Avoid Detours on the Road to Healthy Eating

Travel days in the RV can mean long hours of inactivity while snacking on the road out of boredom as much as from hunger.  Add in a stop for lunch at a fast food chain or local diner and you are left feeling sluggish, bloated and ready for a nap just when half the day’s miles are still in front of you.  By planning ahead, it’s possible to improve your diet and at the same time, have more energy.

Rather than loading up on packaged foods with a shelf life into the next millennium, opt for fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, cheese, yogurt, and whole grain breads and crackers.  Have ready dried fruits and nuts, air-popped popcorn, and cut vegetables like celery, carrot sticks, and slices of bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, snow peas, zucchini, and cucumbers.  Grocery stores carry pre-cut veggies if you want to save time in the kitchen.  Dip the vegetables in a small serving of hummus or peanut butter; “small” is the key word here. Healthy snacks pack more nutrition than their fatty counterparts, but serving size can undo any calorie savings. Measure the dip rather than making multiple visits to the container. It’s more sanitary than the potential double-dip and controls calories. 

When it’s time to break for lunch, a meal of calorie dense food may seem like the more satisfying option but the lack of nutritional value will have your body looking for more food to try to fill the gap in nutrition, as well as a nap.  Instead, roll a tortilla or piece of romaine lettuce around a slice of turkey and your favorite veggies.  Fat-free mayonnaise or yogurt can be blended with just about anything for a tasty spread.  Try cilantro and lime, or a bit of wasabi paste if you like some heat.  After lunch, take a walk.  The extra activity will leave you refreshed, physically and mentally.

A large glass of water with your meal will help you feel full.  If water doesn’t do it for you, try club soda with a squeeze of lemon, lime, or even sliced cucumber.  Most teas are healthy but green tea tops them all with antioxidants and phyto-chemicals that researchers believe may help you lose weight.  Make a pot of strong hot tea in the morning and pour it into a pitcher of ice for a cool beverage that’s ready when you are.

Healthy Traveler