Grocery Shortcuts for the Road
My local grocery store provides convenient fruit and veggie options for healthy eating.
It’s Easy to Eat Your Fruits and Veggies While Traveling
Many grocery stores today help you eat healthy on the road through shortcuts that make it more time-efficient and convenient. I love most fruits and vegetables, and being on the road does not stop me from having them. Whether I am on the road, at a hotel, or staying with family or friends, grocery stores and certain travel centers make it easy for me to eat healthy during travel:
Pre-cut: Grocery stores and major travel centers provide pre-cut fruits and vegetables for travelers who don’t have ready access to knives and cutting boards. Not only does this allow me to conveniently eat them raw, but they’re ready-to-go if I take a portable cooker with me.
Fresh Bags: These are bags of fresh, pre-cut vegetables that you can pop in the microwave to steam.
Salad Kits: Ready-made, pre-cut salad kits with all necessary ingredients provide a complete salad that does not require prep work. You can add chicken chunks (some places have them cooked and cut) for protein.
I have visited many grocery stores in different regions; some are better than others when it comes to pre-cut and convenient options, but I have found it’s usually easy to get my fruits and vegetables regardless of where I am traveling.
While Driving
Long hours in the car make smart snacking a necessity due to reduced movement, boredom, and risk of drowsiness. Fruits and vegetables are a low-calorie way to feel full while providing energy to stay alert (I have found that staying hydrated keeps my energy up as well).
Grocery stores and major travel centers like Pilot, Love’s, Sheetz, and Casey’s offer safe, fresh, pre-cut fruit and vegetables that are convenient to eat while driving (they also offer hard-boiled eggs that provide protein, so I often buy them at the same time).
I usually put together snack packs for the road ahead of time, which makes it easy to grab a day’s worth while in the car. Snack packs can include any healthy snack. For fruits and vegetables that need to remain refrigerated, tossing a couple of snack packs into a small day cooler can keep them from wilting.
Electric coolers can be used as a refrigerator-on-the-go that keeps food consistently cold and fresh. Mine plugs into my car’s 12V outlet. I have had it going for drives exceeding 12 hours, and it does not overheat or show signs of strain. I purchased a separate AC adapter I can use in a regular U.S./Canada outlet so I don’t have to unload it during a quick stay. I have some more in the queue to try, including one with a freezer, so once I test these out, I will cover them in a future update.
Visiting Friends and Family
I don’t take it for granted that anyone I stay with will stock a kitchen the way I do. If I am staying with someone who is preparing a meal for me, I’m going to eat and enjoy what is served. If these meals are short on veggies or fruit, I can add them without inconveniencing or offending my hosts.
For example, for one of these meals, I purchased a fresh bag with broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower and steamed it in the microwave for a few minutes.
While produce is a non-negotiable for my lifestyle, it’s only part of the larger picture. Learn more about how I incorporate smart indulging into my home and travel lives so I still live life to the fullest.