare tire. Before you get in the car, check that your tire pressure is within a safe range.
- Emergency Kit. Here is a car emergency kit containing a jump starter with an air compressor, Warning Triangle, Reflective Vest.
How do you travel with food in the car?
Get the most out of your road trip coolers. Coolers come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and prices. Make sure to choose one with enough room for the food you want to keep cold by filling it with ice or freezing water bottles beforehand. Any cooler that can’t drain should include a tight-fitting lid so any liquids don’t get inside the closed container.
Crushed ice is often used to cool food and drinks, but the smaller pieces also melt faster. Ice blocks provide a longer-lasting cooling agent for your cooler and may be worth considering if you intend on having cold food long-term.
I recommend – if you can time it this way – buying fresh fruit and vegetables from your local farmers’ market on the day you leave to ensure they are as fresh as possible. Fresh food from a farmers’ market can last up to twice as long as food purchased from a supermarket.
To get the most out of your next vacation, remember to make sure you stay hydrated, refill gas at regular intervals and pack a cooler filled with prepared food for long stretches between stops.
How to Cook Food Using Your Car?
Eating while driving may seem like an endless cycle of refueling the gas tank and emptying the stomach—or is it? While there are better eating habits than this, having a full stomach when you hit the road can make your miles feel less challenging. There’s more to traveling with food in your car than cooking from home or making quick stops for unhealthy snacks: try these methods for cooking on the go and keep things running well!