Whether you are going on a nice relaxing vacation, visiting your family or traveling for work, you are almost guaranteed to have a time in your life where you will have to step away from that trusty fridge and stove and spend a few days in a hotel room with none of those appliances. Just because you don’t have those common kitchen appliances, that does not mean your diet should be left at home too.
In fact, I am taking a road trip this weekend and I would love to share with you just a few of the meals, snacks and tricks I always take along with me on every trip.
- Oatmeal
Oh, goodness. Quaker Oats sponsor me? My clients will tell you first hand that I am always recommending and preaching the importance of oatmeal for breakfast. It is a healthy carbohydrate that will fill you up and keep you full. Oatmeal is high in fiber, rich in antioxidants, and you can make them however you want. Fruit, nuts, even a scoop of your favorite protein powder can add so much to this nutritious breakfast. Oh and how could I forget, you can even cook your oats in the coffee pot in your hotel room, yeah, I know, cool right?! For a simple and filling oatmeal trick, just take a scoop of your preferred protein powder and mix it in with your freshly cooked oats. I like to take the protein powder and PB2 (peanut butter substitute) and mix them all together. In the end, you will end up with this delicious and nutritious breakfast that will kick start your day!
- Rice Cakes
My obsession with Quaker Oats continues, but honestly, rice cakes are amazing! They are a great treat that you can put in your bag and eat throughout the day, and just like the oatmeal, you can make them however you want. I made a combination of sweet and savory rice cakes.
- Peanut Butter/Banana/Agave
- Almond yogurt with strawberry preserve mixed in
- Avocado with chia seeds and a sprinkle of lemon
- Brownie batter hummus with coconut shreds on top
…yeah, they tasted as good as they sound.
- Protein Bars!
Oh yum! There are so many great tasting protein bars out there that provide a great alternative instead of that trip to the vending machine! They are full of nutrients that you should be getting throughout the day and will also help ensure that you are properly fueling your body with the protein it needs. They are so easy to throw in your purse or bag and can be a great afternoon pick me up.
- Pita Chips
I know you are probably thinking that pita chips is super random, but they are great for taking on trips because they taste great with almost anything! I like to make my own pita chips because I can control the amount of oil and salt that are used in the cooking process, I also opt for whole wheat pita bread as my primary choice. Once they have cooled down, you can pack them away and munch on them throughout your day.
- Hummus
You can never go wrong with hummus! Like my pita chips, I like to make my own hummus using just chickpeas, a squeeze of a lemon, salt and pepper, 2 garlic cloves and a little bit of olive oil and “ta-da!” Hummus lasts long, is great to have to dip your veggies and those pita chips in and is just so delicious!
- Kale and Veggie Chips
When on the road or traveling, we tend to forget about the important part of our diet and lean towards easy and convenient. Fortunately, I have a solution for that! Pre-cook, bake and cool those veggies. I love taking sweet potatoes, zucchini, carrots and kale with me. They seem to do the best on road trips and really keep their flavor.
- That’s a wrap! But really…
Pre-make wraps filled with your favorite things! Wraps are great because they don’t get soggy, can be made however you like and can be a great source of nutrients during your busy day. Also, let’s face it…they are the easiest and cleanest to eat whenever you are driving. I personally love a nice green refreshing wrap filled with all of the veggies I precooked and cut. You can throw in some of the hummus you made or even some of the veggies you baked prior to leaving. However you prefer, go for it!
As you can see, there are so many ways to ensure you stay healthy while on the road. So what are you going to pack on your next trip? Will it be the assortment of rice cakes or baked veggies? Feel free to get creative with it and make it however you want! Even though it may be challenging, in the end it’s always worth it.
