Vacations and road trips may be synonymous with junk food and indulging, but they don't have to be. If you're heading out on a road trip — especially if you're a full time RV'er, it's important to stay active and feed your body with the nutrients it needs to fuel you for all of your epic road trip adventures.
Health and wellness have always been important to us no matter where we are in the world. When we were living at home in Hermosa Beach, it was easy to access healthy meals and cook for ourselves. However, after purchasing a caravan travel trailer in May of 2020 and moving into it full-time, we realized that there would be challenges to keeping up with our normal healthy lifestyle. Always ready for a challenge, we learned how to prioritize healthy living while living full-time in our travel trailer. We've been driving across the country for the past six months and we've learned everything there is to know about leading a healthy lifestyle on a road trip. We've put together our favorite healthy snacks and eating tips for #vanlife and RV living.
The Importance of Healthy Snacks
If there is ONE thing and one thing only that you take away from this article, it's to keep different snacking options on hand. You never know when you won't have access to a grocery store or more importantly - when hunger will strike. And let's be honest — no one likes a hangry road trip buddy! It's important to always be prepared whether you're in your car, in your RV, or out on an adventure. We always pack think! Bars with us so that we have easy access to nutrients no matter where we are in the country.
Healthy Travel Tips
Always have access to healthy snacks: We said this before, and we'll say it again — always have healthy snacks on hand!Preparation is key when it comes to leading a healthy lifestyle. When hunger strikes, it's easy to reach for the first thing we see. On road trips, that's usually fast food. However, as long as we have prepared ahead of time, we can fight hunger the healthy way!
Stay Hydrated: Staying hydrated is a key facet to healthy living. Proper hydration supports cognition (dehydration may impair cognition), delivers nutrients to cells, and keeps your body functioning properly. Make sure to have plenty of water for your road trip and activities. Limit or avoid the energy drinks that can be loaded with sugar and instead, opt for sparkling or flat water to keep you hydrated.
Get Moving: Road trips are a glorious way to travel, but they also come with a necessary evil: sitting for long periods of time. While you're planning for your road trip, add stops that allow you to go for a walk or hike. When you stop to get gas or charge your electric vehicle, pass the time by stretching, performing air squats, even adding in a few push-ups while you wait!
Only buy what you plan on eating: Let's be real — if we want to eat healthy, we have to set ourselves up for success. If you have chips, ice cream, or whatever your "weakness" is in the RV or vehicle, you're going to eat it because it's easy to access. Trust us, we would know! To prepare ourselves for healthy eating success, buy the foods that you will feel good about eating. This means purchasing snacks and meals that are loaded with proteins and healthy fats that will keep you feeling satiated. Pro tip: Prior to going food shopping for your road trip, have a satisfying meal so that you don't go grocery shopping while hungry!
Meal Prep: It's a lot easier to stick to your healthy eating plan if you actually have a plan. Plan out your meals for the week and prepare meals prior to long travel days. It's easy to break down and not stick to your healthy eating plan if you don't have healthy food on hand.