How to stay healthy on a road trip the F-Factor Way

Tis’ the season for vacation. It’s that time of year again for an OOO, or should we say OOH (out of home) calendar invite to relax and recharge our inner battery. However, whether your destination is the beach to lay on, a mountain to hike, or friend’s house to just hang out at, the journey to get there may look a little different this summer. Given the current climate of the world, many of us are choosing cars over planes as our main vehicle for transportation. If so, we can’t rely on Cibo Express or Hudson News for travel snacks, so being prepared is more important now than ever when it comes to snacks and meals on the go. No need to stress though – here are 4 ways to stay healthy on a road trip, the F-Factor Way.

BYOF

This one may seem obvious (bring your own food), but we’re getting specific here; bring your own fiber. As we know, fiber is an essential nutrient that provides a plethora of benefits for your overall health and weight management. The reason why we recommend having it at every meal and getting in >35g of it per day explains our suggestion for bringing high-fiber car snacks: it fills you up. Driving takes longer than flying, so you’re likely to get hungry more often on a road trip. Having fiber-rich foods on hand will keep you full for longer, which can prevent mindless snacking on a bag of chips you weren’t planning to indulge in.

PACK PROTEIN

Like we always say, fiber and protein at every meal. This is because the combination of the two keeps you feeling satiated for the longest period of time on fewer calories, thus helping you lose weight without hunger. So, not only will you stay on track to your destination (no need to keep stopping at 7/11s along the way), but also with your weight management goals. It’s a win-win!

HYDRATE

It’s pretty self-explanatory – drink up! This one may be controversial; no one wants to feel the urge to pee every few minutes and stop at a public restroom. But – you still need to stay hydrated for obvious reasons, especially in the summer heat. So, just be smart about it and plan ahead. Figure out when you’ll be stopping next for gas or a sit-down meal if you’re with a group, and drink water leading up to that break. We recommend bringing your own refillable bottle that keeps your water cold the longest and has Liter/Milliliter marks on it to help you track your intake. Lately, we’ve been loving Wanu Water, a naturally flavored water with 10 essential nutrients that provide energy and boost metabolism – including 24% of your daily fiber needs. Since they come in 8 fL oz. sized bottles, it’s not too much water where you’ll feel that urge come on, but enough to hydrate you while packing in vitamins. Another win-win!

CHOOSE SMART SNACKS

While we should all try to be as prepared as possible, realistically that may not always be the case. Whether you ran out of homemade snacks or just forgot your lunch box entirely, chances are you may need to stop at that 7/11 after all. If so, don’t worry – you can always find something that’s healthy(ish) and will do the job.

If you’re not in a position to bring snacks or a place to find the recommended alternatives, it’s ok! Remember that one meal or snack will not “throw you off track” on your health/weight maintenance journey, rather it’s the everyday actions and consistency that will make a difference. So, if you can be prepared on your travels – great! If not, enjoy whatever is available to you, move on, and focus on the exciting trip you’re about to experience. *Friendly reminder*: Step 1 is there for you back home if/when you need it.