A long car ride can be the start of a great vacation, away day or family gathering. After a few hours in such a confined space, though, it's unsurprising that tempers can fray and muscles can start to ache. One of the most important ingredients for any road trip comes in the shape of the food and snacks that you take along the way.
Choosing the right snacks can ensure that you feel less tired and give you a burst of energy. They can keep your appetite in check, without spoiling a bigger meal and they can also be a sociable way to distract attention from yet another mile of highway. Of course, some snacks are better than others. So what makes a good snack on a long journey? Here's Demo 3 Birds Acura's list of criteria.
- Convenience.
Convenience is, of course, a major factor when it comes to snacks for your road trip. Any food that needs to be prepared or is difficult to eat with fingers is probably not suitable for a long road trip. Fruit and vegetables make great travel snacks and are best cut up into bite-sized chunks or strips. Any that might roll around (such as grapes or olives) might be best eaten on cocktail sticks, and very juicy fruits should be avoided as they can easily make a mess.
- Smell.
You don't really want very strong-smelling foods either. When you're stuck together in a car for several hours, even if you have the windows open, strong odors will linger for a long time and the smell can transfer to your clothes. Light, odorless foods are great, so try strips of cooked chicken. These are tasty and nutritious, but don't have a strong smell.
- Nutrition
Healthy foods are important too. It's easy to rack up the calories when you are bored, and potato chips or chocolate snacks that are high in fat will quickly fill you up without any real nutritional value. Pretzels, soy nuts and dried fruit make much healthier snacks and can appeal to passengers with a sweet or savory tooth. They're also light, easy to carry, and easy to share, which makes them a great choice to hand around to everybody in the car.
- Sandwiches.
Sandwiches are an eternally popular choice for road trips, given the versatility of fillings that you can go for. Bread isn't necessarily the best choice for a long trip, though, as some fillings can make it go soggy quickly. Try switching your favorite sandwich fillings to a bagel. Sliced in half and then filled as per a normal sandwich, bagels are healthier, will leave you feeling fuller for longer, and don't go soggy or lose their texture.
- Hydration
Of course, drinks are important too. Avoid gassy, carbonated drinks as they tend to lead to that horrible bloating feeling. Opt for fresher, fruitier drinks that can be frozen before you travel. This is particularly useful if you are traveling in warm weather, as they remain cold for longer and will act like an ice pack alongside any other food that needs to be chilled. Fresh lemonade works particularly well as a road trip drink. It's tangy, refreshing, can easily be frozen and thawed, and appeals to most people. Iced tea is another great alternative.
Planning a great road trip means thinking about what you are going to eat and drink while you are on the move. It pays to think practically and creatively to come up with some menu ideas that can keep the whole family happy until you reach your destination.
