I love a good road trip.
There’s something about packing up the car with bikes and a limited amount of “stuff” and hitting the road that feels so good. The wind in my hair, a good soundtrack and the beauty of the landscape rushing by.
In my younger years, road trips meant white cheddar, gas station popcorn and mixed tapes. I didn’t have a cellphone, so there was limited communication and I would cross my fingers my pickup truck would make it across the Mojave desert. I had one summer when I repeatedly road tripped to the coast. I’d roll into Ocean Beach with my surfboard, where a few of my good friends lived and literally call them from a payphone to see who was around.
I seem to do things differently now.
Here are a few of my basic tips for healthy living on the road:
Pack a Cooler.
Prepare your favorite foods in advance. I love making my favorite dressing and using it as a sauce or way of marinating greens for a light dinner. Wash fruit and cut greens and other favorite veggies. Reach for sparkling water over soda. It’s refreshing and has none of the yuck so many of the gas station options have (e.g. high fructose corn syrup). Chew gum to keep yourself from needing the popcorn or other snacks at the gas station.
Only Pack What You Need
Pack and then repack. I always do my best to pack a few days in advance so I can go back through the pile at least twice to downsize. The blender is an exception here. We travel with our blender when the weather is warm to make green smoothies. It took a while to feel good about this, but now it’s hard to leave without it. It’s the best way to start the day and SUPER easy.
Eat Lunch Out.
Lunch can be an inexpensive option for eating out and enjoying the local fare. Having your largest meal in the middle of the day gives you the rest of the day to digest. The sun is at its height and so is your digestive fire. When you align with that whether you are traveling or not, you’re psyched.
Have a Picnic Dinner.
The earlier and lighter you eat your final meal of the day the better off you are going to sleep. Dinner is the time to picnic. Eat lunch leftovers and bust out your veggies and greens from your cooler. Find a sweet spot to relax and enjoy where you are. Eat before 7pm (or earlier) and you’ll wake up the next morning ready for an adventure.
Enjoy the Journey.
Even the drive can be exciting and fun. Whether it’s your music choices, an audio book, a podcast you’ve been wanting to dive into, or roadside geology. If you are with someone else, know this is a perfect time for visioning and scheming for your futures. My husband and I LOVE to take advantage of this time to hone in on our individual goals and family visions.
“Where ever you go, there you are” Jon Kabat-Zin
Every road trip is a little bit different. Sometimes you might be camping, another time staying with friends or family or maybe even in a hotel. I no longer return from traveling and feel hungover, bloated and need a vacation from my vacation. Set yourself up with a few health habits for yourself and your family and you’ll notice the difference when you return home.
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Rachel Peters is a yoga teacher, yoga health coach, lifestyle and habits expert, easeful living advocate, and lover of wild places. She leads others towards Embodying Ease through a yearlong wellness & lifestyle journey to dissolve perfectionism, embody daily habits that promote mental clarity, overall ease, and deeper connection to life on this wild ride of modern living. Learn MORE today!