Nutrition in the Wild.

It’s easy to know how you should be eating, but the difficult part is putting that into practice, especially when you’re outside your own kitchen. This past week, my husband and I decided to drive to my parent’s house for a couple weeks for a change of pace, and with today’s current state and worldwide pandemic that trip would come with its challenges. We didn’t want to stop and stay the night anywhere, restaurant/food options would be limited, we had two dogs in the car with us, and to top it off, the drive was 20 hours. Eating on the road is already challenging, but add in all that and I knew I had my hands full.

First step was packing enough food. I knew there would be fast food restaurants we could stop by if needed, but personally, when I eat fast food on the road, I end up feeling “blah” so I wanted to make sure my husband and I had enough food that could get us there without stopping for food.

Second step was choosing food that could travel well. I think this hurdle is what causes most people to reach for the pre-packaged goods because it’s just easier, I do it too, but when I have the option and space to utilize an actual cooler with ice packs, it gives me so many more choices. Don’t worry if you don’t have the ability to pack an ice pack, there are many options that don’t need to be kept cold.

Third step, choosing snacks that would be appetizing while on the road for 20 hours. I don’t know anybody that can drive or sit in a car for 20 hours and not have some sort of craving. I’ve mentioned it previously, but giving yourself permission to satiate that craving will do you more good than constantly restricting yourself, so I made sure to include a couple of our favorite snacks. Gummy bears here I come.

Fourth step, getting enough protein and whole grains so that we aren’t mindlessly eating our way across the country. Pairing carbohydrates with proteins helps maintain more consistent blood sugar levels, so you don’t feel like you’re hitting a wall. When I was younger, my sister and I would finish off an entire bag of Chex Mix when we would drive with our dad to Arizona. I still love Chex Mix, so nowadays I’ll just get a little snack pack and pair it with a Babybel cheese, and feel just as content.

The snacks I packed for our road trip: beef jerky, carrots, hummus, babybel cheese, popcorn, fig bars, and snack packs. Not pictured: the two breakfast sandwiches I made for us to eat on the road, two coffees I pre-made and kept in the cooler, the six water bottles that we drank throughout the trip.

Fifth step, plan your hydration. Especially on a long road trip, it’s easy to forget to drink since you don’t want to have to use the bathroom every 5 minutes, but hydration is key when traveling. Most the time you can refill water bottles at any gas station or rest stop. We didn’t want to have to worry about that, so we packed extra for us and the dogs.

Final step, hit the road and make it work. I had prepared as much as I could, and now it was time to start the drive. No matter if you’re driving across the country to see family, or taking a long bus trip to play an opponent in an athletic competition, once you’re on the road, you have to make things work. If that means your only option for an actual meal is a Wendy’s, make the best of it- choose a grilled chicken sandwich, hold the fries, and opt for apple slices.

Nutrition on the road can be a challenge, especially if you don’t have complete control of the itinerary. Do your best to pack healthy snacks that will not only give you a boost of energy but also protein. When you do stop at a restaurant or grocery store, choose some fresh options since most of your snacks are shelf stable and drink plenty of water.

-Brooke