Healthy Eating on the Road!!

Above, from one of my family's car trips.   Eating well on the road is frequently easier said than done!  I have a niece who is a dietitian, and I thought I'd ask her professional opinion.  Take it away Elizabeth!  

Nothing gets me more excited than looking forward to a summer vacation with the family. Whether it’s a trip to the beach, Disneyland, or grandma’s house I can always count on a good time. The preparation for these trips, on the other hand, can be quite daunting. Between the packing and cleaning it may seem easier to just forget about preparing healthy meals and snacks for your family while on the road. Fast food may seem like an easy way out in order to feed everyone. But when was the last time you felt great after eating fast food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (with chips and candy in between)? When packing food for our family vacations I typically have three goals in mind. The first is to pack foods that will not leave my toddler and car sticky for our entire vacation. My second goal is to pack nutritious foods that will be satisfying and tasty, without overloading the sugar. Lastly, I try to plan ways to avoid eating a hamburger and fries at every meal. With these goals in mind, I want to share with you some more specific foods to eat while traveling with kids. If taking a long road trip be sure to pack an accessible cooler in your car as many healthy foods require refrigeration. You may also want to establish designated eating times to avoid constant snacking all day.

Healthy Snacks While on the Road:
 • String cheese
 • Trail mix
• Almonds or other nuts
• Baby carrots
 • Celery sticks
 • Snap peas
• Apples (whole or prepackaged and sliced)
 • Blueberries
 • Grapes
 • Dried fruit (no sugar added)
• Wheat Thins
• Triscuits
 • Water

 For most families (mine included) it is unrealistic to never eat out while traveling. Many fast food restaurants offer healthy options to choose from. Most places will allow you to get fruit instead of fries in kid’s meals. When eating fast food, try to avoid ordering juices and sodas for your family and say “no” to large or super-sized meals.

 Healthier Fast Food Options
•McDonald’s oatmeal or fruit parfait for breakfast
• Fruit smoothies for breakfast (make sure they are made with real fruit)
• McDonald’s grilled chicken wraps, light on the condiments
• Chick-Fil-A grilled chicken sandwiches or grilled chicken nuggets
• Chick-Fil-A fruit cups instead of fries
• Wendy’s small chili and baked potato
• Burger King veggie burger

 If you are staying at a hotel try to get a room with a fridge so that you can keep your healthy snacks at a safe temperature. I would even recommend finding a grocery store close to your location to restock your supply. Finding ahotel with a continental breakfast is also a good way to avoid eating out at an extra meal. Just be careful to limit your family’s intake of muffins, donuts, and pastries for breakfast.

 Healthy Breakfast Choices at Your Hotel
• Light yogurt
• Whole wheat toast with peanut butter or 1 T butter
• Eggs
• Fruit
• 1 slice of bacon or sausage
• Low sugar cereal such as Cheerios or Bran Flakes
• Oatmeal, light on added sugars
• Water or low fat milk to drink

With these tips you are on your way to a happy and healthier family vacation. Safe Travels!For more nutrition tips and healthy recipes for you and your family visit www.enjoyeverybite.com

About the author! 
Learn more about Elizabeth here.  (LINK)

Elizabeth and her little guy in a familiar stroller! 

And what about your family?  Any ideas for eating more nutritiously while traveling?   

Fun Places to Explore with Kids: Hawaii!

Since we live in the currently COLD Northern hemisphere, (full of snow and the flu! I am DONE with coughing and fevers please!) my mind has been wandering back to warmer places. My husband Brian's work took us to Oahu, Hawaii a few years back. I more than kind of wish we were on our way back right now.   The photo below was from our first hotel room in Waikiki. 

 Brian was singing with the Honolulu Symphony, and they  housed us in a very beautiful hotel.  We felt a bit out of place with our two kids among the hotel's main clientele of wealthy Japanese tourists.  The hotel had security guards all around, and I kept expecting them to ask us if we needed help finding our way to a moderately priced hotel we could afford. 

 

Waikiki was fun, but crowded and busy!  

 Thankfully my baby would wear a hat.  Granted I'm biased, but she was a cute baby.  (She's a giant, beautiful 5 year old now!) 

Is there any better travel toy than match box cars?  My son has amassed a huge car collection over the years, and has an incredible ability to remember each car and where he got it. 

Our fancy hotel did prove very family friendly over Easter.  They put on a wonderful egg hunt and breakfast for all the families staying at the hotel.  I love my little boy's excited face at the egg hunt, and my daughter got to sit with the Easter Bunny. That maybe was a little scary for her, holy giant bunny!

 

 

We found a shrimp truck we loved in Waikiki and were lucky to find the same company up on the North Shore.  We did really love those shrimp trucks.  

Just a couple of details from the lays my husband received from the Honolulu Symphony.  It is beyond incredible the work that goes into those beautiful lays that only last a few days.  

 

After my husband was done with his work, we felt we had no choice but to spend an extra week up on the North Shore. We had some friends up there who helped get us set up with family friendly activities.   Below is Waimea Falls, a very kid/stroller/family friendly beautiful walk where you end up at this waterfall.  There were many peacocks, and one charged us!  Thankfully we were able to get out of the way, it was a little scary and intense.  Don't mess with the peacocks.   

 

We had to head to Matsumoto's for some famous real Hawaiian shaved ice.  

My son was delighted, as we had spent most of the week in Waikiki looking for a blue frozen treat for him.  Kids want what kids want, and he was in a blue phase.  

We also spent a fun day on the Dole Plantation.  Baby pineapples are a little too darling.  

And a couple times, we ran into some giant sea turtles.  

I would like to see this view again.  

We also spent a great day at the Polynesian Cultural Center, and stayed for the luau.  The fire dancers changed my son's life, and my baby girl fell asleep.

Touring is exhausting!  

Another amazing view.  Now I'm just getting depressed to think about it.  

And a little nursing break with our phil&teds, our first e3, such a great old stroller.  I do wish for an annual Hawaii trip, but we will have to get used to our snow and cold.