Happy Friday and happy start to the weekend!
Are you totally immersed in the Olympics? There is so much to be excited about, all I want to do is curl up on the couch and be inspired by all of the athletes. Need a schedule of the track and field coverage? Go HERE and check it out.
For many people, August is still a huge summer month, (my kids don't go back to school until after Labor Day) with lots of long evenings and fun trips on the agenda.
Even if your kids are back to school, many families still take time for weekends away to enjoy short vacations and soak up the last rays of summer.
Going on a road trip doesn't have to mean stops at McDonald's or questionable road side food.
With a bit of easy planning, you can eat healthy on the road!
Our family took a road trip this summer to visit three National Parks (2016 is the 100th anniversary of the US National Parks!). We visited Bryce Canyon National Park, Yellowstone National Park and Zion Canyon National Park. It was our longest road trip ever with kids and we knew that healthy eating was extremely important. I was in the beginning of marathon training and wanted to have healthy choices available for fuel. Not to say our family doesn't have fun! We love ice cream and fun desserts, but for the most part we enjoy eating super healthy. The challenge for me was how to feed everyone well while we were on the road.
1. Make A List Of Food Ideas The Week Before
I was feeling really busy with laundry and packing, so it was important that I had a list of what everyone wanted to eat. I felt like I was more organized for this trip that I am for regular grocery shopping!
2. PLAN AND PREP
We were so blessed to have my Mom with us on our trip and I am always so grateful to have quality time with her. The two of us put our heads together and planned (we needed enough food for breakfast and lunch for the trip to our first stop in Utah)...
- A large cooler with ice
- Plenty of bottled water
- Tons of fresh fruit (to feed 6 people)
- Grilled chicken
- Roasted squash
- Roasted asparagus
- Hard boiled eggs
- Turkey bacon (look for the brands without nitrates)
- Kale salad (ready made from Whole Foods)
- Individual containers of yogurt
- Popcorn
- Snap Pea Crisps (Trader Joes)
- Dark Chocolate (healthier than milk chocolate)
- Plates, utensils, napkins, cups
The evening before we left, we grilled and cooked all of the food. It was easy, because everything would be good to eat whether it was hot or cold.
For example - for breakfast on the road we had hard boiled eggs, turkey bacon and fruit. We also brought yogurt. The kids loved eating on the road and everyone felt satisfied.
Lots of fresh fruit to snack on!
3. Keep It Fun!
The important thing was to have FUN. This was vacation after all and I wanted the kids to have a blast. I made sure they had treats like dark chocolate and chewing gum (they never have gum and they LOVED it).
4. Don't Sweat The Small Stuff
If you forget something, don't worry about it. There is bound to be a small market along the way, or wait until you are passing through a city to stop at Wal Mart or Target to pick up extra supplies.
Are you following me on Instagram? You can check out some of the highlights of our trip there.
So many people have asked me: "How was it embarking on a roadtrip with three kids?!"
My answer? It was WONDERFUL. The memories we made will truly last a lifetime. It was great to show our kids part of the United States by car instead of always flying on a plane.
Lastly, as an athlete and a Mom, it was great to model for my kids that you can make healthy eating choices, even on the road.
Have you ever taken a long roadtrip? Where did you go?
What do you like to snack on in the car?
Happiness Is Running Life.
xo,
Natalie
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