Are you an active traveler who loves to explore new places on foot? Maybe you hit the trails in numerous spots during a day out and about and want to save your money and look after your body versus being faced with fast food meals and gas station snacks. By doing some thoughtful planning, shopping and chopping ahead of time, you can eat tastier food and feel good about what you are putting into your body as you lace up your shoes and go for that trail walk or hike.
Finding tasty and nutritious food while traveling can be tough. But if you're aiming to match your meals with your activities and dodge fast food, fret not - we've got you covered. In this blog post, I will share some simple and delicious lunch and snack options that are perfect for travelers who want to eat well and stay energized during their adventures. 1. Dips: Dips are a great option for travelers as they are light, refreshing, and packed with nutrients. You can quickly make or buy hummus, guacamole, whipped feta, baba ghanoush or tzatziki and these dips are perfect to dip fresh cut vegetables, crackers and pretzel chips into. Not only are they delicious but they are also calorie packed and satisfying. Hungry Happens has some great recipes and a few recommended brands of store bought dips include Tribe brand hummus and red pepper feta dip, Wholey Guacamole, Esti Baba Ghanoush and Boar's Head Tzatziki Greek Yogurt Dip. Trader Joe's also has a lot of options and don't forget a bag of Snack Factory Organic Pretzel Chips to use for dipping. I buy bags at Costco and have found these to be a crunchy and healthy option to use for dipping into anything sweet or savory. 2. Toasts of all sorts: Avocado, cheese, hummus, whipped feta....you name it. You can do a lot with a loaf of sourdough or a couple pieces of your favorite toasted bread (I love Dave's Killer Bread). To start with, you can use any of the dips I listed above and spread them on top of your chosen toast and enjoy it as a lunch. Even better if you add some chopped carrots or cucumbers on top or sprinkle a bit of everything bagel seasoning or za'atar on top to provide a bit of zest. Peanut butter is another amazing way to turn a couple pieces of toast into a satisfying lunch whether paired with a low sugar jam or some bananas and a sprinkle of cinnamon. 3. Energy Balls: Energy balls are nutritious, filling and delicious. They are simple to eat on the go and they will keep you satisfied. What are they? To me, they are in the granola or trail mix category and often feature oats, healthy seeds and nuts of all sorts and something sweet (honey, maple syrup) to round it out. Doesn't sound too bad, huh? They are easy to make and you can freeze them and reuse them for at least a month. If you want to get your hands dirty, here a few variations and this doesn't sound too bad either. If you don't feel like making these, some granola or trail mix is easy, filling and delicious. My go to's for granola are Simply Elizabeth and Bob's Red Mill. While these aren't the cheapest options, I do my best to try and avoid seed oils (soy oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, grapeseed oil) and I have found very few granola brands (outside of these 2) that don't include these oils. 4. The Basics - Fruits and Vegetables: Boring, okay, I guess. Cut up fruits and vegetables are always good on their own and they are flexible and can be used in a litany of ways. All the dips I mentioned above pair well with pretty much any cut up raw vegetable and not too many people I know have found a problem dipping any kind of fruit into a dab of peanut butter or Nutella. Fruits and vegetables are easy, healthy and low maintenance.
Another item I find to be extremely useful during my travels is containers of plain Greek yogurt as they pair well with fruit and granola, trail mix or crumbled up energy balls. Beef sticks and popcorn are another. They do pack a fair bit of sodium, but if you pick a decent brand, you'll end up with a satisfying, tasty and somewhat healthy snack. Our go to beef stick brand is Paleo valley. For popcorn, Lesser Evil is our go to. The key to eating healthy while traveling is to plan ahead, allowing you to thoughtfully purchase snacks and prepare food with fresh, whole ingredients that you packed yourself. With a little planning and creativity, you can enjoy delicious and nutritious meals that will fuel your adventures. By doing so, you can avoid relying on unhealthy fast food options and have control over what goes into your body. So, the next time you embark on a new adventure, refer back to this post to find some healthy recipes and recommended products prior to hitting the trails. Your taste buds and your body will thank you! For more travel tips, recipes, and inspiration, be sure to check out my website. Happy travels and happy eating!
