Forgot to Pack Healthy Snacks? No Problem!
By Donna Stark
I have written a lot about staying healthy while traveling, and most of the suggestions I make aren’t rocket science. Actually, they are far from it, because the majority of the people know to stay hydrated on a plane, to pack healthy snacks, and to avoid fast food value meals in the drive-thru. But in saying that, I feel I need to say this too: we’re also just human. And sometimes, if your life is like mine, you may have a bit of a frenzied atmosphere in your home right before you head out the door for vacation. The kids are dragging their heels, the passports can’t be found, and who in their right mind thought that seven suitcases could fit in the back of the car? It’s moments like these when those healthy snacks are the last thing on anybody’s mind and simply get left beind.
Gas Stations and Airports
It’s easy to compromise good health while in the midst of chaos, isn’t it? And it’s easy to barter with ourselves once we are on the way. “Shoot, I forgot the snacks. That’s OK, we’ll just get some on the road.” And then you stop for some while on the road and you are reminded why you wanted to pack the healthy ones in the first place. We’ve all been there, so don’t fret! Here are some healthy suggestions for gas station, convenience store, and vending machine snack options that won’t fill your family with a ton of that other yucky stuff.
- Snacks with real ingredients - Read the labels. A healthy choice would be something with no added sugars, oils, or salt such as string cheese, yogurt, or natural applesauce.
- Nuts - Nuts are a great snack because they are loaded with protein and nutrients, but make sure you are choosing plain nuts and not the ones coated in syrups, honey, or sugar. Again, read the ingredients.
- Fruit - Look around. I bet you can find a basket with whole fruit laying near the register. Many stores are now offering bananas or apples as an easy-to-grab snack, so choose them instead of chips.
- Hummus - There’s a strong chance that if the gas station has fresh produce and yogurt, they will also have hummus. Look for the individual serving sizes that come with veggies or pretzels … who knows? You might be lucky!
- Sweets - You know your kids, and maybe even you, are going to be enticed by the gummy worms and chocolatey-caramelly-sugary candy bars, so be ready to redirect everyone’s attention! It may be a challenge, but head on over to the dried fruit section and pick up some raisins, cherries, or apricots. Stay away from the ones rolled in sugar though!
Choosing Healthy
Gas stations and convenience stores are the trickiest places to eat healthy, but it is possible! So lose the guilt that you have allowed to sink in and forget about all of those snacks left behind at home because this is manageable. Just shop wisely and have a great vacation!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, seeyour local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Brookfield, Wis.