Quick and easy guide to kids’ road trip snacks

There’s a lot that goes into making a road trip happen. Your level of organization probably lands somewhere in between winging it and micromanaging every detail, and with kids, you always have to leave room for the unexpected. If there’s one thing you should get right, though, it’s snacks for the road.

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Guide to road trip snacks:

A sick kid is the surest way to derail your plans, and packing some reliable grub can help you avoid this fate. There are plenty of recipes for crafting easy-to-eat fare from scratch, but if you’re looking for something simple and quick, choose carefully at the grocery store. Pay attention to ingredients, avoid foods with inflammatory additives, and look for fare that is natural or organic. Excessively sugary or processed foods take enough of a toll on kids’ bodies on a normal day, but when you’re on the road, the results can be even worse. With these tips, you can pull off the road trip of a lifetime and keep your kids well while doing so.

Keep it Light

If junk food is a road trip tradition, here’s to breaking tradition and living better! It’s been estimated that kids get up to 40 percent of their calories from foods such as pizza, cookies and soda. When you’re driving for extended period of time, kids are trapped in the backseat with no way to mitigate all those calories. In addition to its obvious unhealthiness, this combination of extra calories and lack of exercise can lead to sickness. If you don’t want to land yourself nursing a sick kid on the side of the road, uphold a no junk food rule.

Opt for Nutritious Options

Processed foods are to blame for a host of health problems affecting kids. As a parent, you’re probably well aware of the ways in which additives and GMOs can irritate young digestive systems and cause problems such as inflammation. Recent innovations by some companies have replaced these ingredients with plant-based ones. Hamptoncreek, for example, utilizes sorghum and pea protein in lieu of materials that are harmful to consumers and the environment. As you prepare for your road trip, find snacks that follow this principle and provide real nutrition for kids.

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Make a Plan and Stick to It

Even if you aren’t up for handcrafting enough snacks to last the duration of your trip, you can make the experience easier by making a plan and sticking to it. Pack a cooler with sandwiches, wholesome juice and other easy eats. A sandwich with egg-free mayo and lunch meat can save you from succumbing to the beckoning of fast food. You will likely want to eat out and experience local cuisine during your traverse, so you need only prepare snacks that will fill the gaps. By simply doing this, though, you maintain control of meals and ensure everybody eats well.

Skip Greasy Temptations

The aforementioned temptation of fast food has been the downfall of many. Remember that there’s often a price to pay when kids don’t eat well, and keep snacks such as fruit, sandwiches and hamptoncreek cookies for occasional treats. So long as you can avoid greasy fare and stay focused on the road, you’re sure to have a trip to remember. When it comes to memories, keep those of sick kids at bay and make ones with happy, healthy kids instead. The food you choose will make all the difference.

Keep the Whole Family in Mind

Though keeping the kids well is your top concern, you should also consider what you plan to eat. Don’t neglect to pack some grub for yourself and any other adults along for the ride. One of the best parts of bringing along healthy snacks is their appropriateness for every member of the group.  When you’re making plans, consider favorite foods and eating habits of the whole family. It’ll make for a better experience, and with access to nutritious snacks, everybody will have the energy to grab the road trip by its horns. Whether they’re at school, at home, or in the backseat, your kids deserve the advantage of healthy and nutritious meals. By cutting out additives, GMOs, and other harmful ingredients, you are taking important steps towards investing in their long-term health. Don’t let a road trip be a lapse in this commitment when instead, you can plan for it by keeping a supply of healthy and natural snacks on hand for the whole family.

And now that you’re snack-ready, how about some tried-and-true road trip games?!

How to stay healthy while traveling with the family

Traveling can be an exciting adventure, especially when you get to share it with family. Flying or driving to a new city, having new experiences, and getting to detach from your regular routine are things most people can look forward to when travel is in their future. If you have stress in your typical day to day life, sometimes travel is the only way to really get away to de-stress.

On the flip side, traveling isn’t always so nice for our routines when it comes to staying healthy. When you leave your house, you might leave your regimented life behind and regret it when you return home. Traveling with family brings its own types of stress that are different from your “normal stress,” and it can be handled. Incorporating these  healthy traveling tips are similar to managing your health with a super busy schedule.

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Keep Some Routine

It’s easy to let routine items slip to the wayside while you’re traveling, but it’s a good idea to keep some of your routines in place, so you don’t experience “travel shock” when you return home.

For example, if you drink coffee every morning to get you going, that shouldn’t become foreign just because you’re traveling. Most lodging has a coffee maker in the room, or you can find a coffee place nearby to grab a cup of joe. Along with giving you your morning jolt, the caffeine in coffee can help your bowel movements stay regular. If you take pre-workout supplements, stay on your routine.

Visit a Local Grocery Store

While you’re traveling, there is no excuse not to find fresh snacks, especially if that’s what your body is used to on a regular basis. It’s just as simple to find fresh fruits and veggies even at gas stations these days as it is to grab a sodium-packed bag of chips off the shelf.

If you’re staying somewhere for a few days, there is likely a grocery store that sells fresh produce and other snacks that will keep you in good health. If your accommodations have a refrigerator that is accessible to you, grab some produce from the local supermarket for snacking in the room or on-the-go. You can stock up for your entire stay with one trip to the store.

If you’re worried about spending extra money on airport food on a layover or as you road trip, pack some pre-made snacks in your suitcase or cooler. This is great for babies and picky eaters. If you’re flying, check the Transportation Security Administration’s website for what foods are allowed through security. If you’re driving, pretty much anything is allowed, but be cautious of states that don’t allow items like fresh fruits across their borders.

Supplements and Water

Supplements are gaining popularity as easy ways to get your daily dose of certain nutrients you might not get in your regular diet. If you’re one of these people, you should absolutely take enough on your travels to keep your health in check. You can’t always count on restaurants to use fresh ingredients that with no preservatives, so your family’s salt intake may spike while you’re traveling. You may consider adding a probiotic to the mix while you’re traveling to maintain your gut health. For your budget-friendly, yet equally nutrient-rich superfood, learn more here in Amazing Grass Green Superfood review.

Also, ensure your family is staying adequately hydrated. Traveling for long periods of time can disturb the level of hydration you usually experience. Whether you’re flying for 2 hours, 12 hours, or trapped in a car for the day, your body will suffer some dehydration. This doesn’t mean you need to consume crazy amounts of water to cause numerous bathroom breaks.

Keep Moving

Unless your travel adventure includes hiking or other activities that keep your family active, consider incorporating a short movement session that includes the whole family. Whether it’s time in the pool swimming laps, maybe disguised as races for kids, or pulling up a yoga video on your iPad, get some movement in each day for at least 30 minutes.

If you’re a member of a national gym, ask if your membership includes admittance to gyms in the area you’ll be visiting or if you can get a guest pass. You can also check out any public fitness groups to get your heart rate up for a bit. Of course, you can always utilize the hotel gym if one is offered. Even if you’re walking a lot each day, you’ll be able to get some weight training in if that’s what you’re used to.

Good Night’s Sleep

Even though traveling is usually a limited time, your sleep is crucial and should not be sacrificed. It’s tempting to pack your day full of activities and sites but consider how it will affect your family’s sleep schedule. Getting quality sleep will keep your mood and mental health in check to ensure each portion of your travels is enjoyed to the fullest.

If you have younger children, you endanger their regular sleep routine by putting them to bed later or waking them up earlier than usual. You might even look at how you can incorporate their usual nap time to give them the rest they’re used to and give you a break.