Well, it’s that time of year again - to me, summer has always meant one thing: Road trips! I just feel like something is missing if I don’t get out on the road sometime between May and September, even if it’s just for a little jaunt out to Vegas or up to San Francisco. This year, however, I have quite the trip planned: Up the coast from Los Angeles to Seattle and back again. I’ve been trying to figure out what kind of snacks I should bring for the drive, since eating junk food can be fine for a day or two but I don’t want to go an entire week on just Twizzlers and wasabi-flavored potato chips. Here are some ideas for healthy snacking on the road (or plane, or train, or…):

• First of all, drink lots of water. Not only because it’s hot out there, but also because falling into the trap of drinking only soda, juice or coffee will make you feel bloated and nasty. Plus, all three tend to have lots of sugar, preservatives, chemicals and calories. Make water your primary beverage while traveling. You might have to stop more to use the bathroom, but trust me, it’ll be worth it. Plus, hello, you can browse the kitschy knickknacks at truck stops! That’s half the fun of a road trip!
• Lay off the candy. I have a terrible sweet tooth, so I totally understand the temptation, but you’ll just crash after your sugar high wears off and then you’ll be irritable and hungry again. Plus, candy’s not exactly figure-friendly or healthy. If you want something sweet, try fruit (either dried or fresh, and especially fresh fruits that will keep well in the car, like apples and oranges), individual cups of yogurt or applesauce, or some DIY sweet’n’salty trail mix consisting of cereal (i.e., Cheerios), raw nuts (almonds are my favorite) and raisins tossed together in a bag.
• Not surprisingly, you should lay off the salty snacks as well. Avoid chips, prepackaged bags of flavored popcorn and those little premade cracker sandwiches - they’re all loaded with fats and preservatives. Instead, bring air-popped popcorn (pop it before you leave the house, unless you know something about air popping on the go that I don’t!) tossed with a little salt or parmesan cheese, pita bread and hummus or string cheese and wheat crackers. These curry chickpeas are another tasty option that you could make at home beforehand and bring with you on the road. 
• Oh, and while you’re loading up on fruit so you can avoid the candy temptation, grab some veggies while you’re at it. Celery stalks, baby carrots, cherry or grape tomatoes and cauliflower (cut up into bite-sized pieces, of course) are all good choices for veggies that travel well and can be eaten raw. If you’d like a dipping sauce, hummus or a light Italian dressing are better choices than Ranch, which is fattening.
• Pack a sandwich! I like veggie sandwiches, which are light and healthy and less likely to spoil than something meat-based. Again, this is something you can do before you leave the house; however, once you’re actually on the road, it might be a good idea to pick up a loaf of wheat bread and a jar of peanut butter - a quick peanut buter sandwich is a healthier choice than most of what you’ll find at a drive-through.

For more ideas, check out this list from the Weight Watchers website (they have some great suggestions even if, like me, you’re not on their program). Remember, in any travel situation, the most important thing is to enjoy yourself - but if you eat well and avoid gorging on junk, you’ll feel better and you’ll have more energy to do just that. Have fun!