Always on the go? Pack these healthy snacks

Eating healthy while travelling can pose a challenge. Eating unhealthily on travels is a risk for your health and can also put a dent in your budget. This article covers ways to get smarter about food and travel. It shares some of the best recipes for homemade food for travelling and tips on packing your food.

Food and Travel

Travelling is all about exploring new places, meeting new people, and discovering new cuisines. Active travel, especially, is strongly linked to healthy and low-carbon dietary habits, indicating a correlation between the two.

One of the best ways to balance your diet is to pack your travel food well with the right items.

There are numerous healthy and nutritious snacks that you can pack for your travels. These travel snacks will not just pack in the right amount of nutrients to keep you energised, but also make your travel super fun.

It is always a good idea to focus on the nutritional aspects of foods we eat while travelling, because we can enjoy the trip only when we feel well. Further, when people travel, they tend to eat anytime, but sticking to one’s usual meal times is highly recommended. Instead of rushing to grab a plate of convenience food usually served by roadside stalls and eateries, we can opt for healthy snack items such as yoghurt, hard-boiled eggs, fruits, dried fruits, and fruit salads as well as nuts and seeds as these items are also widely available these days. These food items give you that feeling of being full but not sluggish as they are packed with nutrients to replenish your supply of energy. Also, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Besides keeping your body’s fluid levels at optimum, your skin will remain hydrated, while the craving for junk food can diminish as well.

How to Pack Food While Travelling?

Tourists have a tendency to fall sick from food-related illnesses while consuming food from hotels and restaurants. That’s why it is not just important to choose your favourite foods to carry while travelling, but it is also vital to pack them right.

Here are some tips for mindfully packing your food for travelling:

• One of the most important things to keep in mind while packing your travel food is to use airtight containers. This will prevent messy spills and leakages.
• If you are travelling for a longer time, don’t carry perishable food for the train journey. Instead, pack dry snacks.
• Use Ziploc bags to preserve your road trip snacks for longer. They are lightweight and prevent the food from getting odorous or moist. But, since they are made of plastic, try reusing them to make sure your travel is eco-friendly.
• Get the right bag to put all your food containers in. Ensuring that it is the right size and doesn’t have a ripped bottom or a broken handle is as important as your travel food.

Homemade Food Recipes for Travelling

Dry and freshly-prepared foods are considered the best options to pack while travelling as they don’t contain moisture or other contaminants.

Here are some recipes of homemade food for travelling that are fuss-free and are loved by everyone.

Rajma Sandwich
Not your usual sandwich, but this rajma sandwich is amongst the most delicious foods to carry while travelling by train. It is not just very unique, but also packs a healthy punch. Rajma is an excellent source of proteins, minerals, fibre, and vitamins. The fibre and carbs keep you full and maintain your energy while travelling, making rajma the ideal food for train journeys.

To make this homemade food for travelling, heat a little butter and add boiled rajma, chopped ginger, cumin seeds, chopped onions, and tomato, salt, red chilli powder, mango powder, and mint leaves. Mix well and spread between 2 bread slices. Serve with your favourite sauce.

Nutty Oats Bar
A perfect food to carry while travelling, oats make for a light and healthy ingredient and keep you fuller for longer. They also regulate your weight in case you binge while travelling. One of the best snacks for trips, this oats’ bar is prepared using natural sweeteners such as jaggery, including nutrient-rich and heart-healthy nuts and seeds.

Roast chopped almonds, oats, cashews, and figs. Add chopped dates and apples and mix well. Refrigerate the mix in grease moulds. Once set, cut into bite-size pieces.

Dates Roll
Considered to be a superfood, dates are not just nutritionally dense, but also keep your digestive system smooth while travelling. Studies have shown that dates are low in fat and a great source of natural sugar.

To make these date snacks for trips, heat ghee in a pan and add chopped cashews and almonds. Roast till they are golden brown and then add dates. Cool the mixture and make into rolls. Cut into slices.

Long-lasting food for travelling

Wondering about the best travel foods to carry? Here are the ten best long lasting snacks to carry while travelling.

Muffins
Loved by adults and children alike, muffins are an all-time favourite and among the best road trip snacks. They can be consumed as a part of your breakfast or as a sweet treat post-dinner. For instance, this apple muffin recipe combines the goodness of fruits and nuts and is loved for its rich chocolate flavour. Apple muffins are rich in antioxidants and fibre and keep you energetic and full while travelling.

Hummus with veggies
This super-nutritious snack is great for your digestive health. A long-lasting food for travelling, it helps control appetite and prevents vacation-related weight gain. This hummus recipe is easy to prepare and can be combined with vegetables such as carrots, cucumbers, and zucchini to make it more nutritious.

Popcorn
One of the best foods to carry while travelling in train, popcorn is light, airy, and almost zero-calorie. Popcorn reduces the compulsion to binge eat and provides energy while travelling.

Roasted nuts and seeds
One of the most long lasting foods for travelling, nuts are easy to pack and non-perishable. They also offer a quick energy boost while protecting you against blood sugar spikes. Add flax seeds to your nuts mix for enhanced nutrition.

Cookies
One of the best snacks to carry while travelling, cookies are perfect as dessert and even mid-morning snacks. To avoid excess calories, choose cookies made with quinoa, wheat flour, or millet.

Conclusion

Snacking is an important and fun part of any trip. Also, the chemistry between food and travel must be just right to have a memorable experience. Snacking helps you remain full of energy and satiated while on the road. This guide to homemade food for travelling will help you make an informed choice even as it prioritises your health.