How to eat healthy on the go: Five food tips for road trips

Planning to drive to your ­favourite getaway spot to enjoy the monsoon? We suggest you give the custom visit to the en route dhabas a miss this time, and make use of all the travel trivia we have got for you on eating healthy ­during road trips.

Planning to drive to your ­favourite getaway spot to enjoy the monsoon? We suggest you give the custom visit to the en route dhabas a miss this time, and make use of all the travel trivia we have got for you on eating healthy ­during road trips.



1. Carry a food cooler

On those long vacation car trips, installing a food ­cooler in the car is the first step towards kicking the ­drive-through habit. This permits you and your family to enjoy familiar favourites from your very own kitchen.

Tushar Aggarwal (left) and Sanjay Madan took a 90,000-km trip crossing almost 50 countries. Read their story here. (Photo: Manoj Sharma/HT)



2. Balance it out



Apart from fresh fruits and nuts, make sure you carry whole grains, a rich source of protein, and veggies, that consist of fibre and vitamins. Compact and protein-rich, hard-boiled eggs not only make for a satisfying snack, they can be sliced and served with vegetables such as lettuce and tomato for a salad. For a non-vegetarian protein source, include lean meats such as chicken and turkey that can be added to salads or sandwiches. Pre-packaged smoked salmon is also a great protein source and contains omega-3 essential fatty acids, which provide numerous health benefits.



3. Pick the right leaf



Try to avoid iceberg ­lettuce, as its nutritional value is sparse, and aim for kale instead, which is high in beta carotene, Vitamin K and Vitamin C, and also rich in calcium.



4. Sleep-proof your travel



Make it a point to carry coffee or tea, lest the driver become sleepy, but avoid sugary drink ­additives — certainly for those ­traveling with ­children — to avoid the energy roller coaster.



5. Nifty add-ons

Opt for fruits as your ­family’s main source of sugar, particularly those with a peel that require no refrigeration and won’t take up space in your ­cooler. You can pick ­bananas for potassium and oranges for vitamin C. Oil, vinegar and a spice pack to pep up a salad are also a must, but choose either extra virgin olive oil or canola oil, as both contain minimal amounts of ­saturated fat. Also, don’t forget to pack whole-grain bread and nuts, as they make for a filling snack.