Hit the Road with Healthy Snacks!
Whether it’s a day trip or an extended vacation, when the key goes in the ignition, healthy eating often goes out the window. I speak from experience, of course. My family relaxes their otherwise good habits during the lazy days of summer, and that’s OK – to a point.
The trick is to limit the damage. Kids will clamor for summertime treats like corn dogs, fried dough, and ice cream, as sure as the sun will shine. Packing nutritious snacks to take to camp, to the beach, or to eat in the car makes it easier to resist large portions of restaurant food, get the nutrition you need, and save money.
Summertime Snacking Basics
These are my cardinal rules of noshing between meals:
- Treat snacks like mini-meals, and offer children foods that you would give them at a healthy meal.
- Pay attention to portions. Younger kids need about 100-200 calories in a snack, but active adolescents may need more.
- Feel fuller for longer and boost nutrition by combining foods rich in carbohydrate, such as cereal, bread, and crackers, with protein-packed choices like milk, yogurt, and peanut butter.
- Keep it safe. When you’re driving to your destination, pack a cooler with ice to keep foods fresh.
Remember, you can’t take liquids with you when passing through security at the airport, so consider buying yogurt, milk, and juice before you’re ready to board.
Smart Snacking Strategies
Start your day with a balanced breakfast that includes whole grains, low-fat protein-rich foods like dairy and eggs, and fruit. You may not have the time to eat a proper breakfast before leaving home in the wee hours of the morning to pile into the car or to catch a plane. When you’re short on time, take a Ziploc bag of Mom’s Best Naturals cereal with you, and have it with a carton of yogurt and a piece of fruit later on.
Try these take-along mini-meals:
- Hard-cooked egg and whole grain roll
- Single serve low-fat microwave popcorn mixed with shelled pistachios and dried fruit, such as raisins or cranberries
- Trail mix made with Mom’s Best Naturals Sweetened Wheatfuls, raisins or dried cranberries, and nuts or sunflower seeds
- Container of Greek yogurt and whole grain crackers
- ½ sandwich and small serving of fruit
- String cheese and apple
- Mini whole wheat bagel spread with peanut, almond, cashew or sunflower seed butter
- Sliced red and green bell peppers, baby carrots, and single-serve containers of hummus or bean dip for dipping
And, always have water on hand to avoid purchasing sugary beverages such as soda, lemonade, and fruit drinks that pack in the calories, but little else.